Amazing but difficult. Past Review
By Sonia E (Japanese Language, Literature, Loras College) - abroad from 03/29/2015 to 08/01/2015 with
Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies: JASIN: Japan Studies in Nagasaki Study Abroad Program
I was able to receive a true insight into the Japanese culture and made many friends from all over the world. It was far more than worthwhile it was amazing!
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. |
It was difficult in that you had to take many classes to reach the credit requirement and only had class once a week so remembering what was taught could be hard. Aside from that, the course material was high school level at best and it was academically rigorous. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The campus was nice and the professors were helpful but there was little in the way of support for the international students. The staff of the dorms often treated the international students poorly and it was sometimes difficult to get your complaints heard. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I must admit to hating them. It's not that the room was unsatisfactory but the roommate situations was just chosen by nationality and the rules were very strict and only strongly enforced if you were non-Japanese. There was more than one occasion in which the international students were openly discriminated against and targeted in the dorm. As far as home stay was concerned, despite that I didn't personally stay with a host family, the school didn't screen the families prior to placing students with them so many were in abusive households and weren't given much help to leave them. |
| * Food: |
I adore Japanese food but I have a shellfish allergy that the school was aware of yet I often times had to go without eating due to the meals provided. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Having the city so close was nice and helpful as people in Nagasaki are used to having foreigners around. Many were open and willing to communicate and I made many Japanese friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was amazingly simple and affordable for me to get medical treatment! The only problem I had was that, when I went in for care, they were too quick to give me many drugs to treat my symptoms yet never tried to look for what made me sick. |
| * Safety: |
I never once felt threatened even when waking alone at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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 |
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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 |
We were encouraged to practice but weren't necessarily provided all of the resources to do so. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Join as many clubs as you can with native speakers. It can be difficult to get people to talk to you in Japanese but if you just keep trying eventually they will help you. |
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?
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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? | The dormitory rules and staff are trying and difficult taking away what little privacy you have in a country where you already stand out so completely, it's better to just get a single. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
