Education abroad goes by quickly. And when I say that, I mean it. It seems like a summer, full semester, or even a year abroad would last a lifetime, but your experience will go by like a flash. I’m still shocked that my semester abroad was already a year ago! It was such an amazing experience that went by in the blink of an eye. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. So I think we ought to talk a bit about my experiences in my final weeks in Japan as well as

Living abroad. We’ve talked a lot about the adventures, the school, the people, but a massive part of the experience is just living in a different country! Your bathroom might be in a different layout, you may not be able to find the foods you’re used to in stores, or you may not even be able to find clothes that fit you! (Such was my case… I’m too tall for Japan!) But no matter what roadblocks you must face, living abroad is a crucial and, honestly, quite exciting part of st

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,

Last week, we scratched the surface of what is in store for you in the hot spring city of Japan: Beppu! From the Jigoku Beppu to the various hot springs available, there are countless things to do, but still, as I said, we only scratched the surface. Let’s dig a bit deeper shall we? Beppu has a very storied history and that is directly conveyed in the fact that much of the architecture and infrastructure is very old and well-maintained. Many of the bathhouses and onsens are h

Hey! It’s been a while! Last blog, we talked about Tottori. It’s amazing people, golden beaches, and amazing sights. I can’t emphasize just how amazing of a place it was. But there is another. A place equally as beautiful in its own special way. That place is called Beppu! Located right outside of the massive city of Oita, Beppu is a smaller city, but extremely well known for its hot springs. Every time I mentioned that I went to Beppu to any of my Japanese friends, they were

So we’ve covered some great tips for your initial weeks in Japan. From predeparture, your first week there, and even that “going through the motions” slump, which, believe me, is real. I hope that you found those tips at least useful. But how about we dive into some of the good stuff. My trips while abroad in Japan! I really emphasized making sure you travel - see the cool stuff in the country you’re studying abroad in. Not doing more of it was certainly one of my biggest reg

You made it to week three! You’ve probably gotten through orientation, gotten settled in your new place of living, and have hopefully made a few new friends. Routines have been set and you’ve probably gotten your first assignments. So what else is there to do? Have fun, of course! Keep in mind that you’re in a new country! New people to meet, new things to see, and new foods to try, so let’s jump start that initial week three slog (which is a thing, believe me) and set you up

In my last blog, I explored some things I wished I knew before I went abroad. And believe me, I wish I knew some of them. But let’s take a breather. You took your five hour, ten hour, fifteen hour (in my case) flight and you’re there. The air smells… different. You won’t expect that, but it is fresh, new, exciting, and honestly a bit scary. The people (probably) speak a language that you don’t (or maybe you do if you followed the tips from my last post!) So what now? The fun

Hey, there! My name is Mike and I studied abroad in Nishinomiya, Japan - a “small” (I use the word lightly when it comes to Japanese cities) city outside Osaka during the spring 2025 semester. What an experience that was. You’ll always experience some shock when going to a foreign country. That is a given. I’ve been fortunate to visit some awesome places! From the Scottish Highlands to Mexico, I like to think I’m pretty well travelled, but I never experienced culture shock qu

Social Anxiety of Studying Abroad There is always a voice, in the back of our minds, small but present, always with something to say. You...