Greenheart Travel

Category: Alumni

  • 12 Honest Pieces of Advice for New EPIK Applicants and Teachers

    12 Honest Pieces of Advice for New EPIK Applicants and Teachers

    By: Samantha DiVito, Teach Abroad South Korea EPIK Alumni

    Whether you’re already excitedly packing your suitcases or just beginning your application journey for a new life as a public school teacher in EPIK, it never hurts to get the insight of someone who has been there, done that. I taught for two consecutive years in EPIK in gorgeous Chungbuk, a province located conveniently in the center of South Korea, from August 2018 to August 2020. Clearly the experience changed my life and made me fall in love with this dynamic country because I married a Korean and never left! With some time to reflect on what worked for me and helped me settle in to make the best of my EPIK years, and also with reflection on what I wish I had skipped or handled differently, here is my list of the best dozen pieces of honest advice I have to offer. Good luck with wherever your EPIK journey takes you!

    1. Be open-minded about your placement. With EPIK, unlike selecting a job at a hagwon, you do not get to choose where in the country you will be placed. EPIK might ask you for preferences and make some offers, but you can’t outright tell them where to put you. I requested Gwangju, a major city in the south, and got placed in a lesser-known province. And by “lesser known” I mean I had never heard of it and bawled my eyes out on the sofa dramatically when I found out my placement. But, as it turns out, Chungbuk is a fantastic, beautiful place to live with wonderful people, culture, easy transportation to anywhere else in Korea, and opportunities to really make a difference in the lives of children. It wasn’t as rural or isolated as I had feared – not even close! And I made wonderful friends and memories for two years there. I still think of it as my Korean hometown. So don’t rush your judgment if you don’t get the placement you had hoped for.

     

    1. Make other EPIK teacher friends! These will be foreigners who are having a shared life experience and are therefore easy to talk to about your time in Korea. Hopefully you can meet many of them at orientation and then later meet some EPIK veterans who are already in your city or province.
    2. Accept that culture shock will absolutely happen in some form or another during your first year and do your best to work through it. Here’s where you and your EPIK friends can lean on each other for support. For me personally, I was in a fog of having so much fun and trying new things for the first six to nine months that I didn’t start experiencing real, deep culture shock until that point. After some time, I got through it, and you will too!

    1. Make Korean friends. Of course! They could be your co-teachers or other coworkers at school. Maybe you could meet some people through local language exchange meet-up programs (which are usually held at cafes or bars) or language exchange apps like HelloTalk, which is where I met most of my longterm Korean gal pals. Why bother going abroad if you’re not going to make friends there? It’s a rich friendship opportunity that can’t be missed. I found a core handful of friends who I have really bonded with over shared interests or perspectives. We have made great memories together from attending concerts, going on vacations together, and showing up for each other’s big events like weddings.

     

    1. Learn your students’ names when possible! Especially if you’re teaching at any really small schools or have small class sizes. One semester, I had about 500 students so I really couldn’t memorize all their names. But at one of my schools, I only had a total of 15 students so I learned their names right away.

     

    1. Put your best foot forward teaching. Sure you might be taking the EPIK job for the culture or travel experience, but this is a job and you will be a full-time teacher in public schools so you shouldn’t take it lightly. Utilize the skills that you learned and practiced before you arrived such as from your TEFL course, prior teaching experience, volunteer teaching experiences, and EPIK orientation. Take it seriously.

     

    1. Lean on your EPIK friends for resources. You’ll be at different schools but keep the Kakaotalk group chats going by sharing game PPTs, activities, English camp ideas, and other resources, and asking each other for any kind of troubleshooting help when needed. You’re not alone!

     

    1. Develop positive relationships with your Korean coworkers. This is especially important for your actual co-teachers but is also true in general for the homeroom teachers, vice principals, and main office staff as well. From day one, go in with a smile and be polite, even if you can’t speak Korean yet. With your co-teacher(s), try to avoid conflicts if you can with proper communication and flexibility. For some co-teachers, this may be their first time working with a foreign teacher. Even if it isn’t, they maybe didn’t choose the position and feel nervous or overwhelmed about handling things like translating for you in front of students, or arranging your housing, etc. Be patient with them. You don’t have to be best friends, but you definitely want to keep it positive to keep the work environment a happy place.

    1. Try to learn Korean if you haven’t already. Hangeul (the easy Korean alphabet) is a must along with polite Korean and the basics to get by. How far you choose to pursue your studies beyond that is up to you, but always saying greetings and thank you’s in Korean to your co-teacher and vice principal when you see him or her, as well as trying to ask little questions or say something funny in Korean, can go a long way at school! Learning the language will also make your life outside of school way easier, especially if you are placed in a province rather than a major city. Consider self study or signing up for a class in your neighborhood with other new EPIK teachers. I’m happy with how I immediately learned hangeul, survival Korean, and grammar, but I spent years being afraid or nervous to try to have conversations and it delayed my language abilities by quite a bit. Don’t make the same mistake I did!

     

    1. Use your vacation time wisely. While I understand some people may choose to stay home during vacation time for a variety of reasons such as saving money to pay off student loans, I really do encourage EPIK teachers to travel around Korea or beyond. EPIK has a lot more vacation time than hagwon jobs, which is one of the wonderful benefits of the program. When I was in EPIK, I traveled abroad each winter break and each summer break, and then I traveled within Korea via bus or train for long weekends and other holidays. Korea is a very short plane ride from anywhere in Japan as well as northeast mainland China, and isn’t far from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Guam, and southeast Asia.

     

    1. Keep track of your completed lesson plans for each grade level and each school. (If you’re placed in a province, you will likely have more than one school to visit each week, and everyone I knew taught multiple grade levels.) You’ll want to do this so you can remember where and when you’ve already used a certain game, theme, or activity. One easy method to keep track is a Google spreadsheet like I made for each of my schools. I used the spreadsheet both years I taught in EPIK. Staying professional and organized is easy with any sort of online tool like a spreadsheet, and you’ll be glad you did this.

     

    1. Renew your EPIK contract at least once! I’ve always firmly believed that one year in the program just is not enough to fully grow as a teacher, experience what Korea has to offer, adjust beyond the inevitable culture shock, and check off all the amazing things off a bucket or to-do list. I knew a few teachers who very firmly showed up on day one knowing that they could only spend one year here no matter how much they loved it, but I knew a lot more people who came thinking they’d only do one year but actually stayed for two or three. And plenty of my friends stayed beyond three years as well. Who knows, maybe you’ll never leave like me…!

