CIS Abroad - Summer in Tokyo - J.F. Oberlin University

This past summer I went to Tokyo, Japan with CIS Abroad where I studied at J.F. Oberlin University Shinjuku. Overall, I had a great experience. The support staff before studying abroad, and the on site support staff were extremely helpful. I was a little lost on things to do and how to get around when I first got there, and they were extremely helpful in helping me navigate around. The university was also very nice. They had a program where I got to meet many Japanese students which was very fun. My business class though mundane at times had times where we got to go on field trips, and learn much about Japanese business and culture. The area of Tokyo is also very nice with many things to do. It is easy to get around and the locals are polite and welcoming as long as you are polite and follow their formalities such as not eating and walking and being quiet on trains. My only issue was the housing situation was not amazing. We were at a hotel, but the rooms were quite small. That was not really an issue the big issues was that we were so far away from campus. It was about a 40 minute to an hour train ride and walk. Unfortunately trains were also super cramped and busy during the morning which also made it difficult getting on to campus. Besides housing, I would say this Study Abroad experience was extremely enjoyably and I would still recommend to people.

I was able to attend 2 sessions during the summer and took the Management in Japanese Corporations and Japanese Intermediate courses. I had previously attended the January program at the same university so I knew what I was getting into. The staff and faculty are extremely kind and accommodating. The excursions were very informative, my favorite being the calligraphy lesson. There is also plenty of time to explore Japan outside of class, some classes even having field trips. If I were to compare the January and Summer terms:

- the winter is fairly mild (compared to New Jersey, United States of America) and the summer is fairly humid with temperatures being a little high.
- the summer is lot a more lively with a lot more festivals and outdoor events (ex. Firework shows) happening around Japan. There also is a lot more foreign tourists around Tokyo in the summer as well

Overall I don’t think I have too big of a preference between the two because they both offer slightly different experiences. It really depends on what you are looking to do in Japan/your travel style. If you prefer a little more lively atmosphere or enjoy the warmer weather then I’d definitely recommend the summer sessions.

With CIS Abroad, I was able to experience many sides of Tokyo, not just the touristy, overcrowded areas. Housing was located in a quiet neighborhood, and the campus was near busy Shinjuku. The onsite staff were so kind and went out of their way to help us when we needed it. They also gave us the freedom to explore Tokyo (and Japan, for that matter) safely, but without making us feel like children. I would recommend this for a self-guided person who does not want to be required to attend mandatory outings.