Tokyo is out of this world Past Review
By Sydney W (Sociology., Trinity University) - abroad from 08/25/2014 to 12/13/2014 with
Temple University International Programs: Tokyo - Temple University Japan Campus
try new things, put yourself out there, learning how to be independent
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The Japanese classes move very quickly, but the amount you learn in such a small amount of time is invaluable. It's doable! It is an average school. Nice students, but it feels a bit like high school. It's a tiny campus (6 floors of 1 building), and the teachers give more busy work than actual critical thinking work. 3/5 stars for the school just being okay, but not good or great. |
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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? |
3/5 stars because although the facility is really nice and clean, the cafeteria is great, and the rooms are very nice! But the curfew rule is what kills this from being a higher rating. Although the last subway trains in Tokyo leave at 12:30am, the curfew for Kitazono Women's Dorm is 11pm. They make it seem as though (because the building locks up) that you do not have a home to come back to if you are later than 11pm. If you gather up the courage to unlock the gate yourself and knock on the door until they let you in, you can get back inside after 11pm, but even at 11:01 (sometimes even 10:59) things are all locked up-- so unless you "break in" you have to stay out all night. There were too many a night where I thought I wouldn't have a home to go back to, so we had to stay out either on the streets or at an establishment all night. Also, they do not let you come home until 6:30am unless you "break in" like I said. So even in some places where the trains begin again at 5am, the people in Kitazono do not like it when you are home before 6:30am. It's not actually keeping girls safe with these rules. These rules really dampened the experience of being a college adult being able to explore and enjoy Tokyo. |
| * Food: |
FOOD IN JAPAN IS AMAZING. No food provided by the TUJ program, but there is a cafeteria in Kitazono Women's Dorm. |
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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? |
They don't really help you too much at all, and the school barely acknowledges when people get sick. There's penalties in most classes for missing class, and the English-friendly health facility is like an hour away from the dorms. There is a hospital right by Kitazono, but it is not English-friendly. |
| * Safety: |
Tokyo is very very safe, but the curfew rules in Kitazono Women's Dorm force girls to stay out in the street all night (11pm-6:30am), pay for a love hotel, or stay over night with random people-- all of which aren't "safe" options. |
| 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) |
Depending on if you buy groceries vs. go out to eat, traveling a lot vs. not, going to bars and clubs vs. not, budget changes. But I spent roughly $50-$100 per week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you are in Kitazono, buy most groceries at the open air markets! They are way cheaper than the grocery stores. But if you want meat at the grocery store, they lower the prices after 6-7pm in the evenings. |
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 |
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| 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? | speak it as much as possible |
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? | nothing |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
