Getting lost in Japan Past Review
By A student (Illinois State University) - abroad from 01/29/2012 to 05/30/2012 with
Kansai Gaidai University: Hirakata - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I was able to learn about many cultures, not just Japan. I also got the chance to understand the culture a lot more by living it rather than hearing about it. There's some things you don't learn about by just watching television shows or reading books about it.
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 |
Sometimes the administration was hard to work with, and they were slow about things like returning money. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had to deal with any health issues during the program, but they did have people to go with you if you needed to visit doctors. |
| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
You were able to shop at decent prices when you could find the right sale. If you wanted to go out and do stuff each weekend though, you could end up spending a lot of money with costs such as transportation and eating out. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100-$200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure to find out when the sales are and shop around the local grocery stores to find the best prices. Also start making yourself lunchboxes each day to save a lot of money you would spend in the cafeteria or at restaurants. |
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 |
The language classes were very good about making everyone participate, and there were a variety of programs to allow you to talk to native speakers. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 2nd year first semester |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Definitely find people who speak the language to talk to. Don't be afraid to use the native language even if the person you're talking to is good better at at your language than you are at theirs. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | You'll end up surprised how little you really know the language when you're required to hear it and use it on a day to day basis. |