  • The Biggest Culture Shock of Argentina: The Schedule

    The Biggest Culture Shock of Argentina: The Schedule

    By: Naomi, High School Abroad Argentina Alumni, 2024 FTT Winner

    Hi! I’m Naomi and I spent six months in Argentina for my student exchange. Before leaving for my trip, I was most definitely expecting to experience culture shock. However, I was surprised by the parts of the culture that ended up being the hardest for me to adapt to. Today I want to share the most challenging cultural aspects for me and how I worked through those differences. 

    Longer Days

    In Argentina, the daily schedule is vastly different from what I was used to in the United States. The time you are awake is much longer and much of the “day” is spent at night. Most people wake up at around seven or eight in the morning and are awake until midnight or one in the morning. For reference, I had a schedule similar to this on weekdays:  

    • 7am to 9am wake up & eat breakfast 
    • 9am to 11am clean, exercise, prepare food, & homework 
    • 11am to 12pm lunch 
    • 1pm to 6pm school  
    • 7pm to 8pm merendar (snack) 
    • 8pm to 10pm sports  
    • 10pm to 11pm dinner 
    • 11pm to 12am family time & hygiene time 
    • 12am to 1am go to bed 

    On the weekends, the day becomes even longer, and it is common to not sleep much at all. People often will stay awake until 6 am and sleep for 3-4 hours before starting another day. Another distinction is that on the weekends people do not do much during the day. It’s only really towards the late afternoon and night that people will start hanging out with friends, going shopping, etc. 

    For me, this routine was a very hard change mostly because I was not expecting such a dramatic difference. When I finally actively realized that my schedule was going to be widely different here and that trying to keep the same routine I had in the U.S. was not the right option, I was able to adjust much more easily. It sounds like such a simple thing, but the mental switch allowed me to seek the help I needed to adjust to a new situation. While going through this process of adjustment, communicating about how I felt was crucial. It is nerve-racking to talk about how you might feel tired or uncomfortable with people who are unfamiliar to you. Despite this, it is very important to break down that barrier and share how you are feeling, especially with your host family. Once I addressed the problem with my host mom, we were able to create a plan to confront the problem I was having and resolve it, instead of me having to suffer through it on my own.  

    I was able to adjust to the new schedule fairly quickly after talking with my host mom and was able to enjoy my days a lot more. So, if you end up struggling with this new routine, don’t be afraid to talk about it with your host family. I guarantee it will help you! 

    Four Meals a Day

    Another difference in daily life is that there are typically four meals a day in Argentina: 

    • Breakfast  
    • Lunch  
    • Merendar 
    • Dinner  

    This fourth meal is added because the days are so long that you need some extra fuel to keep you going. As in the U.S., it is common to have a snack after coming home from school, merendar is the same idea.  

    Another difference in Argentina is the size of meals. Lunch is the most important meal of the day, meaning it is also the largest. It is also very common to have lunch with your whole family (similar to traditional American dinners). All the other meals trail behind lunch and tend to be relatively small and variable. For example, it was not uncommon to not eat breakfast or dinner some days.  

    These differences were not as hard to adjust to. The biggest hurdle I encountered was communicating how I felt about not eating breakfast or dinner. Communicating about food or lack of food can be hard, but communicating how you are feeling about what you are eating is always the better idea. Once I asked about what meals would typically look like, I was able to feel more comfortable about the eating schedule and also plan food I wanted to eat or make on my own time, without feeling bad about it. Again, communication here is key.   

    Conclusion  

    Overall, I found that most of the problems and cultural differences I ran into could be solved through communicating with my host family about how I was feeling. They are your support system in-country and they want you to be happy and comfortable too. So, don’t hold back when problems arise, and good luck on this new adventure! 

  • Tips for Taking Excursions as a High School Exchange Student

    Tips for Taking Excursions as a High School Exchange Student

    A note from Greenheart Travel: Amelia is a high school student who studied abroad during the 2020-2021 school year. 

    Hi, my name is Amelia and I am an exchange student in Belgium.

    I’ve had the chance to travel around the country a little bit on my own and it’s been an interesting experience. The first time I tried to travel by myself, I planned to visit a small town not too far from where I lived. I figured out the bus schedule and I was all ready to go. I was successful in getting myself to the town. Getting home was a different story.

    I was unprepared for the amount of bus stops you can fit in a 1 kilometer radius. I knew which bus I was looking for; however I was less sure of which stop I needed to be at. I was soon confused and ran around all the bus stops trying to decipher the timetables. In the end I took the correct bus route…in the wrong direction and ended up in the wrong town. I did eventually get home, although I had to wait around for an hour and a half for the next bus to arrive. This first trip was an outlier, all of my other solo excursions went off without a hitch with the exception of minor travel adjustments due to construction, etc.

    One of my favorite trips was to the city of Namur. I went on a Saturday so I got to see the Saturday market set up in the main street of the city. The most popular stands are the fruit and vegetable seller and the flower vendors. In the heart of the city is the Citadel. It dates back to medieval times when the city was under siege. While the interior of the citadel was closed due to COVID all the outdoor areas were open. So I spent a few hours exploring the paths and passageways and lookouts. The day I was there, the city was hosting a 5K run around the citadel so that was fun to watch. But the two best things I saw all day were the giant golden turtle, and the bagpiper. The golden turtle is on the lowest ring of the citadel. I’m not sure why it was there. There was no information about it but it was still pretty cool. At the very top of the citadel is an amphitheater. This is where I found a man practicing his bagpipes right next to a pair of people practicing their kickboxing. It was truly a sight to behold, definitely not a combination I would have expected. It was a wonderful day in a beautiful city. So when you travel in a forgiven country, remember to explore, because sometimes the best things are the little things that just make you smile. Wandering around can lead you to the prettiest views and best memories.

    Photo by
    Olga Subach

    My tips for taking day trips are:

    1. Make a general plan; in Belgium a lot of the scenic towns have a town website that will give you a general idea of the things you can see there (example: https://www.namurtourisme.be/en/ ). There will probably be things that you have to register for in advance so that you can get a time slot. I liked planning a few things to go see, and then leaving myself some extra time to explore a little and check out other things that caught my eye.
    2. Make sure your family knows where you are; this is just kind of common sense, especially if you are going by yourself like I did. Also if you don’t know where you want to go, ask your host family for recommendations. They know the country better than you do so they should be able to give you some pointers.
    3. Know you public transport; the bus and train system in Belgium is pretty good…as long as you know how to read the schedules. So learn to read the schedules before your trip, not during. And make sure you have a ticket (if you are on a bus and don’t have a ticket they sometimes kick you off and if you are on a train they will fine you).
    4. Use a map; once again common sense, try to keep a general idea of where you are.
    5. Be aware of your person and your belongings; I tried to stay in areas where I knew there would be bystanders, such as churches, schools, shopping districts, parks. If you aren’t familiar with the area don’t just meander off with no idea of where you are or what kind of things are around you. Also try not to get stuck out at night, it is a lot harder to get home at night since the buses stop, so be aware of your time constraints.
    6. Be polite to people around you
    7. Public transportation workers will help you, just ask. They will let you know about delays, they will tell you which train stops where, if a train is canceled they will let you know which replacement train you can take. 
    8. Have some spare change; a lot of public restrooms will change you between .5 and 1 euros. So be prepared to pay to use the bathroom.
    9. Bring other people; it’s not always necessary, but it can be more fun and less stressful if you bring a family member or friend along with you.

