Japan truly is the country of never ending energy, laughter, and smiles Past Review
By A student (Villanova University) - abroad from 02/06/2012 to 05/25/2012 with
Kansai Gaidai University: Hirakata - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
There are amazing people in this world only separated by circumstance. Definitely worthwhile.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The host mom and dad of my seminar house were awesome. The RAs were very personable and the best friends I made there. There was one seminar house with a host mom and dad slightly more strict, but overall they do well in accommodating you. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Even if you speak perfect Japanese, there is a difference between a native nihonjin and the foreign gaijin, but one emphasized with kindness and understanding. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was quarantined for 5 days when I had a fever. Also, hospitals close frequently and have very odd hours. Just don't get sick and wear a mask if you do. |
| * Safety: |
You will find yourself using a bike for transportation thus most injuries will somehow relate to this. |
| 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) |
Japan is an expensive country and you can easily spend $200 a week if you are not careful |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * 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? | Around $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save as much money as you can before you go whether it is multiple summer jobs or not spending as much the semester before. If you do run out of money; email your parents and beg. Getting a job is definitely inadvisable. |
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 |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate level 2 |
| 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? | Vocabulary was always my biggest weakness so I would speak to my friends and throw in new words to practice using them properly. I also had a speaking partner I only spoke to in the country's language for additional practice. |
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?
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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? | 10+ |
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? | Octopus is delicious |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spiritual Journeys |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | John Shultz |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Professor is excellent outside of class, however, class itself was very unstructured and his grading policies were strict based on an unknown rubric. |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Onna to Otoko: Gender and Sexuality in Japan |
| Course Department: | Sociology |
| Instructor: | Jeff Hester |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Very dry professor and will give exams based that include even knowledge learned from his lectures so take notes, don't miss a class, and try to stay awake. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
