JAPAN IS GREAT Past Review
By Christina Barrera (Maryland Institute College of Art) for
Temple University International Programs: Tokyo - Temple University Japan Campus
Going to Japan was great. I definitely hope to go back some day. It's interesting to feel so much like an outsider. At first it was very unsettling, but the more Japanese people I got to know, the more I learned about Japan's global relationships. It was an eye-opening experience in that sense. Allover, the most impressive thing for me was the merging of old and new culture; tradition and pop-culture. Seeing a temple or shrine rising over a sea of apartment rooftops was so curious. I hope that I can get an art teaching job for maybe a year in Japan after I finish college.
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. |
Work was rigorous in the academic classes I took. The workload seemed about right to high, though the class schedule was not conducive to exploring and experiencing culture. I would suggest to someone studying abroad at Temple to take fewer classes, or try to take classes only M/W/F or Tu/Th. Sometimes, the workload was excessively high, which was especially annoying during the second half of the semester when the weather was nicer, there were more festivals, and it was more tempting to go out and explore. I was very happy with my Japanese Language class, I learned a lot and the level was fast-paced but manageable. I feel like I got a lot out of it. My Chinese and Japanese Literature in Cultural Context class was fun and informative, I learned a lot in that class as well, though the second half of the semester was crowded with papers and homework compared to the first half. The lectures in my Art History class were good, but the tests were unnecessarily difficult. I did enjoy all of the class field trips however, we went to some great museums and saw some awesome shows. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Sometimes it was hard getting things done as far as student ID sign up and things like that. Everything was organized for the most part, however. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked living with a lot of people and having my own room as well as a common area for lounging. I didn't even mind the common showers). Having others to consult with about homework or work alongside late into the night was awesome. I loved our small town, and I was able to practice my simple Japanese at the grocery store and restaurants. Our dorm manager, Aki-san went above and beyond for us. He was amazing. I loved the dorm. |
| * Food: |
Food was great and much healthier than home for the most part. Sometimes it was difficult finding a place to eat for me and my vegan/vegetarian friends, but we made it work. Also there is an international area down the street from the campus that had vegetarian and vegan restaurants. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
JAPAN IS AMAZING. The temples, the pop culture, the traditional culture, EVERYTHING. Amazing. Just what I wanted. I wish the weather had been nicer, though. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
We had to get Japanese health care while we were there, so if anything happened physically, we were assuredly taken care of. I felt totally safe wherever I went in Japan, walking home late at night and even in places I wasn't familiar with. It is very safe. |
| 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 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I was very happy with my Japanese Language class, I learned a lot and the level was fast-paced but manageable. I feel like I got a lot out of it. Great! |
| 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? | Anyone interested in Japanese culture who does not need to take many classes. The program is in Tokyo, which is an amazing place to live. Make sure you don't overload yourself with classes so you have plenty of time to explore, and take every opportunity to leave the city, especially for the school trips. Go to Kyoto. Go to Osaka. Go to Nagano. Do it. Also the ramen shops are amazing. |
