My study abroad experience in Fukuoka Japan Past Review
By oriana s (creative media, New Mexico State University) for
Seinan Gakuin University: Fukuoka - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Yes study abroad was worth while. I learned there language even thou i am not that good yet i enjoyed it. I gained many different views from Fukuoka. And not a single negative thought. They would always be positive. The only thing I can probably say is in this program you learn a lot and the Japanese teachers are really nice and are willing to help. The advisers at the I-House are the biggest help ever. I can't really explain what I experienced other than the life in Japan and how it made me realize how important friends can be and what you can learn with them. I went to Japan to learn about how they live and how the surrounding are and the atmosphere of my surroundings as well. By learning this it helped me understand on how to have people act or places how they must be for my films. I did learn this but also ended up switching careers from creative media to business. But not because of Japan but because of my personal reasons. Either way just go out there, meet people, learn every thing you can and most of all make friends for a life time.
Review Photos
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. |
Everything was just perfect we never had to much homework, the way they teach was great and the grading system seemed the same to me. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was very helpful not only do they help you with paper work or classes. But they invite you to school activities and they participate as well. You get to know them more and feel conformable when you ask for help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
To put it simple its like a big family from different races and cultures. The kitchen had everything unless you want something for yourself you would buy it. If not you can borrow from the other 4 kitchens in the dorm. The neighborhood is really safe and close by the university. And then theirs Sunny a food market that's just 5min walk away. Theirs also a drug store too. Its so safe you can go alone. i would always go for a walk at night in the area alone or with a friend. Its a very pleasant neighborhood I love it there. |
| * Food: |
The food was great. During school hours after class we would go to CO-OP and buy bento box they are cheap a good. I f we had longer time we would go to the school cafeteria which was also good. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I enjoyed the Kyoto Trip we visited many temples and they were so beautiful. There was also the mochi festival it was fun you get to make your own mochi as well which was pretty fun.There was also an orchestra we went to it was amazing to be able to attend one. We had a Christmas party which was fun we ate the tradition food they serve during these event. And just talked and sang Christmas songs all night it was fun.We had several party in the big room of the i-house, we watched movies in there, we did a lot and some of them were arranged by the program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The city overall is safe I thought it was safer than my own home town. I was never sick thankfully, but people in the i-house did get the pig flu i think that was it not sure. They had to visit the hospital and stay in there rooms until they got better. So they were very careful when it came to that. Just take care of your health and you should be fine. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | They just about tell you the right amount things will cost. Unless when you do go out with friends and you take the subway its 500yen for a day pass on weekends and on weekdays its 600yen. So if you were to go out every day that would be around 4000yen. Going out to eat at tenjin runs around 1500 to 2000yen. In Nishijin you can eat with 500 to 1000yen. Don Quijote AKA Donki is a cheap and reasonable prices you can get about anything its like a mini walmart. Sunnys is pretty cheap and what they sale is food plus other things. Its cheaper than Donki I believe but not 100% sure. I never got a bank account there I just used the ATM which worked out pretty well.So if you can budget your money and not go over board in a week you can have fun eat great food during your stay there. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you are interested in Japan period Seinan Gakuin is the perfect program/school you can attend. Fukuoka is really safe place and the people are really kind and are willing to help if you ask. My only advice would be to live to your fullest where when you leave you will have no regret. Because before you know it its time for you to return. So have fun, learn, and get ready to make some amazing friends. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
ELEM JAPANESE I |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Jo Sensei |
| Instruction Language: | English/JApanese |
| Comments: | It was pretty hard but when you ask for help Jo Sensei will always try to help you the best she can. What I found most difficult was the grammar. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Just to take what hey need or what they want to learn about in Japan. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Japanese communication thru movies and manga |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Ikezawa Sensei |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class was fun we talked about the different manga and movies their are and how they reflect in the real Japanese world. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
comparative relgions |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Engglish |
| Comments: | This class would teach us about the different religions there are and how they evolved. it was very interesting. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Tradional Culture of Japan |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English/japanese |
| Comments: | In this class I learned how to write calligraphy. I was a really fun class and you would learn more kanji here too. He teaches you how to write with what you feel. I had fun. |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Business management |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class was interesting. I enjoyed it a little. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Tradional Japanese Sprorts |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Japanese |
| Comments: | This class was Judo it was fun and challenging for me I enjoyed it. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Japanese Literature in English Translation |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The class itself was interesting if the stories we talked about were not confusing. If you enjoy confusing literature you will like this class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
INTERM JAPANESE I |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Jo Sensei |
| Instruction Language: | English/but more Japanese this time. |
| Comments: | Same as the other Japanese class. Its more understandable and I had more confident than the first semester. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
History of japan |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class was interesting and the teacher always made it fun. But what I did not like was how fast he will go through the eras. |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Japan east asian relationshi |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | I disliked this class. The way he would teach was so boring.And I had no interest in it. |
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