Name: Christian Dow
Major: Criminal Justice
Program: Criminal Justice in Japan
Traveled Abroad Before: No

Q: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your study abroad experience?
A: The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a study abroad experience is "new". Whether its visiting a new country, trying new foods and activities, or experiencing a new culture. All of these things play an important role in defining what studying abroad truly is and they also play an important role in having a unique and unforgettable experience with learning!

Q: Why did you choose this destination?
A: Japan has always been a place that I wanted to visit, everything about it seemed amazing. Whether it was going to Tokyo, trying the unique foods, or learning about the extensive history, all of these things really piqued my interest. So when I was presented with an opportunity to study my major in Japan, I did not hesitate to start making the dream into a reality.

Q: What are some things that surprised you about the campus, the classes, the culture, customs or traditions?
A: I think one thing that surprised me about the class room experience was class times in general. Going into my trip, I was expecting to spend a lot of time in class learning about the culture instead of going out and experiencing it. When arriving though, I realized that was not the case. Class times were very minimal with a lot of hands on activities that were provided to help immerse in the culture. Out of class, the students were able to go and explore what it was like to live day-to-day life in Japan. On the other hand, the culture also came as a shock to me. As compared to society in the United States (more individualistic), Japan was more focused on helping each other through all sorts of problems, it became clear very quickly that Japan is less of a "you're on your own" and more of a "we're in this together" type of society (more collectivistic). All of these aspects proved to be very surprising for someone like myself who had never been out of the country.

Q: What are some things you would like students to know about studying abroad in this destination or the program provider you studied with?
A: I think the biggest advice that can be given about studying abroad in Japan is to be mindful. Whether it is about where you are or who you are around. Japan is a small but very populated country, this means that even cities in the "country side" of Japan can have high populations (e.g., Hikone had about 115,000 people living there and it was labeled as a small town). With that said, a person who is traveling to Japan should be mindful of where they are at all times to help reduce the possibility of getting lost. On the other hand, Japanese people also live by a code of respect and honor for each other. With that said, someone who is traveling to Japan should be mindful of the locals and work to be respectful to those that they encounter during their time abroad.

Q: What advice would you offer?
A: Take the leap. It is not very often that someone is presented an opportunity to learn something they love in another country. Don't spend time hesitating on if you can make it a possibility, but instead be proactive and take a chance. I worried about my trip abroad and if it would be everything that I was hoping for. After my trip though, I realized that it was more than I could have ever asked for surpassing all expectations I could have possibly had. Take the opportunity to learn in another country, and I promise there will not be a day in your life that you will regret it.

Q: What was your academic goal while studying abroad?
A: My academic goal during my trip in Japan was to help understand Criminal Justice on a deeper level. Japan is home to one of the safest societies on the planet and I wanted to understand how they manage to make it that way. Not only that, but as a Criminal Justice major, I find it to be very important and relevant to have a deeper understanding of other societies and cultures. This understanding will be able to help me throughout my career duties in a way that I can ensure proper and fair treatment to all, no matter what background someone has.

Question? Email Christian!

Name: Sheila Garcia
Major: International Relations
Program: Japanese Theater in Osaka
Traveled Abroad Before: Yes

Q: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your study abroad experience?
A: The sounds of the train station and the sound of of the school bells ringing. These were the sounds that greeted me in the mornings as I made my way to class.

Q: Why did you choose this destination?
A: I wanted to learn more about Japanese culture and as I couldn't commit to a full semester due to a variety a reasons, this program was the perfect fit.

Q: What are some things that surprised you about the campus, the classes, the culture, customs or traditions?
A: Well one of the things that sticks out the most in my mind is how narrow the roads are in Japan. A one-way street in the US is a two-way street in Japan. Overall though, it was the small things that caught my eye, having people come up to us randomly and try to speak in English with us, being surprised at the lengths to which the locals will go to help you, including basically walking you home if you're lost, and of course, learning to recognize when the cashier asked you if you wanted your bento (pre-made lunch) heated up or not.

Q: What are some things you would like students to know about studying abroad in this destination or the program provider you studied with?
A: This program really gives you a taste of traditional Japan and modern Japan. It's all about visiting temples one day and visiting Namba, where large screens blast music and signs light up the sky, the next day.

Q: What advice would you offer?
A: Go out and explore. Explore your entire neighborhood within your first week and try to speak the language as much as possible. People in Japan were very friendly and more than willing to speak with you. Also, try to bring gifts from the US to Japan, so that when you leave, you can thank them properly with a small gift. Don't forget to go to karaoke, it's too fun to pass up!

Q: What was your academic goal while studying abroad?
A: I wanted to understand Japanese culture better, beyond the idea of many that it's the "land of anime and manga". The course really allowed me to understand other art forms in Japan and learn more about Japanese society as a whole.

Question? Email Sheila!