    So really most of this just comes down to be smart and be aware.

  • One Alumni’s Analysis of Educational Differences Between Finland and the United States

    One Alumni’s Analysis of Educational Differences Between Finland and the United States

    A note from Greenheart Travel: Eva Levin is a high school student from Maine who studied in Finland during the Spring 2021 semester. 

    By Eva Levin

    School life all across the world leaves a very bold mark on the culture of every nation’s youth. The way that we learn in our communities affects our relationships, our free time, and our overall outlook on life. I was lucky enough to get to experience a semester abroad in Tampere, Finland, to conclude the final five months of my freshman year. Having lived in a relatively small town in Maine for the past five and a half years (excluding my time abroad), I was very used to the Northern climate, and a lifestyle with certain aspects influenced by Nordic culture, due to my previous fascination with the region. Because of this, prior to travelling to Finland I faced some concern that the social environment would be similar to that of my own region, just like the physical environment is. However, this notion was far from the truth, which I soon realized upon entering Finland and it’s school system, and getting the chance to become acquainted with Finnish school culture and their communities. 

    Oftentimes, schools in Finland will have different classes that specialize in different subjects, and take extra classes in their group’s subjects. When I attended Linnainmaan koulu (Linnainmaa’s school) in Tampere, Finland, I was lucky enough to be placed in a music class, (where we’d have more music lessons each week than the average group of students as every student in the class was a musician prior to joining the class), where we’d play a variety of different songs on different instruments. My school would hold events where the students who played music would perform songs in both English and Finnish (many students in Finland are interested in American or English music and pop culture). 

    Photo courtesy of Eva Levin

    In terms of physical education, gym teachers in schools in Finland will utilize the advantage of the cold winter and sometimes excessive amounts of snow. On my first day in Finnish “liikunta” class, or “exercise” class, we got to go out and do cross country skiing across the paths in the back area of the neighborhood that my school was located in. Other activities that students get to do together in the winter time that may not be very common for schools in the U.S., specifically in the southern U.S. where snow can be rare, are outdoor skating and ice hockey with chairs (one person skates and pushes someone in the chair who is holding an ice hockey stick to play against the other sitting students and their partners.) As an exchange student who didn’t know the language well, I particularly enjoyed playing ice hockey, as I got to learn a lot of new words in Finnish about speed and turning, so it was a fun opportunity to communicate in Finnish to use teamwork with a classmate. 

    Photo courtesy of Eva Levi

    Depending on what time of year you choose to travel, you’ll get to experience different strangely lengthened days during your life in Finland. As most of the states in the US (minus parts of Alaska) are too far South to experience the elongated days in the summer and the elongated nights in the winter, going to Finland and seeing daylight for nearly 24 hours (depending on your city) in the summer, or walking to and from school in the dark in the winter may seem like the strangest thing. At the very beginning of my trip in mid-January, I would walk to school in the dark, and by the time I left school, the sun would already have begun setting. By the very end, in mid-June, the sun would officially set around 11:30 at night, but the sky would never truly get dark as it would in the wintertime. Though this aspect to Finnish life may seem very strange to most Americans, or most people from any part of the world, it’s also a really amazing thing to experience. To a foreigner from any country that’s further south, the long nights and long days depending on the season make the days feel special and unique. 

    There are many small and large aspects to Finnish lifestyle and school culture that will differ from your life as a student in your own country. However, the close communities and well trained, friendly school teachers will make you feel at home in your future community and town. Most students and teachers will likely be accommodating to your language requests in terms of how much Finnish you use or how much English you use, as many people in Finland are proficient in English. However, if it is your goal to learn the Finnish language, don’t be afraid to push yourself to practice Finnish and ask those around you in your host community to speak Finnish with you, as with such a difficult language, the best way to learn it is to speak it as often as possible. Hopefully you’ll be able to recognize some of these fun cultural differences and aspects to Finnish school culture and life on your trip, and discover many more with meaning to you. 

  • Studying Abroad in Finland? Here are Recommendations from an American

    Studying Abroad in Finland? Here are Recommendations from an American

    A note from Greenheart Travel: Eva Levin is a high school student from Maine who studied in Finland during the Spring 2021 semester. 

    Eight Things You Should Know: A Guide of Information and Recommendations for American Students Travelling to Finland 

    By Eva Levin

    If you’re an American student who plans on travelling to someplace in Finland, whether it be for a short or a long amount of time, you’re definitely in for some experiences with unexpected differences to life in the U.S.. (Or to your past experiences travelling the world.) These aren’t necessarily bad things, so long as you keep an open mind to the lifestyles and practices of those around you and prepare yourself for a few funny or awkward moments of cultural misunderstanding, you’re going to have a great time learning about Finland and it’s wonderful, unique culture. Below is a list I’ve made of a few key differences between American and Finnish culture, along with a few recommendations or just things to think about. Bear with me, as the list is a bit scattered between the three categories, but you’ll see once you’ve taken your time abroad that organizing all your interesting and funny memories might be a bit chaotic too. 

    Eva in Finland. Courtesy of Eva Levin.

    Recognizing your own familiar pop culture thousands of miles from home

    Though there are many distinct films, songs, and shows that come from Finland that are popular amongst Finnish youth, nowadays, it’s very common for Finnish kids and teenagers to take an interest in American pop culture. This includes, but is not limited to, American movies, shows, and music. When I got to Finland, I immediately saw posters and advertisements for either American movies and shows, or their covers with a Finnish translation. (Note that it wasn’t just American pop culture, but also British, Australian, and some from higher populated Western European countries such as France or Germany.) As most Finnish films or songs don’t reach an international crowd, a lot of the pop culture that they enjoy comes from America or England. When I first realized this, I felt a bit of disappointment at first, as I feared it meant I wouldn’t get to absorb true Finnish culture as much as I’d hoped, however, if you ask around and talk to friends or your host family, you’ll be able to find some really great Finnish movies, shows, and music. It just depends on where you look. It was also a very strange feeling to be able to relate to people who live in a different country than me about the same films and songs that I grew up with. It was a really nice feeling a lot of the time, because it led to experiences like teaching my friends the meanings of English lyrics to songs, or talking about the slight differences in the plots of American films vs. their Finnish translations that were released in Finland.

