Temple University

Academics: Temple University Rome has a large selection of course offerings, especially for those interested in studying art or art history. During my time in Rome, I had some of the best professors I’ve encountered in my academic career. The professors were truly experts and went out of their way to share everything they knew about their field and the city of Rome Living situation: I chose to live in the student housing during my time in Rome, which was located at the Residence Candia. I found that the residence was in a safe neighborhood a reasonable distance from school (30 min walking, 10 min by bus). All of the rooms are different- some better than others, but overall the housing facility had everything necessary and was a good way to meet other students. Cultural immersion: (pre arranged activities, etc) I really appreciated all of the steps Temple Rome staff took to offer us as many opportunities as possible for cultural immersion. Most classes involve a trip to somewhere in Italy as well as many regular class excursions around Rome. The program puts together extracurricular trips and activities such as cooking classes, dance lessons, a trip into the countryside, etc. There are also volunteer opportunities for tutoring in italian high schools (a unique and rewarding experience), soup kitchens, etc. Administration: The application process was very smooth and the study abroad office was always helpful if I was uncertain on any steps. From my experience, the administration at Temple Rome are incredibly helpful people that really care about the students. Health and safety: Staff clearly communicate with the students about health and safety concerns and what resources are available to them. I got quite sick while abroad and the staff at TU Rome was able to help me with the steps to make an appointment. Community: Temple Rome does a good job of building a lively community at campus, and as the semester continues campus begins to feel like home.

Academics: TUJ is a degree-granting institution so there are a very wide selection of courses available to students to take during any semester. My professors were incredibly knowledgeable on their area of study and on Japan. I found that the upper level art courses I took allowed a lot of independence but also offered us an incredible amount of resources around Tokyo. I also took a beginner Japanese course specifically for study abroad students and found it to be incredibly helpful and the cultural activities that were part of the course were enriching experiences I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Living situation: TUJ offers student dorms that are about a 50 minute commute to campus (which is quite reasonable for a city as large as tokyo). We had single rooms with a bed, balcony, small kitchenette, bathroom, and closet. I found living in the dorms to be quite convenient and enjoyed being based in the same location as my peers. Cultural immersion: (pre arranged activities, etc) I found that TUJ had a wide range of extracurricular activities and trips available for students. The trips are incredibly well-planned and take you to activities or areas of Japan that you wouldn’t know to go to otherwise. I went on most of the trips during my semester and would highly recommend students to go on as many as possible during their time in Japan. I found that the staff and professors created as many opportunities as possible for students to interact with Japanese students and professionals in their field located in Tokyo. Administration: The application process was very smooth and the study abroad office was always helpful if I was uncertain on any steps. The TUJ administration were very helpful and cared about the our experience at TUJ and in Japan. Health and Safety: Japan is an incredibly safe country, and has very accessible medical facilities due to the national health insurance. TUJ has many resources available to students for any medical care they may need. When I got sick, the dorm manager actually accompanied me to the doctor to translate so I wouldn’t have to wait until I could get to an English-speaking office (which are also available). Community: I felt that TUJ has a really strong sense of community. There are a lot of student spaces around campus (even though the campus is located in an office building- the space is well-adapted). I really appreciate the fact that TUJ is also a full-time institution which created a very diverse campus with Japanese students, American Students, and students from all around the work who are looking to attend an English-speaking university in Japan. The student body is incredibly interesting and international.

This excavation abroad was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You experience every aspect of an archaeological dig, hands-on, without the typical dig "hierarchy" of students - the undergraduates can do everything that everyone else can do, in Artena. The living situation was great, just don't expect decent Wi-Fi - or A/C at all (it's very, very hot). Prof. Gadeyne is an incredibly knowledgeable and intelligent man, willing to share any information you could possibly ask of him. It's exhausting waking up at 6 am every day of the week, but the weekends you have to yourself to explore any part of Italy you can reach! Overall, a worthwhile experience, but one month is definitely enough time.