Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Eye Opener Past Review

By (Cardinal Stritch University) - abroad from 08/23/2019 to 12/22/2019 with

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Semester in Japan

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It helped me to see Japan in a knew light.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

I cooked for myself mostly, but there are times when you just want to eat your own food from your country.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My school was very American which didn't give a lot of vibe Japanese culture vibe. But I did volunteer a lot and got to experience Japanese culture. I did go on a lot of field trips that you have to pay for but they were pretty cheap.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The school had an nurse on campus, it seems they just knew the basic. They would give us an address to go to. Most of the places that were given to us were only open until 3pm or 5pm which was hard to get to if you had class and has to take the bus which runs every hour then you have to take in account the train or other bus which also runs every hour or thirty minutes. They had an vaccine every other month and a health check requirement at the start of school provided at school.

* Safety:

I felt pretty safe in the area I lived in. We went through a lot of train regarding earthquakes and fires.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

This program paid for me to travel and gain insight, paid for my plane ticket and any other expenses I had. I truly thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Finances

* 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)

Since I decided to make my own food, it was actually pretty hard to keep up with it because I had classes everyday and would be tired or because I had clubs so I could find the time to get out to the store and since I couldn't get to the store I would buy things in bulk which would cost a lot because it didn't last long like in America.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100-200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to budget your money. I know a lot of students went on trips as soon as they came to Japan. That was because they brought the tickets in advance with their schedule. It also depends if you decided to buy the meal plan from the school or the re-loadable card. They also had an cafe, an store inside the school, and a store across the street along with 2 grocery stores and a mall 10 minutes away by bus. So, scope out the area and decide what you would rather do and think about how often you have get together, go out of town, decide to eat out and souvenir shopping along with trips.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Education Related
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? N/A

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.