    Removing your shoes before you enter the house, and changing them at school

    I’m aware from prior international experience that the practice of removing your shoes at the door before entering a house is definitely not something unique to Finnish culture. In fact, many countries around the world (for various reasons) do this before they go inside. However, I’ve found that in the U.S., it’s a lot more common, especially when you’re a guest at somebody’s house, to leave your shoes on when you go inside, and simply wipe your feet at the door so as to not get dirt on the floors. Of course, this somewhat strict rule in Finnish households may seem natural to some Americans, as I do know people in the U.S. who follow this practice almost religiously. Regardless, I believe that to some students who are used to being in too much of a hurry to take their shoes off and put them back on when running in and out of a house, this may seem strange at first. You likely won’t find yourself in trouble for forgetting to take your shoes off, however many times you will be reminded by those around you. No worries though, they recognize that where you’re from things like that might be different, it’ll just be a funny change you might have to get used to.

    The English language… everywhere

    Even when it’s a conversation between two Finnish people, you could hear English being spoken. Now, I’m sure if you’re interested in travelling to Finland, you might know that nordic countries generally speak very good English these days. All students are required to learn it from a young age (the age differs but it’s generally 3rd-5th grade), and so, naturally, many of them are able to speak it very well by the time they’re in high school. I’m going to go ahead and make the assumption that if you’re interested in being an exchange student you must have at least a little interest in different languages, and maybe you even know a few yourself. If this is the case, then you know how exciting it is to use a second or third language, and you probably enjoy using it whenever you get the chance to speak with a native speaker. For Finns, it’s the same way. Especially the teenagers, who, as I previously stated, have been exposed to a lot of media published in the English language. I rarely got the chance to pick up on English conversations between just Finns with no background or relation to a conversation with myself, however, if I spoke in conversation (in English) to certain friends, some of them would continue the conversation in English even after I’ve walked away. Many jokes, references, and quotes beyond the realm of Finnish origin are often made or quoted in English (sometimes even if the person saying it doesn’t know what all the words mean!). You’ll find that, as an American, Finnish students will be eager to speak to you in English about a whole ocean of topics, but a lot of people I met were better at speaking the language and forming their own sentences than understanding the language (especially when it’s being spoken quickly). Because of this, if you’re interested in helping out a friend in Finland with their English, or just having a conversation in your native language, try to speak slowly, so that the conversation flows better, and there are less questioning faces and confused responses. 

    A less than satisfactory amount of Finnish language resources, even in Finland

    Though I enjoyed speaking in English with my Finnish friends and helping them to grow their vocabulary, I myself was (and still am) very fascinated by the Finnish language, and I really wanted to learn it before, during, and after my trip. Unfortunately, seeing as though the Finnish language is only really spoken in Finland, it’s really hard to find resources to learn the language, especially if you’re not in Finland. Thankfully, if you’re an exchange student, you have all the resources you need living around you if you really put your mind to it. Now, I’m not saying just being in the country will teach you the language, nor am I saying that you’ll be able to achieve fluency in your trip (I certainly didn’t) However, pushing yourself to use the language as much as possible sets a really good foundation in your head for future studies of the language. I know that in the last paragraph I talked about how much fun it can be to talk in English with your friends, however, if it is truly your goal to learn the Finnish language, I’d say it’s best to force yourself to only speak Finnish (perhaps at designated times), so that you can burn as much of the language and it’s insane grammar system into your head. However, it can be overwhelming to constantly speak a second language, especially if those around you speak your language and you know it’s an available option. This doesn’t mean you’ll never learn the language, seeing as though the options for personal studies are limited, there are some very good courses and books. I’ll put a list here of the ones I think helped me to learn the most Finnish during and after my trip, and a link so you can find them.

    • Duolingo Finnish course – this is a new course, so the lessons are very limited, however, I’d recommend completing this course sometime during your time abroad, as once you know the basics of the language, this can be helpful to teach you some new vocabulary.
    • FSI Finnish course – the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) offers an incredible amount of free courses and resources for all the languages you can imagine, Finnish included. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t discover this until the end of my trip, but if you read through the book (downloadable as a PDF and printable) then you can gain a really, really useful amount of information about the pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary of the Finnish language.
    • Survival Finnish for Travelers: Lumi Bear’s Basic Travel Finnish – this one is a book that I was given for my birthday about a month before my departure from my parents, and it’s full of really helpful phrases and words that you can use when you’re travelling and you don’t have a translator at hand.
    • Suomen Mestari 1 – when you get to Finland, you’ll probably have organized with your program a course with which you’ll be learning Finnish for a portion or all of your trip. The Suomen Mestari 1 book is the book which I bought for my class. The whole book is written in Finnish, as it’s made for people from any country to learn Finnish, not specifically English speakers. You’ll likely end up buying a book for the class you attend, but on the off chance that you want to buy this book anyways (assuming you don’t automatically buy the same one for your course), I’d recommend getting this after you already have obtained a basic understanding of the Finnish language with a source made for English speakers.

    I must confess, of all four sources listed above, I’ve only completely finished the work in the Duolingo course. However, I’ve completed or reviewed a lot of the work in the other sources, and I can see at this point that they really helped with my growth in the Finnish language. 

    The ultra-hot saunas, and feeling like a chump in them compared to the Finns

    Okay, if you’ve been in an American sauna before, you’ve probably noticed that they’re really hot, but at least tolerable (hopefully). At least, in my experience that’s about how I’d describe them. However, if you end up going to a Finnish sauna during your trip (which you definity will, they’re unavoidable), I recommend you prepare yourself for a level of heat that is unmatched by saunas outside of Finland. There’s a reason why they’re known all around the world for their saunas and how they use them, and that is because they will not stop throwing water on the rocks, even if to you it feels like you’re sitting in an oven. My first time going in my host family’s sauna, it got so hot that when they told me we were going to jump into a hole in the frozen over lake, I didn’t have to debate it in my head, I got in the water as soon as I could. You’ll likely hear a few jokes by your Finnish colleagues who have travelled to America about how ‘cold’ our saunas are, but don’t worry, because the more trips you take to the sauna in Finland, alone or in a group, the stronger resistance you’ll build up to the heat. In fact, if you go enough, by the end of your trip you may be able to make it through a whole sauna session with some Finnish peers without flinching when they add more steam.

