Best first study abroad experience I could have ever wished for

Just WOW! I took this trip to Japan during the end of July for three weeks through August and it was absolutely incredible! Not only are the staff very friendly and easy to get along with but they know when to get serious and how to handle groups of high school students. I also really enjoyed being around the friends I made on this trip, it was one of those rare experience bonding connections you don't get to see or know of very often. Looking back on it now some of the trip highlights had to be the time we visited Nara Park and fed the deer that bowed to you, funnily enough it started POURING and it was a great time running to the nearby 7/11 for umbrellas! If you are going into this thinking its a vacation then STOP its an experience through and through. Expect to have the best time of your life BUT you have to be willing and ABLE to do it, some days went up to 25k steps. All in all this program was by far one of the best decisions I made in my life, and from the Tokyo Tower, to the Osaka street vendors, to the many many beautiful castles and the ACTUAL location of the atomic bomb detonation you really PACK in as much of Japan in 3 weeks as you can get! I cant think of what else to say other than praise for this program so SIGN UPPP!!! (also the program director Derek Tano is the KINGGG!!)