I'll be studying abroad at Kyushu University next semester. I feel like a very in-depth account of studying abroad in Japan, particularly with the Japan in Today's World program I'm taking part in, would be interesting for a lot of people and useful for others who are planning to do the same thing.
I know that there are a limited few people at my university who spend a semester abroad, despite the financial assistance the college offers, and I think that some of it is due to the lack of first hand accounts of the experience.
I haven't yet left the country (US) because the program doesn't start until April, but I think the various administrative tasks and planning that you have to go through before a trip are responsible for the vast majority of the pressure before you arrive, or at least that's been the case for me. So I'm documenting the steps I'm taking before I leave, like getting a visa, looking into housing options for if I want to stay extra time, getting my money from the states to Japan, among other things.
I hope that it becomes an interesting read for anyone planning---or not yet planning---a trip to Japan.
Here it is.
http://alltom.vox.com/
(Thanks to Brody for sharing his study abroad experiences, as they were definitely a great inspiration to start sharing my own.)
