The experience is as good as you make it! Past Review
By Joseph Brian Hafey (University of Hartford) - abroad from 01/17/2017 to 05/27/2017 with
Kansai Gaidai University: Hirakata - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained world experience, I gained am understanding of Asian culture, and I learned a beautiful new language and got to see a beautiful country.
Review Photos
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. |
I could not register for all the classes I wanted to register for, but the classes I did take were interesting enough. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My study abroad advisor was very helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was difficult to connect with due to the language barrier, and they very clearly favored my roommate over myself. My housing conditions are satisfactory, though. |
| * Food: |
Great food, very convenient, and cheap compared to the U.S. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The Kansai area is very accommodating to non Japanese people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Kansai Gaidai is very accommodating to foreigners, so the transition is easy. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $200 on average |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Purchase a bus pass for cheaper travel. Eat lunch at the cafeteria and resist the urge to buy snacks at convenience stores too often. When shopping, don't make purchases as soon as you see an item. Wait 2 hours or even wait an entire week before you buy something, to avoid buyer's remorse. Do cheap things on weekends with friends, such as going to karaoke and drinking chuuhai. Do not play pachinko more than once, to try it out. Do not spend more than ¥500 on a game center crane machine at one time. Limit yourself to ¥1000 a day for all crane games, regardless of whether you win or not. To reduce spending at arcades, play a game and then chill out on your phone and watch YouTube for a free minutes, then resume play. Your money goes a lot farther that way.Purchase a bus pass for cheaper travel. Eat lunch at the cafeteria and resist the urge to buy snacks at convenience stores too often. When shopping, don't make purchases as soon as you see an item. Wait 2 hours or even wait an entire week before you buy something, to avoid buyer's remorse. Do cheap things on weekends with friends, such as going to karaoke and drinking chuuhai. Do not play pachinko more than once, to try it out. Do not spend more than ¥500 on a game center crane machine at one time. Limit yourself to ¥1000 a day for all crane games, regardless of whether you win or not. To reduce spending at arcades, play a game and then chill out on your phone and watch YouTube for a few minutes, then resume play. Your money goes a lot further that way. Prepare a bagged lunch at home and bring it with you before going on an outing. You can save about $5 a day by not eating out for lunch. Also, brew coffee at home in the morning, or, buy large containers of coffee at the grocery store, but don't buy small coffees from vending machines. Large, 1L bottles of coffee at the grocery store cost ~¥180. One small can of coffee from a vending machine costs ¥150. Do the math! When you think of spending some money on something quick and convenient, instead think of how that money could be used to buy you a cool book or trinket during your next adventure out in town. |
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 |
Tajima sensei was a wonderful Japanese language teacher and encouraged us to speak Japanese at every opportunity. |
| 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 |
| 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? | Study in a fun way. Read a chapter in your textbook, and then watch an episode of Anime and see what words your recognize, and then note the context that the characters use the word. You'll likely find a new way to use the word, since the context is unique. |
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? |
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 wish I spoke more Japanese. My overall experience would have been far better. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
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