There's no way to describe my experience in a single line, but it was amazing Past Review
By A student (Berea College) - abroad from 01/17/2017 to 05/28/2017 with
Kansai Gaidai University: Hirakata - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
As my first time being abroad, it was an incredible experience. Being able to learn about a whole other culture and then through that learn about my own. Classes about pop culture, religion, language, and even the Japanese koto and music were all incredibly interesting and I learned a lot. I also experienced all kinds of new foods, places, and activities. I took trains, taxis and buses for the first time, tried fried octopus, visited temples and shrines, and even finally achieved my childhood dream of going to Disneyland. It was absolutely worthwhile to go to Japan.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
In comparison to my home institution I would say that the program was not as intense or as rigorous as Berea College. However, it was honestly for the best since half the experience of being abroad is having the opportunity to see the country. If classes had been any more intense it would have been impossible to do anything. Additionally I believe I learned a lot and had a lot of good resources to draw from. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were very accommodating to students between having classes taught in English and programs for us to participate in. There were just a few times where it was a little difficult to get help either due to the abroad office being closed in the evening (and having to rely on either RAs or our host parents who normally spoke very little English) |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Overall living arrangements were very nice. The rooms are traditional Japanese style with tatami floors, sliding doors, and futons. There was also a nice balcony, plenty of room, and closet space. The kitchen was also nice, if a little crowded. Bathroom and showers were also nice and kept clean. The only complaint was that we had to pay for laundry (approx. 3 dollars per load) and they did not work well at all. I usually had to dish out an extra dollar or two if I wanted my clothes to actually be dry or just go hang them up to dry in my room. |
| * Food: |
Had a great selection in their two cafeterias, a convenience store, Mcdonalds, and pizza pasta restaurant on campus. Additionally, there were many other restaurants and convenience stores nearby. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
KGU had many different opportunities such as the speaking partners program and other student led activities to try out. However, due to our program starting in January (instead of March like the Japanese students) we didn't get to meet many Japanese students for the first few months. Our dorm, which was only for international students, was also separate from the campus (about 30 minute walk from campus). And all of our classes were only with international students and maybe a couple of Japanese students. Additionally, only two of my teachers were actually from Japan. Overall, the international student experience at KGU is very separated from the domestic students. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
At the very beginning of the program during orientation they sat us all down to talk about various protocols and such about health care. Personally, I never had any serious health problems while abroad and simply looked up a simple painkiller medication to buy from a local drugstore. However, there was one time I went with my roommate to our campus' nurse's office for help with her cold. The abroad office called ahead to the office and it was a little unnerving due to the fact that we were told they did not speak English. However, we managed to get the points across and my roommate got the medicine she needed. |
| * Safety: |
It felt so much safer in Hirakata (and Japan) than I would ever feel in America. I actually felt like I could go out at night or be on a train or other public transport without the fear of being hurt or mugged. Obviously, you still need to be careful because there is still crime in Japan, but nothing like America. Just be smart and you'll be fine. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The campus is beautiful, people were very nice, food was great, and the location of the campus was awesome. We were in the perfect spot to take trains all over Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Kobe. There were also nearby airports we could use to get anywhere else we wanted. |
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? | 10,000yen which is approx. $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget everything out. Have a plan for about how much you can spend a day to last through the end of the program. And make sure to keep track of it. If you end up spending a bit more then usual one day, try to spend less another day. |
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? | Intro to Japanese 3 |
| 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? | Take advantage of talking with the domestic students and just listen to everything. When you take the bus or train just people watch, watch tvs, listen to music. Immerse yourself in the language as best as you can. |
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? | I wish that I had known to use my time more wisely. There were a lot of afternoons after classes that I could have spent traveling more, but instead I wasted them lazing around and waiting till days off/weekends to travel. I could have done so much more if I'd just pushed myself to be more active. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