    Tipping- don’t do it

    This one you may have heard before, either about Finland or about another country. This is another thing like taking off shoes, one that depends on where you go, as many places have it one way while others have it the other way. In Finland, it isn’t offensive to tip your waiter or someone helping you with service in a store, however, it is unusual. It’s one of those things that you might want to avoid doing if it’s your goal to fit in better in your community. 

    Day and night

    As far as the daylight goes in Finland, you’ll generally get elongated days in the summer and elongated nights in the winter. Depending on what time of the year you travel and how far north you go, you’ll likely get to experience something unlike what you see in the US, even in the heart of summer or winter. In the summertime, when the days are long, oftentimes people in Finland will go swimming in the lakes late at night, as they can still see with the sun up or barely set. In the wintertime, the sun will be set by the time school is out, or it will begin to set soon after. As tough as this might sound, it’s actually quite nice as Christmas decorations are very common late in the winter there as they are in the US, so even though it’s dark out for so long, you get to see the fun lights and decor in the long nights. This aspect of the Finnish environment might be particularly special for students from states further south in the US, as day and night for them remains fairly consistent throughout the year. 

    Candy and Salt

    This last one I’d consider a recommendation not to be taken lightly. In America, our idea of candy is usually things like gummies or chocolate or hard candies. Seldom in my life in the U.S. have I eaten a candy that was completely salty, not making an exception for things like “salted caramel” which are nearly always sweet in whole with just a bit of salt. However, at times in Finland, finding candy that did not contain salt was a challenge. Finns really love their candy a lot, they have a ton of selections of chocolate and other mixed types of candies like pastels or gummies. However, what I believe they are best known for (or should be if they aren’t), is their ‘Salmiakki.’ Now, if you don’t know what this is, you can look it up. It’s like liquorice, but it’s more salty than it is sweet. Like, that’s not my opinion, that’s just the catch. This isn’t to say it’s a bad thing, as a ton of people (including myself at times) like the salty liquorice. However, there are types that (in my opinion) are way too salty, or that are just surprising to find. What I mean by this is that you can go into a store at the beginning of your trip without knowing how to look out for salty liquorice (they have a specific type of package and key words on the cover that you’ll eventually grow accustomed to), and you could buy what you think is a chocolate bar, only to find that the inside is full of a black goo. That’s a liquid form of salmiakki (and a real candy that they have in most stores). There’s chocolate covered salmiakki, there’s fruit candy mixed with salmiakki in bags, there’s pastels, there’s gum, I even bought a licorice flavoured shampoo towards the end of my trip. They have managed to package one of the most controversial candies in virtually every form. So my recommendation to you is simply, beware. If you don’t like liquorice, salty candy, or both mixed together, or if you just aren’t accustomed to it yet (as most Americans aren’t), just be careful when purchasing candies there. Now, obviously this isn’t a matter of life and death, but there were times there when I would pick up a piece of chocolate, and bite into it only to find that it was just double-salted liquorice disguised as chocolate. So again, just beware. 

    I’m going to leave some of the other things you’ll learn about while in Finland up to you to discover, as this was simply a list of what affected me most. Throughout your time abroad, you’re going to run into things that seem different from the way life goes for you normally, in a multitude of ways. All I can say is you have to view these surprises as positive, and let the changes be good things. Even if they seem hard to adjust to at first, you’ll ultimately learn to love a lot of aspects of your host country, it just requires time and patience. So be sure to always prepare for new experiences, keep an open mind, and good luck on your adventure abroad! 

  • From Studying in Spain to Peace Corps: Q& A with Alum Meredith McHugh

    From Studying in Spain to Peace Corps: Q& A with Alum Meredith McHugh

    You’ve heard us say it a thousand times: cultural exchange is lifechanging. We say it a lot because it’s true. Whether your cultural exchange program inspires you to become a chef instead of an accountant or changes your outlook on community, there’s no shortage of ways that living abroad impacts your life. In this Q&A, Greenheart Travel Associate Director of High School Abroad and Short Term Programs Allison asks High School Abroad Spain alum Meredith all about her best memories of studying abroad and how it’s changed her life.

    Photo courtesy of Meredith.

    Q: What made you decide on studying in Spain?

    A: Originally applied to study abroad in English speaking countries. Prior to my time in Spain I was one of those monolingual Americans who didn’t see the value in learning another language when English was so globalized. I was told that there weren’t any spots left in any English speaking countries but that there was a spot in Spain and Austria. I still wanted to study abroad and I had taken two years of high school Spanish so I chose Spain. That year completely changed my whole life and my whole perspective on language education. It even changed my career path. Beforehand I wanted to be a Speech Pathologist. Now I want to go to law school to study international and comparative law.

    Q: What was your life like when you studied in Spain?

    A: I went to IES Pedro de Valdivia in Badajoz and completed Primero Bachillerato. I was a part of the town’s track club and I competed in cross country and track. I participated in a charity race (Carrera de la Mujer) that strived to bring awareness to domestic violence against women in Spain as well as raise money for women’s shelters. I placed in the top ten in the race (and so did a couple of my teammates) so we qualified to run in the international race in Lisbon, Portugal.

    Q: Wow, it sounds like you did a lot of extracurriculars. What else did you do?

    A: Throughout the school year I worked with my English teachers to help my school qualify to compete in an international economics competition (Erasmus). My town’s English program wasn’t as great as schools in the cities so I would spend free periods going through their presentations with them and correcting grammar/pronunciation etc. They ended up presenting their project in Poland! I participated in a play (entirely in Spanish) for my literature class where I played a supporting role. I had about 12 lines and my classmates were so encouraging as I was learning them (the Spanish was very old, like Shakespeare level old English). Preparation for the play was about two weeks so we practiced every day during class or during free periods.

    Photo courtesy of Meredith.

    Q: If you had a to pick a really fun memory of your time in Spain, what would it be?

    A: Segundo Bachillerato did a baking competition and my friends in Segundo Bachillerato convinced the teachers to let me participate with them. We spent a week planning and a whole day cooking only to lose to someone who admitted that they just used Chips Ahoy that they snuck back from America! The irony of an American losing to an American cookie had us laughing all afternoon and this experience was the first time I had to bake without using US measurements. Using a food scale to bake blew my mind.

    Q: Overall, how do you think your year in Spain changed you?

    A:  This is my favorite story to tell to when I explain how much Spain changed me: My sophomore year of high school we had an exchange student from Barcelona named Ana. The day she was leaving she was helping me with my Spanish homework. I remember sitting at our kitchen table and crying about how stupid and useless Spanish was out of pure frustration. Two years later I met up with Ana in Barcelona after my year in Spain and we didn’t speak in English the entire week I stayed with her family. She brought up the story of me crying about Spanish the day she left and we could not stop laughing about it.

