Eye-opening and invigorating. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic environment of this program was very informative, descriptive, and somewhat dense given the subject matter. We were in class for about 4 hours everyday and were exposed to a variety of professors and topics. It was almost exclusively lecture-based.

On-site administration of your program

The administration of the program was thorough and very much invested in overseeing the execution of each lecture. At any given time there were at least 2 professors and one program leader in the room. In addition, the professors teaching always had well-prepared PowerPoints and provided each student with a paper copy of the lecture.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing on this pilot program was authentic. Japanese-style living is quite different in some aspects than a westerner is used to, but exposure to the rooms in the hostel made the experience more worth-while. In my case, I shared a room with one other person in a room that was equipped with a small coffee table, a sink with a mirror, and an open space that was to be used for our sleeping pads. I enjoyed the coziness and camaraderie that I got to experience with my roommate.

The trip involved a lot of traveling, which was necessary in order to visit all of the institutes that aided in our education. At times this made eating a bit challenging and less whole-some, but while we were at the hostel we were offered home-cooked meals. I enjoyed this food the most because it was a combination of local Japanese cuisine with selections of food we were accustomed to eating. There was always an opportunity to purchase snacks and other things to eat to satisfy our appetite as we were constantly near food marts and convenience stores.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

One night after class we went to a local summer street festival near our living quarters. This was an amazing opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture and gain a better sense of the people who lived there.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have a serious healthcare issue, but I have a dietary issue that was given a lot of attention and care.

I would absolutely choose to do this program over again. Not only did I learn extensively about the renewable energy inititatives that are taking place in Japan, but I learned about Japanese culture with like-minded individuals. This program made me excited about my future and the future of renewable energy.

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

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Select all that apply

• Hotel
• Hostel

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• Americans
• Other

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• Americans

• People
• Extra-curricular activities outside of the classroom
• Hike/trip into the mountains and overnight stay in the cabin

• A little less meals on-the-go

The Avid Adventurer