Unexpected Social Breakthroughs in Tokyo! Past Review

By Christie P (Creative Media, University of Hawaii - Manoa) for

Waseda University: Tokyo - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

My study abroad experience was not at all what I expected. I didn't exactly enjoy my classes, but I found that my life outside of school contributed more to my education rather than in it. I was able to learn a lot about the culture just by living and wandering around Tokyo and I came back much more mature and equipped with new understanding.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I gained a lot of experience in this program, from public speaking to reading literature in Japanese. It was challenging, but overall worthwhile.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The administration at my host university was most of the time unbending and unwilling to listen to any concerns I had in the classes I was taking. It was difficult to find someone who would actually listen to me and do something about it. However, I am grateful to some of my professors who exhibited genuine concern in my life outside of class (i.e. checking up on me when I was sick, etc.)
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I arranged housing on my own, as I found the dorms at the university to be too far and too expensive for a room with shared facilities. I went to a real estate agency (Takadanobaba Fudousan) and was assisted by an agent to rent an apartment next to the university at a fair price. The apartment was newly renovated and beautiful. The neighborhood was also nice, being in the middle of a "college town" so supermarkets, stores, and the metro was within walking distance. I would recommend this agency for students who would want to arrange their own housing. The employees were extremely helpful and went out of their way to make sure I was settled in and satisfied with the apartment.
* Food:	The cafeterias at the university were diverse and very affordable for low budget students. There were also stores outside of campus that offered bentos for students. The quality and quantity went beyond my expectations for such cheap fare. Delicious. :)
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The annual school event was one of my memorable experiences of the university. It was loud, bizarre, and very entertaining. Too bad it's only an annual event.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	The university was very strict about hygiene by providing hand sanitizers in the entrances of buildings and in computer labs. Students were reminded in class about proper hygiene and also encouraged to wear face masks if one was sick. The student infirmary at the university was very impressive. Although I did not have medical insurance at the time, the nurses helped me when I had a severe allergic reaction and didn't even charge me for the treatment.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
Language acquisition improvement?	I joined extracurricular clubs to make friends and exercise my language skills.
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?