Why did you choose this program?
I picked my university because I knew I wanted to study abroad in Japan. In 2005 I had the opportunity to participate in a Sister Cities exchange for 2 weeks in Japan and I wanted to go back and really learn the language. I did not originally plan going my sophomore year, but a friend encouraged me to apply when our Japanese teacher mentioned it. I knew I wanted a program where I had the option of homestay and student dorms.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
We had an exchange, so my US university helped me with a lot of the application and visa pieces I needed to submit. Precision is key with visas, so we had at least one group meeting with a faculty member and former study abroad students prior to departure. Kansai Gaidai picked us up from the airport, oriented us on site, and had a meeting with my host family and I to discuss the contract.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Take advantage of student groups or trips while you are there. Kansai Gaidai usually has local students proposing and offering trips. I remember participating in one in Arashiyama for fall leaf viewing and then we went out afterwards. Another was a camping trip in Nose with a trip to a ropes course style park the next day. Branch out from the other study abroad students and spend time with Japanese students; they are usually eager to practice their language and study abroad too!
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Unless your Japanese is good enough to take classes with locals, your schedule usually includes a speaking and listening class, a reading and writing class, and 2-3 electives. Language classes happen more often than electives. Usually I had morning classes (typically speaking classes) and afternoon classes (usually electives) and spent free time in the student lounge. You can easily grab lunch at the cafeteria. I was on campus 5 days a week.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I really suffered from culture shock in the beginning; I don't think I expected it, having visited before, but my first semester was tough. Still, I'm really glad I continued for the full year. I ended up staying with my homestay family the entire year instead of just a semester (I had originally planned to spend a semester in student housing). Making friends, both international and Japanese, and connecting with my homestay family really helped. Get involved and try to say yes, even when it pushes you out of your comfort zone.
Write and answer your own question.
The story I always come back to was my completely spontaneous week I travel in Okinawa. I went with friends and we took the ferry down to Naha with absolutely no plan and no accommodations. After a rough first night, our accommodations (which we found the day of in all cases) progressively improved. The nicest place we stayed I probably couldn't even direct you to; we had a wonderful meal in a small town near the ferry to Ie-jima and asked a taxi driver to get us to a hotel. The place he dropped us off was probably a lovely off season beach resort, but it reminded us a little too much of the Overlook hotel. We called another cab and asked to find another place to stay and he dropped us off at what looked like an apartment complex. He gestured for us to go inside where we wandered into the living room of an elderly woman and young girl. Fortunately the girl's mother came out, spoke perfect Texan English, and rented us a comfy room for the night. We completely botched the return ferry trip and had to fly home to take exams, but it was such a memorable trip.