    Photo courtesy of Meredith

    Q: What are your plans now?

    A: I am currently applying to Peace Corps. My year abroad in Spain played a huge part in my decision to apply to the Peace Corps.

  • Greenheart Travel Alumni Opportunities

    Greenheart Travel Alumni Opportunities

    Congratulations, you’re a Greenheart Travel alumni!  

    Your adventure doesn’t stop here! We can’t wait for you to continue your journey with Greenheart Travel. Now that you’re a part of our alumni family, you have many opportunities to continue your personal and professional development. 

    The Greenheart Club

    The Greenheart Club is our exclusive online community where civic innovators and volunteers can network, gain access to professional development tools, and measure their community impact. Customize your profile, share stories, receive badges and learn from others around the globe, all while logging your volunteer hours. You are required to have a Greenheart Club account to apply for the Odyssey Programs and Greenheart Grants.

    Apply for a Greenheart Global Impact Grant (GIG) or Teach-Pair-Share Grant

    A Greenheart Global Impact Grant (GIG) is a financial award of up to $1000 given to exemplary members of the Greenheart Club. It provides alumni with the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain a community-focused project abroad or at home. Find more information on the Greenheart Club. 

    Greenheart’s Teach-Pair-Share grant provides up to $1000 for Greenheart English Teachers to partner with a teacher from their host community on a project that benefits their students and school. For example, the grant can be used to fund a language-immersion event, launch an afterschool program, or build an educational garden. Apply here.

    Become a Greenheart Travel Ambassador

    The Greenheart Travel Ambassador role is a unique volunteer opportunity for alumni who want to share their international experience, encourage others to travel abroad on a cultural exchange program, and grow their personal network.

    By participating as a Greenheart Travel Ambassador, you will:

    • Earn internship-like experience customizable to your interests
    • Develop advanced marketing, mentoring, and leadership skills
    • Expand your personal and professional networks
    • Connect with other highly accomplished alumni
    • Make connections and work directly with Greenheart Travel staff
    • Gain access to professional development resources and special events

    What does a Greenheart Travel Ambassador do? 

    Well, that depends on you! Are you a writer? Get published on our blog! An education major? Present with us in schools! Into marketing? Contribute to our social media and recruiting efforts!

    These are just a few of the ways our Ambassadors are involved:

    • Mentor new Greenheart Travel participants
    • Host a Greenheart Travel meetup in your area
    • Give a stellar presentation and inspire your peers
    • Join us at a fair or conference to promote travel for a change

    We’re happy to answer your questions! Learn more or apply today by emailing travelalumni@greenheart.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

    Apply for a Greenheart Odyssey Scholarship Program

    At the heart of our mission is the Greenheart Odyssey, a series of five leadership programs providing full-ride scholarships (flights included!) to chosen alumni. All alumni can apply through their Greenheart Club portal following completion of their program abroad.

    Junior Greenheart Global Leader’s Conference (Under 18)

    Jr. Leaders spend five days in Chicago exploring global leadership. They engage in service, public speaking workshops, cultural exchange, and one-on-one engagement with innovative leaders.

    Greenheart Global Leader’s Conference (18+)

    Adult Global Leaders spend a week in Washington, D.C. learning how to be advocates for cultural exchange and community development. Business, social justice, and sustainability workshops culminate in a Department of State visit and panelist opportunity.

    Greenheart Global Alumni Council

    Six all-star alumni are chosen to be Greenheart board members for the year. Council members are empowered by the unique opportunity to come together in-person at the Purpose Summit in Berlin, Germany and in online spaces. They develop initiatives that have an international impact.

    Become a Local Coordinator in the USA

    Join our team of local coordinators throughout the USA, placing and supporting our high school exchange students and their host families. This is a part-time contract position that is open to alumni 26 years or older, with the opportunity for domestic and international travel to annual conferences. 

    Fill out an inquiry form here: https://greenheartexchange.org/partner/become-a-local-coordinator/apply/ 

    Host a High School Exchange Student in the USA

    Located in the United States? You and your family can open your home to a high school exchange student from another country. You can host a student anywhere from a few weeks to an entire academic year. Volunteer host families provide our young ambassadors a wide range of landscapes, climates, activities, and lifestyles. 

    Fill out an inquiry form here: https://greenheartexchange.org/host/host-an-exchange-student/apply/  

  • Going Back to Exeter for University: Interview with High School England Alum Emily Demski

    Going Back to Exeter for University: Interview with High School England Alum Emily Demski

    Like our High School Abroad France alum Zoe Lien, High School Abroad England alum Emily Demski studied as an exchange student in England when she was in high school and decided to pursue university abroad. We asked her about how this idea came about, how she applied, and tips for future students hoping to do the same.

    Emily in England, photo courtesy of Emily.

    Can you tell us about yourself?

    My name is Emily Demski and I studied abroad in Exeter, England from January 2019- June 2019. I am from South Lyon, Michigan and I was 16 when I began my experience. I lived with a host family just outside of Exeter with 2 parents, 2 kids, and another student and I attended Exeter College.

    Tell us a brief overview of what your program was like and what you did on a daily/weekly basis on program.

    I attended 3 AS level courses: psychology, sociology, and English language. I would have either 2 or 3 classes a day and would spend my free time meeting with friends, studying in the library, or exploring the city. I was taking 6 classes a day in the US, so I really liked that I got to focus on only 3 in the UK and learn much more about each subject. It was also interesting to learn about some topics from a different perspective.

    I spent most of my weekends with my host family exploring other parts of Devon. They showed me several local beaches where we would go for hikes or fishing and different parks and trails. I loved this because the destinations in England are so different to what I was exposed to in Michigan.

    Why did you decide to explore the possibility of going to university abroad, and how did you decide which schools to apply to?

    While I studied in Exeter, I fell in love with the area and the life that I lived there. I realized that I wanted to live there longer, so I toured the University of Exeter it immediately felt like home. Because it’s in the area that I wanted and is a great school that provides a great education, I only applied to programs through the University of Exeter. Even though it’s a perfect fit for me, I never would have found it without studying abroad at Exeter College first.

    Tell us about the application process. What was it like? How hard was it?

