USAC Japan: Nagasaki - Japanese Language, Society & Culture

My goals when studying abroad were to learn as much about Japanese culture and society as I could, and the course offerings went above and beyond this. There were too many great courses to choose from! Additionally, my homestay experience allowed me to really get a feel for what it was like to live in Japan. Through my host family, I was able to gain experiences that my peers could not. If I could go back, the only thing I would change would be to stay longer!

I'm so glad that I went to Nagasaki to study abroad for the spring semester. Not only was I able to meet so many different friends from around the world, but I was also able to learn about Japanese culture and history. I enjoyed immersing myself in the community present in Nagasaki, which is so determined to spread the word of peace. It was also great to interact with Japanese students and improve my Japanese language skills. Coming to Nagasaki, what I really enjoyed was the beautiful scenery of cherry blossoms present at the beginning of the semester, and the abundance of trees in a rich green I had never seen before. It was truly a sight to see. Not to mention how Nagasaki is enriched with so much history and international cultural influences as a port city. There is just so much to learn.

The year I spent in Nagasaki was the best year of my life. The university is small, with less than 1000 students and teachers combined, making it easy to meet people and form connections. I typically struggle to make friends, but here I made friends from countries all over the world. There are many opportunities for personal growth, both academically and through community involvement. Nagasaki is a great location because it has a rich history of cultural exchange and is very welcoming to foreigners.

I went to Nagasaki Japan with the desire to improve my Japanese skills and develop a cultural understanding of the area. That is exactly the experience I had beyond expectations. I of course had some hurtless, figuring out what courses would count towards my degree was the hardest part. GADAI/NUFS the college I went to was small and cozy a stark contrast to my large university in the states. My most important experience was learning about the effects of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. I encourage all to study abroad somewhere and if you're looking for a place neck deep in diverse cultures I fully reccomend this program. Every one of my struggles was 100% worth the experience I was blessed to have.

The idea of being sent to a country across the other side of the world scared me. However, after arriving in Japan, last March, I had one of the most memorable semesters ever. Through USAC, I was able to not only immerse myself into the culture and language, but I also met some of my best friends too. My school, being abroad, was very active in terms of extracurricular events! The area surrounding the dorms were filled with all types of mini-restaurants, hole in the walls, and unique shops too. My experience has not only shaped my view of the world but along with my career path too!

This program was life-changing. The staff made the transition into Japan smooth and helped with any issues. I never felt overwhelmed, and I was set up for success. The school's community is amazing. It is impossible not to make friends, and you will meet the coolest people. I genuinely fell in love with life again after this program. The education is informative and interesting. The Japanese classes are well structured, and I enjoyed them. I encourage everyone to apply for this program! Nagasaki is a lovely city, and you get a lot of perks for being a student! I recommend the art museum, the rope line, and my favorite place-- Nagasaki Seaside Park!

It wasn't until I arrived in Nagasaki that I learned about its rich and significant history. Though at first it may seem like a small town with not much to do, if you have an open mind and willingness to explore, you'll always find something new to do here. It was in Nagasaki where I gained a complete sense of independence and freedom that I had not experienced back in America, even as an out-of-state student. Being in a whole different country I had never visited prior to this study abroad trip equipped me with a fresh lens to look at the world with and motivation to get out of my comfort zone. Upon succeeding in immersing myself in a new culture, I was able to discover more about myself than I ever have. Before these four months, I didn't have a strong sense of self identity and confidence in myself. However, throughout this semester abroad I found beautiful friends who I had the privilege to share my study abroad experience with. I could completely be myself around these people and given our living situation (small school, one dormitory building), we naturally grew closer from seeing each other every day from morning until nighttime. There is so much more I gained from this experience, but that would take years to tell so this is all I will be sharing for this prompt!

Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies gave me the opportunity to mingle with students from all over the world. Everyone is passionate about learning a foreign language which made the process of making friends really fun. My language ability was challenged continuously every day and helped me get out of my comfort zone. I connected with people beyond the usual phone screen many people in my generation use. It was meaningful and therapeutic to rarely be on social media. This experience helped my Japanese ability improve and further nurtured my love for human connection.

