Foreign Exchange to Japan

f_r_E_a_K · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 05:31 PM

I've been thinking of going to Japan my senior year of high school on a year-long foreign exchange (right now I'm an incoming sophomore)...and when I say "thinking", I mean thinking real long and hard. I suggest you guys look into it, too! If you REALLY admire Japanese culture and have a passion for trying new things, a foreign exchange will do so much good for you! You'll come back fluent in Japanese and alot more mature and ready for college xD

But, a HUGE setback...*sigh* is the cost. The cheapest I've found is by Rotary Club, and that's $6000...the average cost for a year is somewhere around $10,000. Uhm..maybe scholarships could help..? Slightly..? >____< *hides in a corner*

So, yeah. I'm trying to persuade my parents into letting me apply...I did my homework and I KNOW what I'm going into and what I'll have to experience on my exchange.....except now they're worrying about not getting enough credits to look good on a college application, whether I'll be able to afford a GOOD college school and whether the GOOD colleges will even accept me. (Bah, typical Asian parents...blahblahblah)

I visited Japan for a mere 3 days last summer..and it was amazing for me. (No, I mean it!!) I still can recall the beyond-excitement feeling I got in my stomach every minute I was there..everything intrigued me in Tokyo. I loved the city life, I loved everything..it was like heaven.

Summary? You all should consider a foreign exchange. Not just to Japan, that is, but to any country, because it's worth the experience.

crazee4sbsp · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 06:12 PM

wow, that is so awesome!! i wish i had the money and courage to go to a foreign country

pinkhaireddreamboy · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 06:34 PM

do you know japanese?

f_r_E_a_K · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkhaireddreamboy

do you know japanese?

Nah, I'm Chinese and I speak a dialect of Mandarin...uhm..a funny thing about that...I just thought that when the teacher would introduce me to the class [if I do go to Japan], he would be like, "Hi class, we have a new foreign exchange student from America!"....and everybody would have trouble spotting the "new foreign exchange student". Bwahahahahahahhaaa

katrina · #5 (**permalink**) 06-23-2006, 01:17 AM

maybe get a job and save up? cuz not only will you need the $6,000 or whatever, but you'll definitely want to buy stuff when you get there, and probably not ALL meals will be paid for, etc, and stuff there is really expensive

pinkhaireddreamboy · #6 (**permalink**) 06-23-2006, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f_r_E_a_K

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkhaireddreamboy

do you know japanese?

Nah, I'm Chinese and I speak a dialect of Mandarin...uhm..a funny thing about that...I just thought that when the teacher would introduce me to the class [if I do go to Japan], he would be like, "Hi class, we have a new foreign exchange student from America!"....and everybody would have trouble spotting the "new foreign exchange student". Bwahahahahahahhaaa

i think you have to take language test before you can be a foreign exchange student to show that you know enough to get by.. but maybe thats just for colleges.

hehe the japanese would be able to tell the difference between different asian races probably ; )

felinius · #7 (**permalink**) 06-25-2006, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f_r_E_a_K

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkhaireddreamboy

do you know japanese?

Nah, I'm Chinese and I speak a dialect of Mandarin...uhm..a funny thing about that...I just thought that when the teacher would introduce me to the class [if I do go to Japan], he would be like, "Hi class, we have a new foreign exchange student from America!"....and everybody would have trouble spotting the "new foreign exchange student". Bwahahahahahahhaaa

It'll be a lot better if you learned Japanese now... since you know kanji (maybe?) cuz of Mandarin, you could be fluent enough when you go to Japan. You need to learn Hiragana and Katakana at the least, and some about their culture.

I truthfully wouldn't suggest going senior year. You might end up being too far behind and have to go to a cram school... East Asian countries are notorious for their education and America... well... isn't. Lol. Just make sure to keep up on your education so you don't flunk out of senior year.

raincube · #8 (**permalink**) 06-25-2006, 09:14 PM

sounds so complicated to visit japan... but i M U S T go there *__* tokyo and hokkaido...

Soo-Ze · #9 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 01:47 AM

I've also thought of going but since I live in Canada :? , the only exchange program I know of is EF and they don't offer to go to Japan, Only China anyway it sounds liike a good experience. If you can get the money then go. Discuss the matter of credits with the Rotary Club people.

katrina · #10 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 07:52 AM

my sister's friend did a student exchange to japan and all the girls in her class were really mean to her, haha

Cindy · #11 (**permalink**) 07-07-2006, 11:56 PM

I had a chance to go to Japan- my friend Kylie is half Chinese and half Japanese, and she's lived in Japan and still had a house there. She offered for me to stay and go to a summer school to learn Japanese with her. XD (the schools had a uniform, too; which made me go *squeal~!*)
(She's mostly lived in Hong Kong, because she's not fluent in Japanese. She knows Chinese fluently, though.) But my parents said no, because they thought it was dangerous over there. And just recently, she's moved back to Hong Kong; so that ship has sailed. XD I'm struggling to find a way to go; but so far, to no avail. >:

Lmao, I'd probably stick out in the midst of the class; I'd be the tall, curly blonde-haired chick with blue eyes. XD Typical white kid. >.> If I ever go, I hope the chicks aren't mean to me.