    I applied to 4 schools in the US and and to 4 programs in the UK, so I became very familiar with both application processes. Both can be done online and were fairly easy to complete. The first major difference  I noticed was while applying in the UK, instead of applying to a school, you chose a program to apply to. For example, I applied to the business economics course at the University of Exeter rather than just applying to the University of Exeter. Another difference that I noticed were the skills you emphasize on the essay portion of the application. For schools in the US, you write a personal story so the university can better understand you as a person. For example, my essay focused on my struggles of having lyme disease, how I overcame that and what I learned from it. However, the personal statement that I wrote for applying to programs in the UK held a focus on why I am fit for that program and was more academic based. I wrote about the classes I took that prepared me for the program and my interests in it. Another fact that is important to know is that you need 3 college level classes (AP or dual enrollment) to apply to programs in the UK. This is because they complete A level classes, which are equivalent to AP or dual enrollment classes, prior to applying to universities.

    Why do you think it was beneficial to study abroad before going to university abroad?

    Going to university abroad is an extremely huge commitment. For me, I will be there for 3 years completing my degree and I would feel a lot less prepared if I didn’t study abroad before. Going abroad alone can feel very scary, but now I have a host family and lots of friends to come back to. Since I studied abroad for only 5 months, it was a lot less scary to move to an unknown area for a few months rather than a few years. I also am very familiar with the area now, so I feel confident in navigating myself around and am excited to return. Having a support system for me there will really help with my transition back and throughout my whole experience.

    Do you have any advice for a high school student interested in studying at university abroad?

    I would highly recommend either visiting the area that you are interested in or studying abroad there beforehand. This is so you will feel confident that you will like living there. Because you won’t be able to come home as often as you could if you went to university locally, you have to make sure that where you go feels like home and you are comfortable there. If you are familiar with the area, the transition will go a lot better.

    If the university seems like a good fit for you, I highly recommend going abroad. You will learn so much about yourself and you will be exposed to so many life changing experiences. I have never felt more alive than I did when I was in England. Everything is exciting, beautiful, and breathtaking.

    Photo courtesy of Emily

     

  • Alumni Q&A with Zoe Lien: From High School Abroad to University in France

    Alumni Q&A with Zoe Lien: From High School Abroad to University in France

    High School Abroad France alum Zoe studied with Greenheart for a semester in Spring 2020. She’s now planning to go to university in France. We asked her about her program and why she decided to pursue higher education abroad.

    Would you tell us a bit about you?

    My name is Zoe Lien, and I am from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I went abroad for the first time with Greenheart in January 2020. I was in La Guerche de Bretagne, France. My first taste of France was a beautiful week in Paris. I laughed, lived and shared stories with all the other kids planning to study abroad in France through Greenheart. After sole breaking walks through the cobblestone streets of the most beautiful city in the world, I took a train to begin my new life. I arrived at the foreign metal scary station and was met by warm smiles. I was adopted into a family, and now had 3 more teenagers to live with. After a weekend of gluten, sugar, happiness, card games, and lots and lots of family time, I went to high school. My mornings started at 7 am, and my school day ended around 5, except for Wednesdays, those were half days. Hoorah! Thankfully, I did not have to be embarrassed alone. I lived with a host sibling who was my age, and had all the same classes as me. Usually we went to school by bus, but on a good day, he drove the Volkswagen.

    Tell us about your program in France.

    I was so embarrassed to speak with kids in my class, but it felt better to know that he was also going through pain, trying to repeat and explain every conversation anyone had to the new American girl. I didn’t understand anything in my classes, but considering I was taking Calculus, Physics, Philosophy, Biology, History, Gym and Spanish, I didn’t put too much pressure on myself to understand. 1pm was my favorite hour. A stampede of blurred teenage bodies would speed into the lunchroom doors, like they had just seen Tupac enter the room. It was understandable considering a French lunch for students consists of three delicious courses to stop the whale noises coming from your stomach. Somedays, we had duck, pâte carbo, fish, etc. All followed by a baguette bouffet, and a dessert made by the gods. Lunch was unimaginable, and it lasted 2 hours! Unfortunately there was no naptime that followed. Coming back to class was hard, but comforting for someone who likes a consistent schedule, because all your classes are in the same room, except gym of course.

    After trying to understand my professors speaking gibberish for 7 hours, I went back to my cozy home. After school, I was exhausted, and would usually take a nap. But If it was Wednesday, I would leave school at 1pm, and go eat kebab with my friends, and then nap later.

    After a quick snooze, I would do my homework, or at least try, and then go hangout with my family. I tried to study French, from apps like Duolingo, but I could never use the words and phrases I learned, in real life. I found out, the way to learn a language is to erase your ego and let yourself be frustrated. You need to step outside of your comfort zone, and speak with someone whenever possible.

    Why did you decide to go abroad?

    I decided to go abroad because I love to be out of my comfort zone, learn new things, and interact with people, but adjusting was hard sometimes, even for me. Adjusting to a new country was difficult, but that, and a worldwide contagious evil virus attacking my dreams and expectations of studying abroad, was harder. But nonetheless, I never let myself go home, because even though it was the worst, it was better than anything I knew.

    Online classes taught by professors who don’t know what a PDF is, was funnier than it was annoying. Real school came to an end about 2 months into my trip, so I didn’t acquire many writing skills, but staying at home really helped me learn how to speak. I was  blessed to have a host mother with a bookshelf the size of my apartment, so I passed my afternoons reading books like The Stranger, and fell in love with Albert Campus. When summer came, I spent my time with my host siblings and friends by the crystal blue, so cold you might cry, ocean, and spent my nights learning French games, and dancing.

    Leaving was honestly horrible, and I think I cried every day I was back. The post-study abroad depression was real, but slowly I went back to my old ways. I was sad because I was scared I was going to be the same person I was before the trip, and I loved the new, well dressed, trilingual, lovely Zoe. I stayed home for two months, but quickly went back to my new comfort zone, France.

    When did you get the idea that you wanted to attend university abroad, and in France?

    In Minneapolis, I started to reflect on what i was going to do for college, and where I was going to spend my future years. An $80,000 college tuition, along with a tiny dorm room, and dirty frat parties, didn’t sound ideal. College tuition is free in public universities for French students, and around $5,000-10,000 a year for international ones, depending on the school. I decided that I wanted to continue my journey learning French, and it was a win-win to go to college there.

    How did you start the research and application process? What obstacles did you find?

    I decided to apply to The University of Rennes 2, to study Psychology and Sociology. I picked Rennes, because it was the closest city to where i lived before, and I had plenty of friends and contacts in the area, and at the University. The application process was a handful, and not for the weak minded or lazy. You must gather all the documents you can imagine, get them translated, write essays, and pass a language test. Thankfully Greenheart had already made me recover the documents the Universities required. My study abroad experience also taught me that if you have questions or need help from a French person, such as the Director of a University, be prepared to wait 3-5 business months! My biggest obstacle was, and still is the French language test. To enter into a University in France, you must have a certificate that says you can speak, read, and write like all the other French kids in your class. I was planning to take it last year, but thanks to COVID-19, all the testing centers are closed. I applied either way, and expressed to my University that for half of this year, I am taking a 20 hour/week class to learn French. Hopefully things will end up working out. My study abroad experience paid off when I could write the essays needed for my applications without a sweat down my brow, and I passed the French speaking interviews with ease.

