Tokyo: Oh the Places You'll Go Past Review
By Gabby B (Literature, University of California - San Diego) for
International Christian University: Tokyo - Direct Enrollment and Exchange
Definitely. I'd love to return to Japan sometime in the future, preferably for a longer stay.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was fairly light, generally just readings and discussions with a few papers here and there. There was one mandatory class attached to my program that had a rather heavy workload including mandatory weekend outings, weekly reflection journals, papers, readings, and a final. The grading system actually seemed to be more lenient there than at my university. The structure was different in that expectations for the class weren't laid out as clearly from the beginning as I am used to-syllabi were passed out, but they were vague and only some included grading rubrics. Still the classes were enjoyable and a nice complement to my time in the country. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The UCEAP office was in constant contact with all of us via email to keep us informed of important dates and made certain that we knew they were available to help at any time. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in off campus in what is called a share-house in Japan. Essentially it's a dorm, with shared rooms, communal bathrooms, and a communal living room and kitchen space. The residents include native Japanese along with people from all over the world, from students to those in Japan on working visa. The space was a little cramped, but the pricing was great and the inhabitants all quickly became a sort of family. Living with native Japanese people also provided for greater insight into Tokyo, as well as an aid in picking up the language. |
| * Food: |
The food is amazing everywhere. End of story. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish I had had more time to explore, but the people were very polite and there was no end of new cultural experiences to be had. Even just going out grocery shopping there was the chance of running into a local matsuri, and shrines peeked out of the urban landscapes in many places. Christmas and Halloween were interesting intercultural collisions in Japan, and places like Harajuku and Akihabara fill Tokyo with the potential for exploring modern Japanese culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall Tokyo was incredibly safe. I once left my iPod and books on a train and had a man run after me into the station to return them. There were a few neighborhoods that were a little iffy a night, but that's to be expected anywhere and I never ran into a situation where I felt particularly frightened. There were no special vaccinations required for entering the country and no particular health issues I could see affecting Tokyo. People even wore masks when they were ill out of consideration for others to keep them from spreading germs. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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 think just about any type of student could take something out of this program. Tokyo is just the sort of city that everyone is bound to find something in. I would say make sure that you are open to new things. As westernized as Tokyo is said to be, there are things that will take you off guard about the people and the customs. Do your research before you come. Familiarize yourself with the language as much as you can, even if your coursework will be in English. Get involved in as many of the clubs on campus as possible-participation is a big part of school life in Japan. Take time to go outside the city, as well. There's tons to be seen. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
From Ramune to Anime |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | A mandatory culture class for this program. There is a rather heavy workload to contend with, especially considering that it is mandatory and must be taken for a letter grade, but the grading is lenient and the some of the weekend outings are interesting. The material of the course is a little bit piecemeal, but interesting nonetheless. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Japanese Literature in Translation |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Highly focused on discussion and participation. A good range of readings from older to more modern Japanese works. The translation of the texts is taken into account and explained well by the instructor/ |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No. |
