Meet your life-long worthwhile people in Japan April 10, 2024
By Hamin K (International Politics, Pennsylvania State University - University Park / Penn State) - abroad from 09/05/2023 to 12/21/2023 with
IES Abroad: Nagoya Direct Enrollment - Nanzan University
The language skills, people (friends, family, and instructors), and also the cultural knowledge (especially about Japanese society and people). It was worthwhile because experienced other cultures by living there for a few months. Different from traveling, studying abroad will give you a more in-depth perspective of that specific country.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I went to Nanzan University for the fall semester, but the class contents were a bit mismatched with my level. I learned a new thing, but I could do most of the class assignments with the knowledge that I had before I went. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My host parents are nice, and they cared about my diet and overall of my life. They helped me to do my assignments from school, or make lunch at a low cost. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was really nice, and close to school, accessible location from other infrastructures including downtown. |
| * Food: |
I loved all the food in Japan. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There are lots of opportunities that you could engage with other local people including the host family program. Even the university hosts a language buddy program or culture exchange center where you can meet other local students and chat with them. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have the opportunity to use health insurance, but I had to still pay for health insurance from the Japanese government. This means I paid for IES health insurance but had to pay other health insurance from the Japanese government which was mandatory and monthly paying. |
| * Safety: |
Japan was a safe place unless you visited an adult entertainment district by your will. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I've visited Japan prior to this program, but never visited Nagoya. Thanks to this program, I could figure out the wonderful place to visit and also live. I liked the food of Nagoya, the people that I met in Nagoya, and even myself in Nagoya. I definitely would choose the same program again if I could do it. |
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) |
My budget was quite fit while I was in Nagoya, but if you would like to explore more parts of Japan during your visit, you need enough budget to make that trip happen. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 10,000 yen |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to make a plan before you buy something. Since it is not an everyday opportunity to buy things in japan, I know that you might buy things without considering them deeply. However, that makes you broke soon, and take other opportunities that you could've enjoyed. Therefore, whenever you need to make a choice think more about the opportunity costs. |
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 |
IJP students must take language classes 4 times a day and which takes almost 3 hours a day I believe. That is quite a lot for the language course but that helped me to boost my language skills in Japan. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | JAPNS 404 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you boost your language skills in a short period, I definitely recommend the host family program because that is the way that you could use Japanese whole day. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | What to pack (what to bring, what to not bring) |