    How did your high school abroad program help you in the process for applying for universities in France?

    My experience studying abroad last year changed my life forever. I have gone through a journey of self discovery, one that I would never take back. If this article makes you think that I didn’t have a good time, don’t be fooled. All Parisians say they hate Paris, but none of them would ever leave. I was only 17, and did not speak a lick of French when I arrived, and now I bargain with the old French men at the supermarket. I told everyone I was going to France, before I even applied, and all I have to thank is Greenheart for helping me achieve my dreams. Do not underestimate yourself, and what you can do. And do not hesitate to learn about someone else’s culture for once. Greenheart provided me with an excellent family and a beautiful little town to plant the roots of my tree. I will be forever grateful for that experience and everything that Greenheart gave me.

  • How One Teen Language Camp Alum Relocated to Japan

    How One Teen Language Camp Alum Relocated to Japan

    UK native and Greenheart Travel alum Tabby traveled to Japan on our teen language camp in Fukuoka in Summer 2018 and again in Summer 2019. Getting to know Fukuoka during her program was a great way to prepare for her current role, being a gap year student in Japan! We asked Tabby about her daily life in Japan, how her language camps impacted her, what she plans on doing next, and any advice she has for future students.

    Making Takoyaki during the culture class on Saturdays during language camp. Courtesy of Tabby.

    Is there any particular experience or something you learned on your language programs that inspired you to continue learning Japanese? What did you learn in those programs that you took with you?

    I always knew I was going to carry on studying Japanese beyond the language camps, but going to these language camps gave me an awesome insight into what it is like to study at a Japanese Language School in Japan. It taught me about Japan in the way I needed before I moved here, about making friends, homework load, how the lessons work etc. Obviously living in Japan is different from being in Japan for a month or less for tourism. Due to this reason I am so glad I was able to experience Japan beforehand, I got to know the stores to go for certain things in preparation for when I hoped to move here, I also had an excuse to spend way too much money on restaurant food and various trinkets which isn’t something that I can do now that I live here and still need a job. The area of Fukuoka had everything I needed in a small and convenient city and it was a great starting point for getting to know Japan since it is a very foreigner friendly city and easy to navigate while having all the modern part of Japan and relevant stores like Yodabashi Camera and Daiso it also had several traditional parts like the beautiful temples and shrines and izakaya along the river. It is such a wonderful starting place. So, since I need to learn Japanese fluently in order to enter and study at  Bunka Gakuen, I decided to save up and spend my gap year in Japan learning a language I love in order to enter the university I want to go to. I don’t usually love languages, I’ve tried French, German, Mandarin and Latin but I seemed to detest all of them but I found an unexpected love for the Japanese language which I am grateful for to this day. The camps definitely set me up very well for the future and I appreciate them being available.

    Sanmon, part of a Temple in Gion. Courtesy of Tabby.

    So you are doing a gap year in Japan to study at a Japanese language school? What inspired you to do that?

    I had a friend who joined my school when I was 10 who was half Japanese, she introduced me to Japan through her personal possessions and the snacks she ate. Over time I became intrigued by this whole new world of different things and from there I had always wanted to visit Japan. I’ve also wanted to study fashion design beyond school for a while now, maybe 4 years or more, and after doing a lifetime worth of research I found out about Bunka Gakuen (a fashion design college in Tokyo) about 3 years ago and I’ve had my mind set ever since. When I turned 16, not long after realising my dream for the future, I found out about Greenheart and a Japanese summer camp they offered. I was very close to the closing date for applications but we managed to get everything in on time and soon it was time to go. I had initially wanted to be with a host family but since I was late in applying I had to go with the dorms which was one of the best decisions I made. It was surreal, I was finally in Japan after 6 years of wishing to go. At first I was disappointed that I couldn’t go to Tokyo because of my Japanese level but Fukuoka was perfect and ever since I arrived there it has always been a special place.

    Could you walk us through a typical “day in the life” for you right now?

    A typical day in my life would consist of waking up at 5:00am, putting my rice in the rice cooker in order to cook for breakfast. While the rice cooks I usually go to for a morning walk and buy any food that is needed or that I am running out of, since food in Japan isn’t packed with preservatives I have to go grocery shopping several times a week. Then I come back and cook and eat breakfast followed by hours of studying or drawing art. I then have lunch just before Japanese Language classes start before 1:40pm. After 4 hours of classes finish at 5:30pm I cook supper, do more studying or drawing then wash my dishes and prepare for the next day. I usually make sure I only go out on weekends to make sure I am 100% focused on my studies and making sure I have all my homework done and I usually pre-prepare for the lesson so that I fully understand the grammar. I don’t have a part time job because my Japanese isn’t good enough yet but luckily I had saved up enough to last a whole year without earning any money.

    Tell us about the application process to Bunka Gakuen? What have  you learned about the process of applying to a university in Japan?

    I am not completely sure of the application process for Bunka Gakuen but I know that there is a lot of paperwork like there always is in Japan. It is the same application process for Japanese Nationals and Foreign Nationals except we have to present an in date visa, passport and residence card and we also need to qualify for N2 level fluency in Japanese. After that it’s just paperwork about sponsors and education level. There will be an interview held completely in Japanese and is usually held with 1-2 other people hoping to enter.

     

    Natsu Matsuri summer Festival Lanterns. Courtesy of Tabby.

    What do you hope to study and why?

    As I said before, Bunka Gakuen is a fashion design university so I hope to study fashion design, mainly garment pattern design and garment construction in order to make new and interesting shapes and patterns in clothes. I hope to carry on in Japan beyond university and work in the fashion industry in Japan. I don’t plan on returning to England because Japan makes me a lot happier and unless anything bad happens, I want to stay here as long as possible.

    Any advice for future students who hope to study or live in Japan once they graduate high school?

    One piece of advice I have is you need to save at least double the amount of money you think you need. Moving in fees and getting to know places and shops is a lot more expensive than I expected. Especially if your Japanese level is low and you’re unable to get a part time job, you need money. I also suggest looking at starting in a sharehouse before moving to an apartment since sharehouses are usually furnished and cheaper, you also get to meet and talk to Japanese people which will help improve Japanese dramatically before going to bars and trying to find friends that way, it can be hard when your Japanese level isn’t great.