Yogen Suru · #12 (**permalink**) 07-08-2006, 12:22 AM

I am going during the spring time there. It'll be around $1000 for me but that's because my sensei is supplying housing and food. I just have to pay for plane ride, really. And it's round trip. I am very excited to go and learn! Do you recommend any places to visit?

f_r_E_a_K · #13 (**permalink**) 07-20-2006, 02:33 AM

Yogen Suru-I don't know about everywhere else, but Tokyo is a must if you LOVE AND ADORE big, exciting cities! Believe me, you will NOT regret it both daytime and nighttime, it will always be this exciting pit feeling in your stomach..XDD Shinjuku at night is very pretty and exciting (sorry for the repetitiveness of my words, but that's how it is!!).........and Kyoto is very amazing if you want to see Japan's actual history and culture. ^__^ Care to see real geishas floating around in kimonos?

Alice · #14 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 07:56 PM

All I have to say is: Tokyo Nightlife. But Sendai has some crazy stuff too.

You only live once.. Right? Lmfao. Have fun.

Shinjuku is fun, I've been there at night until 4 in the AM. If you want to go bar hopping, just be aware some don't accept foriengers. (Bars in Japan rarely cart too...) So it's really fun to get in there and meet new faces.

And of course, it does help to atleast speak atleast some Japanese.

f_r_E_a_K · #15 (**permalink**) 07-27-2006, 02:57 AM

Tee hee, I can pretend my way with some really lame Japanese learned from those kiddie anime shows...like "Get outta of the way!!" or something really dramatic and long like "Ever since my father was murdered to those ninjas, I have felt the urge to surpass in everything I do, including school and training..I will not give up for my father!!"

hahahahahahaa XDD

ohJOY · #16 (**permalink**) 07-28-2006, 09:28 PM

This girl at my high school went to Japan for her senior year (all girls school though lol). She took so many pictures and she said she had tons of fun... my mom wouldn't let me go since you live with a host family.

LaURisA-ChaN · #17 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 09:06 PM

haya everyone! im going to japan in 3 weeks for a foreign exchange (im 16 and will be in my thir year of highschool) currently i live in colorado...and i hardly speak any japanese

but i whent there last summer for volunteer work..and I AM IN LOVE! bwa h aha..its so great there! i get to fly into tokyo! ya!

so im looking for many penpals..if ur interested...to chat with wile im there^^

anyways..i didnt read the whole thread..but i read some..and if anyoen has questions..about applying..or anything..my organization is good..or if u wanna do volunteer work or anything like that i know a lot...so let me know!

im sunako.chan@ gmail.com^^

great guys!

cocolulu · #18 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 09:38 PM

I did a homestay in Japan for 2 months right before my junior year of high school and it was the best experience of my life. I think it should be manditory for HS students to spend a little time abroad - it really broadened my perspectives on the world and taught me a ton about myself. I also have somewhat of an "extended family" in Japan now, which is really neat.

The program I went to Japan through is called Youth for Understanding. I would suggest that if your looking to do an exchange you look up this organization - it's expensive but they have a lot of scholarship oppertunities.

I'm a Junior in college now and am planning on going back to Japan next summer to do a six week workshop through Temple University - I'm super excited

Wolfy · #19 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocolulu

I did a homestay in Japan for 2 months right before my junior year of high school and it was the best experience of my life. I think it should be manditory for HS students to spend a little time abroad - it really broadened my perspectives on the world and taught me a ton about myself. I also have somewhat of an "extended family" in Japan now, which is really neat.

The program I went to Japan through is called Youth for Understanding. I would suggest that if your looking to do an exchange you look up this organization - it's expensive but they have a lot of scholarship oppertunities.

I'm a Junior in college now and am planning on going back to Japan next summer to do a six week workshop through Temple University - I'm super excited

I shall look it up! And scholarships are great. Dairy Queen has great scholarship oppertunities too.

katrina · #20 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocolulu

I did a homestay in Japan for 2 months right before my junior year of high school and it was the best experience of my life. I think it should be manditory for HS students to spend a little time abroad - it really broadened my perspectives on the world and taught me a ton about myself. I also have somewhat of an "extended family" in Japan now, which is really neat.

The program I went to Japan through is called Youth for Understanding. I would suggest that if your looking to do an exchange you look up this organization - it's expensive but they have a lot of scholarship oppertunities.

I'm a Junior in college now and am planning on going back to Japan next summer to do a six week workshop through Temple University - I'm super excited

it would be great to make something like that mandatory......if all hs students could afford to go abroad