The Best Time of my Life Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes could be a bit boring and long (most were three-hour lectures). They were all focused on Japanese language and culture, which I really appreciated, but if you're looking for a STEM component, for example, this might not be for you. The Japanese language course was the best course I took; I learned a lot, and the teacher was great. Overall, workload was fairly light, which meant I had plenty of time to immerse myself in the culture.

On-site administration of your program

The IES Abroad Tokyo staff is absolutely fantastic. They did everything they could to make our time enjoyable and planned many different outings and events for us to connect with and learn about the local culture. They were all very approachable and friendly, and I really enjoyed getting to know them in addition to the other students.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

There were three housing options available: homestay, dorm, and apartment. I lived in the apartment, which gave me freedom (no curfew) and the ability to cook for myself. The apartments were about an hour away from the school, which was on the longer side of commutes for IES students. However, this meant I was closer to central Tokyo, which was nice for when I wanted to go out. I had a single in the apartments, with two roommates who mostly kept to themselves. I wish I had gotten to become closer with the people I was living with, but overall I really enjoyed staying in the apartments.

There are several cafeterias, as well as a convenience store, on campus, all of which have decent food for not too expensive (expect 300-500 yen per meal, depending on how much you eat). There are also plenty of off-campus options, such as convenience stores, fast food places, and other various restaurants. Food is comparatively cheap in Japan, though at many restaurants that serve American-type food (e.g. burger or steak places), the portion sizes are also smaller, which was annoying at times. There are also plenty of grocery stores with a good selection if you'd like to cook for yourself. As a whole, I looked forward to pretty much every meal since everything tasted so good (maybe I'm biased - Japanese food is my favorite), and I could eat on a budget when I needed to.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were countless ways to get involved with the local culture through clubs, IES-organized cultural events, and the e-pal program (where each study abroad student is paired up with a Japanese student). I took advantage of pretty much every opportunity available to me, and I urge others to do the same. The people I met and spoke with are what made my time in Japan so memorable, and I'm so glad I was able to make the most of my time by engaging with the local community so often.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any serious health issues while abroad, but the IES Abroad Tokyo staff was always ready to help in case something did happen. There was support available for minor stuff as well, such as when I caught a cold for a few days.

Japan is, in general, a very safe country, so there isn't too much to be worried about. There are some areas in Tokyo that can be a bit risky to visit at night, and IES Abroad Tokyo made sure to brief us on all of those risks when we arrived. There was also the risk of natural disasters, namely earthquakes and flooding from typhoons, but nothing major happened in Tokyo while I was there (though areas of western Japan were hit pretty hard by an earthquake and some floods). The IES Abroad Tokyo staff seemed very prepared, though, in case something did happen, and definitely prioritized students' safety.

A lot of features of IES Abroad Tokyo -- such as the e-pal program and the regular events where we engaged with the local culture and community -- were what made the program so memorable and enjoyable for me. The staff was always incredibly helpful and approachable as well.

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

Transportation can be expensive, and if you want to eat out a lot, food can be, too. There are definitely cheap food options available, though.

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

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• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Other

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Engaging with the local community
• Improving my Japanese language skills
• The IES Abroad Tokyo faculty

• Range of classes offered
• Structure/curriculum for certain courses

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