Past Review
By Andrew M (International Business., New Mexico State University) for
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies: Nisshin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
One of the biggest things that has changed about my cultural awareness is how America is viewed in other countries. Another thing is how people are treated in society. During class and during club activities, everybody had a specific role but outside of those situations, everybody seems to treat each other at about the same level. This does not happen much in America.
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. |
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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? |
The dorms I lived in were 5 minutes walking distance from the university campus and about 10 minutes walking distance from the bus stop to get to basically anywhere else in the city. |
| * Food: |
First off, Japanese portions are usually smaller than American portions. With that in mind, you should be able to make larger sized meals if you make your own. The grocery stores usually have really great deals later on in the day. Be aware that a lot of Japanese food is based off of seafood, even if it is not obvious. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had to go to the hospital because I got sick. One of the office staff members took me to there and helped translate. The healthcare system in Japan is very similar to that of America. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Things in Japan can be very expensive, so keeping a budget and financial record are very good things to do. There are many stores that sell used things at extremely good quality, so buying used is a good way to go. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Try to speak Japanese as much as possible; join some clubs and only talk in Japanese. You will need to use Japanese basically everyday, especially when shopping, although sometimes the cashiers will try to speak English to you. |
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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