I Had an Awesome Time! Great for Independent People

Going to J.F. Oberlin University was incredible. I had an amazing time. Classes were interesting and engaging, and the social scene was great. Something to note is that it is easier to join clubs and activities in the spring semester, as that’s the beginning of the school year in Japan. One thing I really liked about J.F. Oberlin was that it was located in Machida, which was a little calmer than central Tokyo, but still close enough to make frequent day trips into Tokyo. Machida is definitely a less touristy place than most big Tokyo sights, but the calmness of it really helped me feel like I wasn’t just living in Japan as a tourist, but that I was living in a place where other people lived their day-to-day lives.

I really enjoyed all the cultural outings that TEAN put together. However, there was a slight issue with communication with TEAN while in Japan. If you’re someone who suspects that you might need quite a bit of extra support, this may not be an ideal program. But for those who are very independent, this may work great for you. Or, if you’re a really independent person, direct exchange might actually be a good way to go.