Kyoto is Amazing Past Review
By Jenny (Central Washington University) - abroad from 09/03/2018 to 12/23/2019 with
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Kyoto - Semester in Japan
I learned how to speak more Japanese and I gained new friends. Also, I gained more knowledge of the world outside of the U.S.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
You will have a quiz everyday and expect homework like handouts. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration is always there for its students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my small apartment and it was near the school which was a five minute walk to get there. |
| * Food: |
The cafeteria food is very cheap like 1usd to 5usd. Plus, if you aren't feeling hungry you can get a snack from a small convenience market inside the cafeteria or head to the cafe in one of the buildings. There are also restaurants around KUFS and in the mall. Food is cheap and delicious. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I got to know the culture more. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt safe my entire time in Kyoto. I also went for long walks at night time and nothing happened. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
CISabroad took care of me and I got to meet people from around America which was really cool. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Very easily because food was cheap as well as house items like plates or cups which I bought at the dollar store called Daiso. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | roughly $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I say bring some toiletries from home or don't eat out so much and just cook at home. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I had to speak in Japanese. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | third year at my university |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | I would say make Japanese friends from your country or watch movies that are in Japanese. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would have liked to known that you are required to buy insurance through the government. It wasn't too much, but I was basically trippled insured because I had insurance through my school and my family's insurance. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
