International Culture in Japan Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Japanese universities in general are far more lenient than American ones. I was surprised by the small amount of workload that has been assigned thus far. More emphasis is placed on presentations, homework, and attendance than quizzes and tests (with some exceptions). Waseda's program is a little disorganized, but after you learn how the system works, it becomes manageable. Waseda is credited as one of the top schools in Japan; it is definitely a good resume builder. Since the test to determine what level you should enter is incredibly hard, it's likely you will repeat some of what you have learned. All of the classes in my program are taught in Japanese, which is helpful, but be careful of what you pick. The intensive courses will teach you more than any other courses, however, the other courses can be quite helpful (as long as they aren't too easy). It's much harder to get a feel for how class will be run in Japan than in America.

On-site administration of your program

The program is very unorganized and is not very helpful when you have questions. It's much easier to look up questions online or ask other students for help than to ask faculty. Japanese schooling is really about the out-of-school experience, which makes it initially hard for American students to cope. Waseda's international program size is very large, as well, so students really do have to go out of their way to make Japanese friends. However, as far as networking around the world goes, I could not have asked for a better experience.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I love my dorm (Nishi Waseda International Student House). I love being able to connect with other students, spend time in and around a very accessible part of Tokyo, and I love having my own room with a full bathroom to myself. It is very close to campus, making life much easier, and the neighborhood is safe and quiet, but not far from the fun. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because it does make it difficult to practice Japanese outside of class.

You're going to miss American foods, but it's easy to find substitutions. At first, I was frightened about going to Japan for a year since I have a shellfish allergy; however, as long as you're careful and not afraid to ask questions, you won't have problems (I haven't so far). I suggest looking up Japanese recipes and utilizing your kitchen with cheap foods from the surrounding stores. You can always get excellent deals at local stores (there's a vegetable shop not far from me on Meiji Dori that always has great deals, and the local upper-class supermarket has sales very regularly). Ramen shops and bento places can be found everywhere, and there are some nice sushi restaurants in Takadanobaba. If all-you-can-drink is for you, Takadanobaba and Shinjuku are excellent locations and each easy to access.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Bekka (my program) trips are incredibly fun, and if you keep an eye open, you can join students who travel across Japan on their own trips. My favorite experience here so far has been a short homestay program to a small village in the Fukushima prefecture with a small group of Japanese and international students. Traveling with friends I've made here (even just around Tokyo) is a lot of fun, as well. All these experiences will help you learn, grow, and network while having fun.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

You are required to get national health insurance in Japan, which really does cut down costs. You can always check out the school's campus health, and if that doesn't help (Japanese medicine is often weaker than Western medicine), the American embassy website has recommendations that can help. There are vaccines for Japan (requirements in American plus Hepatitis A and Japanese Encephalitis if you are going to spend any time in rural areas). Just be careful and know your options.

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

I live in an international dorm, so it is difficult to practice with people my own age. By spending time with Japanese friends and participating in my Japanese classes, I have learned more than I would by simply following the requirements. I suggest involvement outside of school and dedication if you really want to learn language at Waseda.

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• Dorm

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• International Students