KIIS Japan: Very Interesting Past Review
By Earlene S (Psychology, Berea College) - abroad from 05/29/2015 to 06/29/2015 with
KIIS: Traveling - Experience Japan (Summer)
Customs is very annoying in America and America is overly paranoid to the point of being ridiculous.
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. |
It was a great experience, but was a little unforgiving towards absences. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
This was a hit or miss. The host-family housing was great, but some of the hotels were not as good as I felt their price suggested. |
| * Food: |
Great food, but hard to customize your order. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I was pretty adapted and a part of the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Very understanding of health issues and instructors do what they can for your health. |
| * Safety: |
Very cautious about your safety, but not so much that it restricts your independent time. |
| 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) |
Very easy, things are surprisingly cheaper in Japan than in America. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Less than $150. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy your souvenirs last. They are less likely to be lost or broken and it will allow you to plan how much packing room you have. |
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 |
Most of my time was speaking to Japanese people who had little to no understanding of English. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Japanese 104 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Pretty much, repeat words in your head, and anything you still don't remember, write it down multiple times. You can do the same with grammar points, but honestly, once you realize not to compare Japanese with English, it becomes really easy. |
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? | 0 |
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? | To take rain boots and to be aware of the different etiquette of different cultures. |
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.' |
