King’s Semester Abroad Advice

Vasya19178

Hey all

I’m a student going abroad for my second semester in Japan!

For all of you that have travelled abroad how did you find it and what should I be prepared for?

King Regards,
Vasilisa.

Reply 1

Chester Student

Original post

by Vasya19178

Hey all

I’m a student going abroad for my second semester in Japan!
For all of you that have travelled abroad how did you find it and what should I be prepared for?
King Regards,
Vasilisa.

Hi there,

That's so exciting!

I studied abroad in the USA for a year, so if you're looking for information specific for Japan, unfortunately I can't help much! However, hopefully something here can advise you to learn more.

I found traveling abroad to be super exciting, but also daunting, especially to somewhere so far (and for you, a different language). It was my first time traveling alone, and I found that as long as I prepared and did my research, it was surprisingly easy. It truly feels mind-boggling to be setting off for your life abroad at the time, but I look back at my time there and wish I could do it all over again!

I found that the level of support I had was incredible. You have staff at your home and host university, plus all of the other exchange students that are in the same situation as you. It makes it quite easy to make friends too, and I found that local students were super interested in meeting everyone.

It's important to keep in mind that it will likely be hard at first, so don't be too judgemental of yourself. This includes settling in, but also adapting to the new environment and new school system. Give yourself some grace here, you'll pick it up quickly!

Before I left, I did loads of research. I'd recommend searching for videos/blogs of other students who have spent time studying abroad in Japan, and find out as much about your host area as you can. It definitely helped me to settle in faster, as I had an idea of what I was heading into.

I hope this helps, and have the best time!

Isabella
Fourth-Year Geography (With a Year Abroad)

Reply 2

Vasya19178

Original post

by Chester Student

Hi there,
That's so exciting!
I studied abroad in the USA for a year, so if you're looking for information specific for Japan, unfortunately I can't help much! However, hopefully something here can advise you to learn more.
I found traveling abroad to be super exciting, but also daunting, especially to somewhere so far (and for you, a different language). It was my first time traveling alone, and I found that as long as I prepared and did my research, it was surprisingly easy. It truly feels mind-boggling to be setting off for your life abroad at the time, but I look back at my time there and wish I could do it all over again!
I found that the level of support I had was incredible. You have staff at your home and host university, plus all of the other exchange students that are in the same situation as you. It makes it quite easy to make friends too, and I found that local students were super interested in meeting everyone.
It's important to keep in mind that it will likely be hard at first, so don't be too judgemental of yourself. This includes settling in, but also adapting to the new environment and new school system. Give yourself some grace here, you'll pick it up quickly!
Before I left, I did loads of research. I'd recommend searching for videos/blogs of other students who have spent time studying abroad in Japan, and find out as much about your host area as you can. It definitely helped me to settle in faster, as I had an idea of what I was heading into.
I hope this helps, and have the best time!
Isabella
Fourth-Year Geography (With a Year Abroad)

Thank you Izzy for such inspiring advice! It did help a lot.
How did you go about doing your application? Is there any tips you’d give?

Reply 3

Chester Student

Original post

by Vasya19178

Thank you Izzy for such inspiring advice! It did help a lot.
How did you go about doing your application? Is there any tips you’d give?

Of course, I'm glad I could help! 🙂

In terms of the application process, the biggest thing I'd say is be organized! It can be so overwhelming trying to get everything done, but it helped me so much to understand exactly what I had to complete in advance, including insurance, a visa, flights, and orientation paperwork. I put together a separate physical folder and email folder, which helped me to categorize everything to ensure I was on-track with my application.

I'm not sure how the application itself will be for you, but just be honest! There are so many incredible things you can get from studying abroad, so what is motivating you to want to get out there? Whether it's for the culture, the language, the schooling, as an asset to your resume, or for how great of an experience it may be - it's all valid! Studying abroad really does set you apart from others, so how can you make the most out of your experience?

Also, don't be afraid to reach out to the study abroad team if anything is unclear. It will help immensely to resolve any uncertainty immediately, and in my experience, they can be such lovely and helpful people!

I'm so glad I could help, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions! 🙂

Isabella
Fourth-Year Geography (With a Year Abroad)

Reply 4

Szara_SOAS

Original post

by Vasya19178

Hey all

I’m a student going abroad for my second semester in Japan!
For all of you that have travelled abroad how did you find it and what should I be prepared for?
King Regards,
Vasilisa.

Hi Vasilisa! I studied abroad in Jordan last year and had a great experience! It was an amazing opportunity to immerse myself in the culture, explore new places, try different foods, and improve my language skills.

That said, it did take me a little while to settle in and feel fully comfortable. At first, I experienced language barriers because I’d only learned formal Arabic, and everyone spoke in a dialect. It was a bit confusing, but once I started picking up the dialect, things got a lot easier. The climate was also a big adjustment—I knew Jordan would be hot, but actually experiencing it was another story. I used to plan my errands around the peak heat hours, which helped a lot.

You might also need to adjust some of your everyday habits depending on the circumstances of the country. For example, Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, so my apartment had a weekly water limit that I had to be mindful of and I took shorter showers because of this. Tap water wasn’t safe to drink either, so I had to always make sure to have bottled water stocked up.

Also, when it comes to making friends, it’s easy to gravitate toward people from your own country or who speak your language. But I’d encourage you to push yourself to connect with locals or other international students too. It can feel intimidating at first, especially if there’s a language barrier, but it’s really rewarding once you give it a try.

Overall, these adjustments were pretty small and didn’t take away from my overall experience. And in terms of preparation, I’d suggest reaching out to students in the year above who’ve already done a year abroad on your course. They can give you specific advice and tips to help make the transition smoother.

Good luck with everything, and enjoy your time in Japan!
- Szara, BA International Relations and Arabic