Do all the travel, it's worth it Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Some classes were very rigorous and included much effort outside of class, but for some others there was very little effort involved. Overall, the rigor balanced out and was not overwhelming.

On-site administration of your program

The administration was very helpful and accommodating, and did all they could to improve our learning experience, as well as our experience of the country.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorm was simple but functional, and in a convenient location. The amenities provided made my life in Japan relatively comfortable. However, some of the appliances were rather outdated (washer/dryer) which made for a small measure of inconvenience.

The food provided in the cafeteria was fresh, hot, cheap, and delicious. And even with the small variety of foods in the cafeteria, there were more places on campus to buy food, like the McDonald's and convenience store.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I feel that many international students were not as immersed as they could have been since they were separated from the Japanese students by dorm, class, and the difference in schedule. In my dorm there was only 2 Japanese RAs, and one of them quit near the end of the semester. They mostly spoke English to prepare for their own study abroad. The Otousan and Okaasan, on the other hand, mostly spoke Japanese, which made it difficult to communicate more complex issues. In the classes I took there were at most 3 Japanese students who would, again, be speaking English. The most positive experience I had was when my Japanese professor had native students come in and help us to speak casual form.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had only needed two vaccines for this program, one of which being a flu shot, so they were relatively standard. Once in Japan I became ill and went to the nurse's office, and despite the nurses not knowing much English they were able to address my illness and give me the proper medicine. Obtaining medicine from stores was also not as difficult as I thought (like headache/ cold medicine).

Japan felt extremely safe. I was never worried for my safety, even when I traveled around the streets at night or when the trains were crowded. I would say that it was especially important to pay attention around bikes and busy roads, however, because often bikes ride on the sidewalk and come up behind you and can crash into you. Some roads can be narrow and have no sidewalks, with very little room between a passerby and a car. The key to staying safe in Japan is mostly staying aware of your own surroundings.

Despite the shortcomings of my institution, I had an amazing time learning about Japan in Japan.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

My home and host institution provided me with ample funds for my entire stay in Japan.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We were encouraged to use the language in the real world outside of the institution as much as we could, but with most of the classes in the institution being taught in English by western professors it was somewhat difficult to use thee language with classes outside of the language class.

Select all that apply

• Dorm

Select all that apply

• Americans
• International Students

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• food
• classes
• travel

• internet connection
• immersion
• class selection

The Avid Adventurer