Study abroad?

[Souske]

I've always wondered if studying abroad to another country is good? I mean in my field of studies, I am in Electronics and Computer Engineering, and so far japan has the best in electronics and computers, and I would wonder if its better to study there than it is here. I've always thought as japan as advanced years ahead of the US in technology wise, maybe it might just be in Consumer goods. What do you think, about studying abroad?

 

[dreamer]

There are pros and cons depending on what you are thinking to apply for.
First, to fully benefit from an exchange you need to be proficient in the exchange country's language. Otherwise you will finish like the chinese people who came to one of my school and ended up understanding only partially the classes with a big feeling of homesickness.
You need to be well aware that the culture shock is going to be really intense as Japan and the US are radically different, and I have seen some people dropping out only to run away home to their families.

Also, another problem is that if you study abroad, you will be disconnected from all of your friends. What I mean is that you might keep in touch with your friends through e-mails and phone, but the probability for you to drift apart from them will increase as you stay longer.
Now, there are other problems that I do not wish to mention as they might differ from people to people but there are also many benefits to study abroad.

The main benefit in my opinion is that a study abroad stay will allow you to broaden your mind and see how people from another culture work and interact, which will be a big advantage in most careers. The rest will usually come in time as you will (hopefully) meet fantastic people during your stay and learn to live among them.

I am personally a big fan of studying abroad, having participated in 3 exchange programs and preparing a 4rth one, but I guess in the end it depends on your personality and your ability to withstand change.

 

[Souske]

Learning to cope with the extreme change, I can handle. I was born in the states, and lived in the philippines for 2 years, being americanized about my living situation, I could not have it there. I am used to the change, and it takes me a week to adjust to everything, from the timezone to how my life will run.

As for friends in the states, I don't mind the fact that there might be a loss in keeping in touch, I will have ended up making new friends there, where I would study at. I am a fast learner when it comes to languages, so it would be ok for me. I do know thins, I will miss my family but eventually I will have to deal with it.

I was wondering if I do graduate from my 2 year technical school, can I still apply for a study abroad program? and an internship? All I know is that, being homesick is only missing for family, but for food, I would be in heaven, since I love to eat asian food @___@

 

[dreamer]

Well...adaptation can vary greatly from a country to another, and sometimes we can have unexpected surprises. I am not talking about things such as timezone since after a few travels you will be able to adapt in two days.

Having moved around the EU and being Chinese, I thought that my stomach was prepared to anything...that was until I had my first burger in the US...at first it went through without any problem but I'll always remember the night I spent after that...
As a matter of fact, my stomach wasn't used to the American beef and it took me a few months to get used to it.

Now, there are also other things that you may not think about and food is only one of them.

One of the greatest issues I have encountered has been regarding finances. Indeed, studying abroad is costly and I ended up a few times skipping a lunch or a dinner because I had to pay my rent. Before you engage in a study abroad program, you should try and see if you can obtain enough financial support (grants, scholarship, etc) and plan to find a part time job if need be (which is gonna be twice harder since you will feel much more tired from using a foreign language all day).

I don't know the programs in Texas but here in Louisiana, they do not have many exchanges. I had to go through quite a few private programs before finding something that was quite good.

Also, in EU, we can apply to a special type of placement that last from 6 month to 2 years during which we work for a company in a foreign country somewhere in the world.
Such things certainly exist in the US and although most require at least a Masters, some probably hire at the associate level.

Anyway once again, if you have the opportunity and the motivation to engage in a study abroad program, I highly recommend you to do it. Such experiences have been among the most enjoyable I have had so far and I still remember each of them as my dearest memories.

 

[Kirakira1232]

In my experience...a lot of study abroad programs are generally restricted to Japanese studies/learning Japanese and to do things like computing or science you would need to have a high proficiency in Japanese to start with as those subjects are rarely taught in english.

But if you look around maybe you can find a suitable school that teaches the subjects you want in english. You'd have to consult with your home institution whether you can claim the Japanese computer subjects as credit. If your school has an exchange agreement with a Japanese school then you wont have to worry about tuitons fees, only the day to day costs (rent, food etc.)

Note that if you go to Japan as a student you wont be able to work unless you get special permission from immigration.

 

[dreamer]

Note that if you go to Japan as a student you wont be able to work unless you get special permission from immigration.

Doesn't the school usually take care of that?
As far as I remember, most universities in Japan make sure you can work a certain amount of time per week (around 5-7 hours I think) when you have a student visa.

Well at least that's the case at Sendai Tohoku...

 

[Kirakira1232]

Well when I spoke to my Japanese exchange coordinator about working in Japan, she said that most universities/colleges dont allow exchange students to work and you cant really work on a student visa without permission from immigration...which usually requires an OK from the school your going to study at. At most she said I could work maybe 10 hours per week but thats if the school is being generous :\.

But yeah I'm hoping there might be some other ways of making a yen other than living on ramen noodles .

 

[dreamer]

Well...you can give "private" english tutoring usually starting at 2000yen per hour ^^
one session ought to be enough for 3 of those 500y beef bowls

 

[Mavrek]

If you want a good education and don't have enough money to get the high education then you have to visit india or pakistan. The both countries educations are too good specially india