Nagoya: The city for those who actually want to experience Japan! Past Review
By Marissa R (Asian Studies, University of Redlands) for
Japan Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
It was definitely worth while! I was able to experience a culture that I have always been fascinated by, and I was able to practically use my language skills for the first time. Since returning from Japan, I have been aching for the opportunity to return, whether it is for a trip or to live and work there to gain the experience of working abroad to compare to the experience of going to school abroad.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our on-site advisors were always available if and when we needed assistance, and always carefully made sure we all stayed safe and in a group when we went on excursions and overnight trips. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The neighborhood was quiet, and the house was a short bus ride away from the school. I think this was an exception because most of my peers had much longer commutes. My host family was very generous and courteous to me and while I lived there, I was treated as a member of the family as well. |
| * Food: |
Japanese food is AMAZING. Everyone should try something new at least once, and I was able to try many different things (and I am usually such a picky eater). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
One of our most memorable trips we took as a group was to Hiroshima and Miyajima. The Japanese inn we stayed at in Hiroshima was directly across the street from the A-Bomb dome (you could see it from our hotel window). It was a great experience, but also an eye opening one, being so close to a piece of history. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt pretty safe while living there. We all were enrolled in the government health care (as per country regulations), however, I did not have any need of those services while I lived there, so I can't comment on how effective the system is. |
| 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
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people outside of my fellow students did not speak English, however we were still required to speak Japanese in class. I did not find this a problem. I was able to learn the language more effectively, and the less English I had to use, the better. |
| 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?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The type of student who would benefit the most from this program is the type who is actually interested in Japan and the language. I would tell that student the best way to learn about the country is to live in the country, even if only for a short time. |
