YFU High School Study Abroad Program in Japan

I've wanted to study abroad for as long as I can remember, but I had also decided it was completely impossible because of how expensive it is. The best discovery of my life was YFU's scholarships. Thanks to the Japan-America Friendship Scholarship, I was able to spend a month and a half in Japan for only $3000, including airfare, when it would have $12,000 without the scholarship. Some of the other, though harder to win, scholarships made the trip completely free and even gave the students other gifts like tickets to Tokyo Disney. The application fee to apply in the first place was a little expensive, but it ended up being completely worth it. Since YFU gives out a LOT of scholarships, it seems as though most people that apply end up winning.
Host families are all over the country and are picked according to matching interests. Be careful when you discuss your interests, because this is how families are matched, so if you aren't truthful, you won't end up with a good fit for you. Be honest, and you will find a family for life.
Before going to Japan, there is an orientation in California. Sadly, my scholarship's funding got cut a little bit this year, so the other scholarships had a three day long orientation and mine was only one day. Still, they covered all the important parts, and really only had to cut out the games that the longer orientations played.
I was placed on the border of Osaka and Nara. At first, this frightened me because I had heard that Osaka had a difficult dialect. However, I quickly realized that this was hardly an issue. I absolutely loved my location, as I was smack in the middle of some of the best cities in the country. Nara is famous for its docile deer that you can simply walk up to and pet. Kyoto, which was a half hour train ride from my house, is one of the most beautiful places in the country. If you ever see a picture of a beautiful temple or shrine in Japan, there's a decent chance it was taken in Kyoto. Osaka itself is a bustling city full of awesome places to shop, and houses Universal Studios.
The amount of time you attend school depends on your host school. Some of my fellow exchange students were attending school the entire time they were there. For me, I was only in school for about 9 days. I was assigned two buddies who were especially good at English to help me get around, and for one period every day all of the exchange students (three year long students from Estonia, the US, and Hungary, and two summer students, me and one other American girl) got together to help each other. On my last day, my classmates threw me a small surprise party. Though it was a little sad to only see class 2-9 for such a short time, it gave me more time to explore the country, and I still got to play with the tennis team so I still got time to hang out with my schoolmates.
One issue I had, which was out of YFU's control, was my host family. They were, sadly, one of the few host families who had hosted without realizing that they were ill equipped to host. It was only a dad and a daughter. The daughter completely ignored me (she later blamed it on shyness) and the host dad worked all the time, though he did try his best to be a good host parent. I have talked to many other exchange students, and this is a very uncommon issue. However, this did expose one of YFU's best qualities, which is their support system. My local area rep was more than happy to meet up with me several times and talk with me when I was having issues. My host family never took me out anywhere, so my area rep took me to see some very cool things on his own expense. I had the chance to move families, but decided not to take it since I decided that it would be too much drama in such a short time period. As a silver lining, I did develop a great deal of independence and was able to see a lot of Japan on my own or with other exchange students.
All in all, I would absolutely recommend this with all of my heart. Like all exchanges, there will be hard times and nobody will be happy with every part of their exchange. However, this is an amazing chance to grow as a person, live in another culture, and have what will easily be the most life changing summer of your life. If you are even considering applying for a scholarship, do it. You'll never know where you might end up.

I did not realize I would be immersed in a completely different language until I stepped off the plane and couldn't read the signs. My Japanese was next to none, and reading it was simply out of the question. I believed I was going to be completely on my own in Japan, and that no one was going to help me. I was afraid my host parents would not be able to understand me, or that I would get lost a dozen times over.

That could not have been farther from the case. YFU had prepared me to overcome the initial culture shock of language and customs with a pre-departure orientation in Berkeley, California, arming me with the tools and knowledge I needed to get through my first few days in Japan. All other words and customs I soon learned from my host family. YFU does an amazing job finding a host family perfect for you so that you can not only learn from them, but they learn from you.

The initial fear of the language barrier became less of an obstacle, and more of a small hurdle that I was determined to clear. Once I told myself this, communication was easy. I began to socialize more, and I wasn't afraid to speak Japanese (although it was extremely limited).

If it wasn't for YFU, I would not have been able to get out of my comfort zone and made so many great friends.

Participating in an exchange program was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had, and also one of the best decisions I've ever made. Not only was it super fun to be able to see another country and the different culture, but being able to interact with others in a language I only partially know was one of the most difficult yet amazing things a high school student can do. This program helped me earn an appreciation for Japanese--and languages in general--and come to a realization that while language barrier is most certainly a difficultly, communication is still more than achievable. My host sister and I had a conversation--though it took us a while to communicate our different points--about Japan's and America's governments. Despite the fact that we both grew up in very different places with very different cultures, we shared many of the same opinions regarding rather controversial topics. That's the moment that I realized we're all rather alike, no matter where we come from. I'm so thankful to YFU for giving the opportunity to have this life-changing experience where I made so many amazing friends and learned more about the world.

