Putting the education into “Education Abroad”

I’ve been talking a whole lot about the trips and such of my time in Japan. I don’t want to say it isn’t all fun and games, but half of the title of “study abroad” is “study” , so, let’s talk about it!

Broadly, classes abroad are structured quite similarly to how classes work here in the US. Yet, I have no doubt that you might find yourself with more free time to travel, enjoy your time in your host country, and do fun things!

For me, Japan was an interesting change of pace, academically speaking. I had to take eight courses there! This is all because of how the credits at the university I attended, Kwansei Gakuin U. (KGU), transferred back here to USC. However, I ended up only having each class once per week, so it was paced and broken up in a very digestible manner.

Sunset over KGU

Many of the courses I took were Japanese language courses as well as major courses, so I got a really nice blend of language practice and applicable major courses to keep myself sharp for when I came back stateside!

And that is one thing to consider too. It is shockingly easy to forget some of the information you were learning here at USC during your time abroad. It all depends on the kind of classes you take, but just be prepared to have a bit of brain fog when you came back to the US. Nothing to really worry all too much about, though.

At KGU, I got a very nice blend of international students as well as Japanese natives taking the same courses as I, which was an awesome intercultural experience. Not only was I able to make some great friends this way, but I got to learn more about how Japanese culture influences education.

KGU entrance (I wish I took better pictures of KGU)

When it comes to the education part of education abroad, wherever you may go, don’t look at it with too much despair. You’ll make a lot of friends in your classes, learn some awesome, interesting information, and, honestly, have a lot more free time than you’d expect while taking classes abroad!

Classes are a really important aspect of your time abroad, so feel free to visit us in Close-Hipp to ask about the specifics! Lots of good information to learn!

Next week, I’m going to talk a bit more about life in Japan in general! From the ever-famous convenience stores to the amazing public transit. Lots of cool systems and services to talk about, so look forward to that!