Experience HARDER! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

All of my classes were fantastic, especially my language classes. The only downer is that some of the more popular classes are difficult to get into; if too many people register for a class, they have a lottery system and choose randomly who gets to get in. As a result, I was not able to take a couple of my first choices. Have a backup plan!

On-site administration of your program

I don't have much to say about the administration. I never had any issues; the office at the CIE (Center for International Education) was open often, and they were always willing to help whenever I had any questions.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Seminar House 1, and I loved it. Out of all the houses, Seminar House 1 is the oldest and least-glamorous, but it was always clean, and the Japanese couple who managed it (our Okaasan and Otousan) were always very kind. SH1 is about a 20 minute walk from campus, so I got a good amount of exercise. Investing in a bike is a good idea if you don't want to do that walk every day. There's a bus stop nearby too; it's probably more convenient to just walk to school, but the bus can get you to Hirakata station. There's a Sanko grocery store about 7mins from SH1, and next to the liquor store right outside is a small okonomiyaki restaurant run by a really nice older woman. She gives away 50yen off coupons, and is awesome.

The food was amazing, even the stuff in the cafeterias on campus. They have a wide variety, including noodles, salads, and dishes like karaagedon and katsudon. There's also a McDonalds on campus, and a convenience store that has sushi, pastries, and a lot of other snacks. You will never be hungry (and if you walk every day to school, you never have to feel guilty about eating a lot!). My favorite place is an indian place across the street from the main gates called New Delhi. Their curry is AMAZING! My friends and I went there so often they started giving us free dessert. There are also several bakeries nearby (which are awesome).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

In Hirakata, everyone is used to foreigners being around, so they usually don't even bat an eye. I got used to blending in, so it was a little jarring going to non-tourist towns around Kyoto and having people stare.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to get a shot when I was there for a vaccine, and it went very smoothly (probably because I had had my doctor in the U.S. send me with a form specifically for this purpose, and the Japanese love their forms). Anyways, I made an appointment at the CIE, and they sent me to a local doctor's office with a student volunteer who helped translate for me.

Japan is a super safe place. I never had any problems, but like any place, bad stuff can happen. Just exercise a little common sense (like don't go out alone at night), and you will have no problems

I would absolutely choose the same program. Their orientation program was thorough, and really helped me stay organized and feeling in-control those first couple weeks. They offer a wide variety of classes as part of their Asian Studies program, from business-oriented classes, to pop-culture, to art (and of course, a great language department). In summary, classes= great, local students= great, food= great, administration=great. So yes, I would absolutely do it all over again!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Local Students
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• more art classes always!
• looser attendance policies