That was fun Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 03/14/2017 to 11/26/2017 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Tokyo
Language aside, I got to really explore Japanese culture, and it was definitely worthwhile. I made one friend in particular who I am still in contact often with so that alone was worth it for me. I also got to travel around a lot and make lots of memories with amazing people.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Eda-sensei and Matsui-sensei were really nice! We had a fun dynamic going on, and I never felt they were unapproachable, nor did I feel they didn't know what they were doing. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived as kings: Dialogue house it pretty much like living in a hotel room: down side: no stoves its all microwave and boiling water from a kettle. |
* Food: |
Good and cheap, |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
People are so accepting of you. I made lifelong friends and felt welcomed in clubs. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It's better in Japan than in the U.S. and cheaper too |
* Safety: |
A million times safer than in the U.S. The only time I felt for my safety was when riding my bike at night in streets, and that was only because I didn't want to get hit by a car. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
ICU offered a unique experience to completely immerse in school activities, clubs, classes, and campus life in general. It had a really strong language program, and the support network offered by Middlebury was great. the Language pledge really challenged me, in a good way, as well. |
Finances
* 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) |
I personally failed at budgeting when it came to exploring Tokyo, as transportation eats your wallet up. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make a budget and be aware of what you are spending: save when you can: grocery stores for food, transportation foreigner discounts, etc. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
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? | 232: high intermediate |
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? | Practice practice practice. Honestly, if you are going to ICU, it is imperative that you practice kanji the most. |
Other Program Information
* 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? |
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? | I wished I would have brushed up on my Japanese (Kanji) before going to Japan, as the language pledge really affected me the first two weeks there. |