Japan a Growing Experience Past Review
By Trevor N (International Trade and Commerce, University of the Pacific) for
Kwansei Gakuin University: Nishinomiya - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Cultural differences can be very severe but learning to work around them can also be a rewarding experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The systems are fairly similar but differ in respect to a greater focus on repetion as a methadology of imparting knowledge. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were adequate. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing arrnagement was adequate and had a suffecient level of safety. |
| * Food: |
In regards to meals be prepared for a lower calorie intake than what most Americans are accustomed to. Supplementing calories through eating out is a good way to gain a few extra calories. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The field trips to the temples in Nara were most entertaining. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
My host city overall was very safe and health conditions were also very good. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around a hundred and twenty dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be sure to budget yourself when you first arrive since foreigners tend to spend exuberantly in the first month leaving far less for the rest of their stay. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced Japanese |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most common interactions where in Japanese except for the time that I spent with foreign exchange students who were all fluent in English. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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* Who did you take classes 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? | A student that is interested in acquiring greater proficiency in Japanese. |
