Discover Yourself in Osaka, Japan

In short, world class programs was probably the greatest decision I ever made. I learned, I had so much fun, and experienced a country as a student the way I felt was most fitting. This trip was amazing, I reccomend it to everyone. In a longer format, if you are having second thoughts, please keep reading. As a high schooler who wouldn't normally just ship themselves off to a country to learn and experience the world, with parents who were concerned about my safety and overall happiness and experience, and with the abundance of choice when trying to find a program that covered all my wants and needs while staying in a reasonable price range I could afford, I felt lost and just overwhelmed by what I was filtering through to find the perfect summer trip. World Class Programs was everything I wanted, and more. The program staff were professional and genuinely cared for our wellbeing, our safety, and our experience. Not only did they make sure we had everything we needed, they also went out of their ways to make sure that we were able to do activities we were interested in or experience or learn things we were interested in. Through the trip their effort and dedication was obvious and helped to reassure us that if we needed anything (even a trip to the McDonald's to cure homesickness) they were ready and willing to do their best to get us what we were after. Even before the trip had even begun, they were attentive and were willing to talk with us face to face over video call, and chat back and forth, about any and every concern or question we had. The WCP staff truly created a safe and welcoming environment for its students. Parents - if you are unsure, trust me when I say that your children are safe in World Class Programs's hands, and they will have the time of their lives. Our living arrangements were excellent. We had a nice comfortable and simple set up that took the stress off. The space was clean and orderly and our air conditioner was a blessed piece of machinery. The classes were well organized and well executed. I learned so much about Japanese history and language from the staff. Not only were they well informed in our classes they were ready for any questions we had. The best part for me was that our classroom was not just a room, it was Japan. As a group we visited castles, both reconstructed and original, and explored the streets of what some would only read in a textbook. We explored and learned with very hands on techniques that helped reinforce what we were learning. When we learned Japanese language, it was never boring. We were out on the town using our language skills and learned phrases with real locals who were extraordinarily kind and helpful, in shops, and restaurants, and even just around the city. We even learned a few dialect differences between cities that were interesting and just information I would have not learned otherwise. While the trip was academic, it did a great job of feeling like it was all fun and games. The academic to entertainment ratio was perfect. The detail and effort put into our weekend activities and trips was plain as day. We visited so many cities and even a few not listed on the webpage. As a group we shopped in the buzz of Osaka's dountonburi, experienced authentic and delicious Japanese cuisine, traveled like a local using the trains, participated in Hiroshima's emotional and beautiful peace festival to commemorate the atomic bomb drop, enjoyed the quiet and serenity of traditional Japanese gardens, we visited Nara and shared the streets with deer, saw Himeji's feudal castle and explored the grounds, visited and participated at shrines all around Japan, stayed in ryokan in the beautiful Kyoto, experienced a tea ceremony while wearing traditional Kimono, and of course spent time exploring Tokyo's streets. I truly cannot say enough about this program. In the full three weeks I spent abroad I can honestly say that I wish that I could have stayed longer, I love japan even more now that I've experienced it through this program. The staff were amazing, and my roommates were sweet and I will miss them. By the end of the trip all of us, staff included, were one big family, without them it would not have been the same. My experience was truly, and I cannot say it enough, the best I have ever had. Literally the only bad thing about this trip, was that it eventually had to be over. You won't regret World Class Programs. Take it from an alumni.

During the three weeks I was in Japan I went to many places. From petting deer in Nara. To putting a lantern in the river in the Hiroshima Peace festival. The first few days I had hard time adjusting. I was terribly homesick. I talked to the staff and they felt the same way about their first trip away from their parents. They were very supportive of me. I got more comfortable in Japan thanks to them talking to me and being there for me. Personally my favorite activity to do was go to the arcade. For me playing games helps me get comfortable and bond with people. We played Mario kart I don’t know how many times. We made prayers at the shrines together. We had meals and talked about random stuff. When the two week ended we had to say good bye. It was really heartbreaking to see the staff tearing up to see someone they cared for go away. We did feel like a family in a weird way. So by the end of this three week trip I learned how to deal with roommates, how to not get embarrassed or nervous while talking to people, to learn the basics rules of photography and how to use the Manual setting, to speak the Japanese language, and to be confident in myself. This trip gave me a lot of confidence in who I am. I’m sad to leave the staff that taught me so much I will always remember them as teachers and as friends who were there for me. Thank you :) .

My experience traveling with World Class Programs (WCP) was one of the best experiences of my life. I became so close with my roommates and the staff members especially, and they always kept our best interests at heart and cared about us and what we wanted to get out of the trip. At the end of the trip, I felt like I was leaving my family behind as I was only able to participate in 2 weeks out of the full 3. Originally, I had planned to study Spanish in Seville, Spain with my school exchange program, but at the very last minute things did not work out and I applied to WCP very last minute, and they were so accommodating and welcomed me to the program with open arms. While this was the first year of WCP's Osaka, Japan trip, it felt as though the program had been running for years. The staff knew the city like the back of their hand, and they showed us around the country like natives to give us the inside scoop of what it feels like to really be a citizen of that country, and not just be a tourist- something I had never experienced before. I came back from the program having matured so greatly: I felt more prepared for college as I learned how to cook, clean, maintain good relationships with roomates, do laundry, buy Japanese subway tickets, etc, and it not only grew my knowledge but made me a better person. WCP focuses on "experimental learning" as opposed to sitting in a classroom, so for my two courses: photography and cuisine, we went out and took pictures, made food, and tried different traditional Japanese foods as opposed to just learning about them. The program was centered in Osaka, but in our two weeks we visited everywhere from seeing deer in Nara to partaking in the Peace Festival in Hiroshima on the anniversary of the bombings in World War II. We did karaoke, saw a Pokemon movie entirely in Japanese, went bowling, and the list goes on and on. I strongly recommend this program because of the incredibly devoted and kind staff, the commitment to each student and their experience, and the once in a lifetime opportunity. Being 1/4 Japanese, it was so wonderful to experience more deeply a culture I already knew well, and I learned so much more about it than I ever thought was possible. I hope to come back next year to another trip with World Class Programs and hope everyone decides to get them a try.