KIT Study Adventure! Past Review
By Kristina T (Computer Engineering., University of Hawaii - Manoa) for
Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT): Kanazawa - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I gained much more than I thought I would. There was many aspects of Japanese culture that I did not realize I had no clue about; but by actually experiencing and discussing our experiences, I was able to have a better understanding of a Japanese mindset. TV shows and what my friends were doing actually made sense. This program has made me want to return to Japan. I did not want to return home and once at home I always compared American customs and food to that of the Japanese which made me want to return even more. I definately have plans on returning to Japan, whether it be for vacation, another study abroad program or work, I am unsure at the moment but this program has made me consider switching my Japanese minor into a major.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Not only were we taught many applicable topics in class but we were able to experience much more outside of the classroom by going on many fieldtrips that emphasised many aspects of culture covered in class which helped our understand by allowing us to experience culture that we could not have experienced on our own. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
KIT's program adminstration was wonderful! They were very helpful when it came to small tasks such as fixing appliances or helping us with recieving messages from our home institutions. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed in a appartment which had everything we would have needed such as cooking utensils, bedding, and furniture. The appartment was in a good location because it was right across the street from KIT and it had many nearby resturants and stores which made purchases convenient. The city, Nonoichi that KIT was located in was an extremely safe neighborhood that allowed you to walk around alone in the middle of the night without any worries. |
| * Food: |
Japanese food in general is very healthy, therefore it wasn't a huge issue for us studying abroad. The cafeteria offered full meals that were very healthy and very cheap and surprisingly very delicious! Food in Japan can be very expensive but shopping at the supermarket after certain times or keeping our eye out for sales is another way to help you stay on a budget. It is very easy to prepare a meal for yourself for 100 yen. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Every fieldtrip the school planned or party the students threw for us was memorable. But I believe the most memorable class trip was the one we took to KIT's seminar house at Anamizu. We spent 2 days and 1 night at Anamizu bonding with the Japanese students and learning more about the language and culture while having fun. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Before I decided to study abroad at KIT my parents were against me leaving for Japan after the incident in Fukushima and the tremors that Japan was still experiencing, but KIT reasured my parents that Kanazawa was one of the safest places in Japan because of their lack of natural disasters and it was far from Fukushima. The 6 weeks I was in Kanazawa, I did not worry about how safe the city was because I was constantly reminded by the lack of natural disasters and crime. |
| 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Other than speaking with the other study abroad students from the U.S. I spoke in Japanese to the professors, students, friends and other people such as cashiers or sales clerks. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Students who are outgoing or are willing to do or try anything and everything in Japan, this is the program for you! Especially students majoring in Engineering or IT because it gives students an idea of how Japanese colleges that specialize in Engineering run and may help you decide whether or not you would like to work in Japan. |
