Fun times at Keio University Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

For the most part Japanese Universities do not require a lot of extra work from you unless you are in a language intensive program. I found this to be true about Keio as well. While there wasn't a huge work load, I did learn a lot. I was further able to participate on the school judo team, made many friends and was able into improve on both my language and cultural understanding from that aspect.

On-site administration of your program

Everything flowed incredibly smoothly. I never had any issues.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My girlfriend of the time (wife now) is Japanese and she arranged all of our living accommodations for us. We lived in a large apartment (by Tokyo standards). I was a twenty to thirty minute train ride away from both campuses in which I attended.

The wife's cooking is incredible!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My experience with the judo team was incredible. They are a great bunch of guys. They took me from knowing nothing about judo to earning my black belt within the year time frame that I was there. I further traveled around Japan with the Judo team to Kyoto, Kobe, Kochi, Kagawa, Ehime, and Tokushima. Outside of the Judo club, I traveled to Nagano to go snowboarding for the first time ever. I traveled to Hiroshima to visit the girlfriend's family. I also traveled to Okayama just to explore. I did a night climb of Mount Fuji with a Japanese friend of my who used to be a professional boxer. We made it to the top in enough time to watch the sun rise. I've done so many other things that there are too many to mention. I had a great time and made some great friends.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

While I was in Japan, I saw physicians outside of the university. I slightly dislocated my clavicle while snowboarding and had it treated. I went on several occasions to get my ear drained of blood [first stages of cauliflower ear (judo)]. Maybe I'm wrong but I think Japan has to be one of the safest countries on the planet. Far more safe than the US.

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

I was not in the language intensive program. The few language classes I was able to take were helpful but for the most part they went over stuff that I have previously learned. It may have helped drive some of the points deeper into my head but I feel that I learned more Japanese outside of the classroom than in it.

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• Apartment

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