[SFU OLC Experience] An Adventurous Exchange Experience in Japan

Program:

Study Abroad › Exchange

University

Ritsumeikan University

Location:

Kyoto

Japan

Experience Faculty

Arts + Social Sciences

Photo from a trip to Byodoin in Uji. The 10 yen coin in Japan features an image of the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin. We also walked around the city, exploring Japanese history and culture.

Living in the dorms can be an exciting and sometimes challenging experience, but the friendships I made will endure and make it worthwhile.

Kinugasa campus is stunning and has many facilities, such as cafeterias with affordable Japanese meals, a huge library, a well-equipped gym and so on.

I wanted to share my experience studying abroad in Japan for the past 5 months, and I was thankful for the opportunity to learn so much about this wonderful nation. I studied abroad at Ritsumeikan University's Kinugasa Campus in Kyoto, Japan, on the Regular English Track (RCE). I had the privilege of studying at Ritsumeikan University because they provide a diverse range of courses to help me fulfill my Global Asia minor. I went in the fall of 2022 for a 15-week semester.

Experience Details

Semester

Fall

Year

2022

Introduction + Preparation

Previous Experience

Becoming an exchange student in Japan can be an exciting and life-changing experience. Nonetheless, some planning is required to ensure that you are well-prepared and ready for your travel. I wanted to underline the importance of acquiring crucial paperwork, particularly the visa. The wait for the issuing of the COE was pretty long, so be sure to begin the visa application as soon as you obtain your COE. Meanwhile, certain information on AMARYS (aka Ritsumeikan University Residence Track System) must be filled out in order to get a specific form to apply for a visa.

Location Research

Enrollment for courses begins around three weeks before the start of school. You will do research on the courses via the syllabus, and then enter the course code you choose to take on a link given by them. A confirmation email will be issued at a later date. It is quite different from SFU’s system, but the instructions are straightforward enough to understand.

Financial Preparation

I opened a Japanese bank account to debit and credit my scholarship and lodging fees. Although ATMs are commonly accessible in Japan for cash withdrawals, I would recommend taking some cash with you and depositing it into your bank account to avoid the transaction fee and conversion rate. Kyoto is still a cash-based society, especially when visiting a local Japanese store, so bring enough cash, and I recommend carrying a coin purse with you.

Packing

I packed only what was absolutely necessary. The temperature in Kyoto does not cool down until late October, so a couple layers of jackets should suffice. Additionally, prepare comfortable walking shoes because Kyoto requires a lot of walking.

Preparation Tips for Future Students

In addition to the standard paperwork, I recommend that you keep an eye on the host country's border restrictions, since they may change from time to time. Limitations may differ because my study abroad happened during the pandemic, and my biggest concern would be border restrictions.

Kinkakuji, also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is one of the closest tourist spots in Kyoto and is only 2 bus stops away from Ritsumeikan University. I visited twice, once during the fall and again when it was fully covered in snow.

During my Experience

Orientation and First Weeks

After I arrived at Osaka's airport, I took the train to Kyoto and then a bus directly to my hostel. I resided at International House Utano, one of the school's housing options. I checked in and was given a brief briefing. Please keep in mind that there is only a limited time period to check in, so if you arrive in Kyoto outside of that window, you may have to find alternative accommodations. After landing in Japan, there was a lot of paperwork to complete, such as address registration, health insurance enrollment, bank account setup, and so on. I was fortunate to be able to go with the resident mentor who spoke Japanese from my dorm and a few friends, which greatly aided me.

Learning and Adaptation

Courses here are all 1.5 hours long, with RCE track students required to attend a minimum of 7 lessons each week. The timetable is significantly different from SFU in that they run by period, which means that every student has courses and gets out at the same time. The first session begins at 9 a.m., and lunch is from 12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m., with the third period following. Most of my lessons are solely in English, and just a few are bilingual in both English and Japanese. Despite being an RCE track student, I was still exposed to Japanese students and language occasionally and was lucky to have the chance to learn a little bit of Japanese.

I have also taken a class related to Japanese pop culture and anime culture. The class content has given me a deeper insight into Japanese pop culture and anime culture, going from understanding almost nothing to knowing the categories and significance of Japanese pop culture. This was a very unique class because it was very different from the other classes that I have taken; it showcased how a classroom could be knowledgeable and fun at the same time. We had our class in a film studio, and sometimes our sessions are not in the classroom setting as well, with plenty of flexibility.

Reflection & Tips

Reflection

The last few months of living in Japan as an exchange student have been incredible. I had the pleasure of meeting individuals from all around the world, not only Japan. As I connected with everyone I met, I was able to learn a lot about their culture.

Most Valuable Aspects of This Experience

If I were to describe my exchange experience in one word, it would be adventurous, whether alone or with a group of friends. I had the opportunity to learn a lot about Japan, and I do not even think I would have had a greater chance to do so in the future, especially at my age. I got to learn about myself too, and understanding various cultures and meeting individuals from all backgrounds was eye-opening for me. When I toured different towns and learnt about their histories, historical sites brought classroom information to life. Furthermore, living in the international student dorm could not be more ideal. It seems like a little family, and everyone is connected to one another because it is small yet friendly.

Connection to Academic Studies or Career Goals

Although being an RCE track student, I was periodically exposed to Japanese students and language, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to acquire a little bit of Japanese, which gave me a sense of achievement and belonging. The communication in one of my classes, which had approximately the same ratio of Japanese and international students, was intriguing since we do not understand one other's languages very well, but the communication barrier was broken down as we discovered out methods to overcome it. Despite the language barrier, I became friends with everyone in the class.

Advice for Future Students

Throughout my stay here, I believe I have developed important connections in terms of academics and personal growth. I am grateful for the opportunity to see Kyoto, Ritsumeikan University, and International House Utano in Japan, and I would recommend it to everyone. Kyoto now feels like another home to me; I felt welcomed, and my bond grew stronger with each passing day. Living abroad would undoubtedly be a life-changing experience.

Tags:

International