The pace of life in Tokyo is 100 times faster than at home Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Japanese students study hard in high school to get into college, but it seemed like the college coursework was less difficult. Classes are shorter, less work than UH.

On-site administration of your program

UH was fine, it was just the Nihon U admin. No one explains this to you, but if you go for a year or semester, you will be considered a student of the Arts & Sciences or Economics College. If you go for the summer only, you will be considered a JLSP student. This determines where your dorm/apartment is going to be, and the different class you HAVE to take.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Room was very small, felt like I was a turtle in a box, but you have remember you live in the most densly populated city in the world. But I can't complain, housing was free, you only have to pay 30,000 yen/month for food, and then another bill for electricity.

The best, everywhere you go. Of course, portions are A LOT smaller, but you get used to it. I left Hawaii at 185 lbs, and at one point was down to 160 lbs. Meals in the dorm are mostly fish/vegetables/rice. hardly any meat, and no juice, milk or soda. tea and water all day, everyday but sunday!!!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

best advice i can give is to save up a lot of money, and plan to do trips before school starts. during the week you're limited to Tokyo/Kanagawa/Chiba, but on weekends and holidays you can go pretty far across the country. I did three day trips to Hiroshima and Sapporo before school started, and also a weekend in Hakone. Disneyland/Sea, Joypolis in Odaiba, and baseball games were fun too. There's something to do everyday, just gotta plan it out.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Food is safe. Just ask teachers if you need help. Also, if you ever forget something on the trains, the locals are relly nice and will let you know.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

What you put in is what you get out. But actually, just living in Japan forces you to learn the language. A lot of street signs are in English, but hardly anyone outside of school speaks English. Also, the only English words my dorm manager knew was "sank you." I couldn't really understand what he was saying when I first arrived, but in my last few weeks there I was having 5 minute long conversations with him.