I miss Japan so much. I spend every minute of everyday thinking about how I can go back. Past Review
By Jacob B (Chemical Engineering., Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) for
Kansai Gaidai University: Hirakata - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was probably the most worthwhile thing I have ever done in my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was perfect and everything I learned translated into daily life in Japan. It helped me to understand the way that Japanese people think and really allowed me to dig deeper into the complexities of Japanese society. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was very well explained. Sometimes it was overdone, but there was always someone to help out. It was pretty much pain free. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was excellent and it was the best choice I made when I was in Japan. I learned most of my Japanese just by speaking with them everday. |
| * Food: |
My host mom was a great cook, the school cafeteria food was good, and Japanese food in general is awesome. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Kansai Gaidai arranges a ton of events that are all optional. Japan also has many many festivals to participate in. Plenty of culture to go around. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Hirakata City is extremely safe and I never once felt threatened while I was there. The Japanese health care system is one of the best in the world and it is what they recommend for students. No student goes without having health care at Kansai Gaidai. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I used Japanese almost all the time. The only time that I didn't use Japanese was in my classes that were taught in English and occasionally with my friends that didn't speak much Japanese. I lived with a host family so I had to use my Japanese everyday from when I woke up to when I went to bed. |
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?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Go out and try everything. The good stuff, the bad stuff,even the ugly stuff. Just try it all, because at the end of your time in Kansai Gaidai you will regret it if you hadn't tried it at least once. |