I received the Okinawa Peace Scholarship from Youth for Understanding. I thought of declining the scholarship because I was too nervous to spend the summer without my family, but I'm so glad I went. We had an orientation at UC Berkeley, which gave us all an opportunity to meet each other, learn basic Japanese (or advanced depending on your language level) and Japanese culture. Once arriving in Japan I had the opportunity to explore Tokyo and go to the US Embassy before flying to Okinawa. YFU Japan brought us to shrines and the Imperial Palace, but also gave us free time to explore around the city. My host family spoke little English, but we instantly clicked. They couldn't have been more kind and generous. I had 2 grandparents, 2 parents, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, an uncle, a dog and a cat! I spent about 4.5 weeks in school. I thought that school would be boring given my lack of Japanese knowledge, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I was a celebrity at school, and the students loved practicing their (limited) English skills with me. Many of whom had never been close to a not ethnically-Japanese person as the American children on the military bases go to school on base. In school I took calligraphy class, cooking class, taught English and tried out all of the majors offered at my agricultural school. If you are going to a Japanese high school please bring as many photos as you can of your school, friends, life and home. I had no idea that they would be so interested in what my friends and I wore to school everyday(Japanese schools have a strict dress code/uniform) and what my school cafeteria looked like(they eat in their classroom).
Without sounding over dramatic, leaving my host family was one of the hardest things I have had to do. No one in my family has a passport, so I know they can't visit me. I would like to visit again in a few years and maintain contact with my host sister.
YFU allowed me to gain self reliance and confidence in myself. YFU pushed me out of my comfort zone while always making sure I was safe. It was an experience of a lifetime.

The summer of 2016, I went on a 7-week study abroad program to Japan. I received the Japan-America Friendship Scholarship from Youth for Understanding which was the only reason I could afford to go to Japan. The experience was absolutely eye-opening. I did not know any prior Japanese, but I quickly learned. My host family and new school were extremely welcoming and very encouraging. My host mom got me many Japanese children's books and would sit with me countless hours helping me read the characters and work on my pronunciation. The students at school would always help me with pronunciation in class and always invited me to hang out with them. My only regret is that I wish I didn't stay longer! I regret not applying for a semester or year-long program! This program not only helped me grow as a person, it helped me decide my future route. YFU reassured me of my future in international affairs. For anyone that is considering going abroad I only have one thing to say - go for it!! Youth for Understanding provides so many amazing programs for everyone. This will surely be a decision you won't regret.

I've learned to be comfortable in my skin by going abroad with YFU. I met new people, made new connections, tried new things, and so much more. The best way to find yourself is to step away from what you know, and that's exactly what YFU let me do. I wouldn't trade the time I spent in Japan for anything in the world. I felt safe going to and from Japan, and connected with a safety net of YFU Representatives and volunteers throughout my entire journey, all while having my own sense of independence.

My family has a history with Japan. My mother, too, was an exchange student and ended up living there for nearly a decade once she pursued an English teaching career. All around my house we have trinkets, books, and photos that remind of our family's year in Sendai back in 2001. I was just a toddler, so all these things were the only reminder that I was even there.
I've been so used to having this Japanese background that I became unaware of it. It was only when I saw an article in the paper about a girl who went to Japan through her school's FCCLA club. I realized that it was possible to visit Japan again. At school, this girl, Ailee, helped me to apply and I was overjoyed and surprised when I actually got it! The following summer, I had the blessing to live with the Tanas for a month. They were sweet family with their daughter, Maiko, only a couple years younger than me. I'm the youngest in my family and being an onee-san (older sister) was a new and changing experience. I had Japanese language training and help from my mom, but I wasn't fluent. The trip improved my skills better than either of those! I can't pinpoint the exact moment when the Tanas and I just "clicked," all I know was that I expressed my funny and legitimate self and they accepted and loved me as if I was their own. Of course, I enjoyed exploring both Okinawa and Tokyo that summer, but experiencing it with them made it truly special. I never knew I could have two families. We became so close and they welcomed me into every nook and cranny of their lives. I appreciated it all so much. They really cared. We made sure to keep in contact, once I had to leave. There were many tears. The following summer, though, we got to meet again in my hometown where I could return the favor. I know our relationship has not ended there and I know they are forever in my future. It's thanks to YFU, who I barely knew about at the time I was applying, that I was able to have my life changed for the better.

To be honest, I was equally excited as I was nervous about my first day of school; however, within minutes of being there, I knew that I had nothing to worry about. I was given two "buddies" to help me out during class, and everyone in my class was extremely nice. I had the opportunity of participating in the school's sports festival which was fun. The most meaningful thing my classmates did for me was they made a scrapbook full of messages from each student, and they gave it to me on the last day of school. It was an amazing surprise that I will keep forever.