USAC’s Nagasaki, Japan program had been my number one choice when looking into study abroad programs. I applied to this program in the hopes of just getting in. That was my biggest goal at first. Initially, when I questioned one of USAC’s advisors about applying, they said that I probably wouldn’t be allowed to participate in one of their Japan programs because I was a community college student. Yet, they still made an effort for me, someone who was only a potential applicant. And after a few weeks, I got the email saying that I had been approved and that they would be changing their policy so that community college students could now apply for their Japan programs. I knew right then, after the incredible effort that they had made for me, that studying abroad through USAC was best possible choice I could’ve ever made. They walked me through every step of the process. Whenever I had a question, they were ready with answers. The school application, forms, and visa stuff was all scary, but the advisors were able to support me when I was unsure and worried. Since arriving at Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies, I have literally never been happier in my life. Being in this program may actually have saved my life. It is so easy to make friends at this school. The people are so kind that if you are shy and sitting alone they will just come up and talk to you. The classes are great and the professors are amazing. I feel like I am learning so much here and it is all stuff that I want to learn. The area is absolutely gorgeous. If you are a nature person, then you would love it here because there are mountains everywhere. If you are a city person, then you would love it here because basically just down the street from the university is a city. I thought I would miss my car but I love walking around and the transportation system in Japan is amazing. Almost everything in Japan is so much more affordable, as well! I would recommend for anyone who is interested in studying in Japan to apply for USAC’s Nagasaki program. I love this program so much that I extended my stay from one semester to a whole year! Because of this experience, I am now planning to live in Japan. None of this would have been possible for me if the USAC advisors hadn’t done everything they could to help me get into their Nagasaki program

If you want to experience Japan outside of the typical tourist destinations, Nagasaki is a great fit! Located on the southwest island of Kyushu, its warm climate and rich history are inviting to everyone. Nagasaki was the only port open to foreigners during Japan’s isolationism period, so influences from various countries like China, England, and Portugal can be seen in the local cuisine and architecture. Public transport is widely available to get you wherever you need to go, from shopping centers to historical sites and from mountain views to temples. You’ll never get tired of exploring the area! The local people are very accepting and eager to get to know you too.

I am so glad I had the experience of studying abroad in Nagasaki. I can confidently say it was the best 6 months of my life. The dormitory was amazing with spacious sound proof rooms and regular events for exchange students. Also the cost of living was far cheaper since it is a more rural area of Japan. I fell in love with the city of Togitsu and the local restaurants (specifically the tomato ramen at ramen hiragii). I also had ample time to volunteer weekends at elementary student English camps at the university as well as explore the rural areas and go orange picking or visit the local zoo. Everyone was super nice to me and I miss Japan so much, I can’t wait to go back!

The time I had in Japan was like no other. I had never been to another country before, so it was doubly exciting and anxiety-inducing to get on that plane which would whisk me away for the next 5 months. While in Japan, I was able to take language classes and interact with Japanese people like I never would have been able to in the States. Furthermore, I was able to take classes about the culture, and even practice a few forms of traditional martial arts as well as traditional arts. I even joined the tea ceremony club and performed at the local history and culture museum with other club members! I was able to see many different famous Japanese locations, make lifelong friends, and just overall have the time of my life in my study abroad trip. And honestly, I'm dying to go back.

The JASIN program at Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies does an incredible job of helping every student really experience Japan to the fullest extent possible. The Japanese courses are super helpful, the conversation partner program is a great way to branch out, and the school is constantly offering odd-jobs and events for any student interested. The staff from both USAC and JASIN were always helpful. I'd absolutely recommend JASIN to anyone.

I had the best time of my life in Nagasaki! I met so many amazing friends and saw beautiful japan! I never wanted to leave Japan, but experiencing has made me want to go back more and more! Japan was beautiful, the food was amazing, and the people were great. I'd go and do the program all over again if I could!

Nagasaki is a great place to study abroad if you want to really be immersed in the culture and have an authentic experience. Nagasaki is located in a mountainous area where the transportation is not as developed as other parts of Japan so traveling out of the city is more difficult than if you were in one of the other locations in Japan. That being said, I took this as a benefit. I rarely saw another foreigner besides the other students in my program since not a lot of people travel there. I also had a lot of history since it was the port the first foreigners entered and because of this, there are a lot of local sites you can see, such as Glover Gardens, Chinatown, and Dejima; where foreigners lived, and there is much more to see. Christianity was also introduced here so you can see churches and also Christian shrines which you can't see anywhere else! This also led to the Obon festival in Nagasaki to be the largest in Japan due to the Christians celebrating this Buddhist custom to a higher level to try to cover up that they were Christians. This can be seen with the huge boats that are used in the parade and the extensive use of fireworks. I would highly recommend doing a homestay. I got to travel with my family and eat amazing food I couldn't get anywhere else. My fondest memories were with my host family. The academics were not challenging and were pretty easy for me with a small workload, but I also come from a more rigorous university and major than a lot of the other students who found some classes to be more difficult and had more homework than they were used to, so it really depends on what you are used to at your university.