Welcome to my travel blog! This is where I share my experience studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan through Rhode Island College with the help of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program.
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Simply add ricstudyabroad as a contact on Skype. I will approve the request and add you to the chatroom!
I will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays 5:00-10:00pm EST. The chatroom will always be open for anyone who wishes to discuss study abroad with other students!
Here is some information that can be useful for you!
Who do I speak to if I’m interested in studying abroad?
Definitely the study abroad advisor on your campus! For RIC students, you can contact Dr. Olga Juzyn and request an appointment to meet with her. You can shoot her an email here: [email protected]
For RIC students, you can view RIC’s program providers here: http://www.ric.edu/studyabroad/affiliatedprograms.php
The program you have in mind may not be in the list. Be sure to mention it to your study abroad advisor and work with them to determine if it is compatible with RIC!
RIC also offers a comprehensive list of topics that cover all aspects of studying abroad! You can view that here: http://www.ric.edu/studyabroad/guide.php
How long does the process take?
It would be best to allow at least one month to complete the paperwork. Many programs have early deadlines, so make sure you know when your desired abroad program wants the paperwork completed by. Most programs have an application process that takes quite a bit of time to complete, so it would be wise to have everything done ahead of time.
What exactly is the process?
It varies by institution, so it will be best to speak to your study abroad advisor to check your school website to see if there is a section dedicated to international studies.
For RIC students, you can view the process here: http://www.ric.edu/studyabroad/faqsandrequirements.php
You will have to complete paperwork for your study abroad advisor, financial aid advisor, and for the representative of whichever program you choose. Keep up with the paperwork and get it done so you don’t have to worry about it last minute!
If you have any questions, you can always ask your advisor! Feel free to contact me as well and I will help you to the best of my ability.
What if my major isn’t offered in the country I want to study in?
Check different program providers! The courses offered differ by providers. If you still cannot find courses required for your major, consider your current position. Are you a sophomore? Do you still have general education classes you have to take? Consider taking those overseas instead. Do you still have a language requirement to fulfill? That would be the perfect class to take abroad. Do you have courses toward a minor that are offered in the country of your choice?
Having incompatible majors was one of the reasons why I delayed traveling abroad until the end of my junior year. Nursing courses are only offered in selected European countries, but I wanted to go to a country in Asia. So I looked at other alternatives. I looked at healthcare-related internships, volunteer positions, classes related to alternative health treatments. I almost took an internship at a hospital in Shanghai, but ultimately, I chose to take Japanese classes in Tokyo. I realized I still had a language requirement to fulfill. I was only able to travel for a summer, but I’m very thankful that I made that choice. If you are still in your earlier semesters, you have many more options. Try considering other classes you can take overseas that can be counted toward your major! Coordinate communication with both your academic advisor and the study abroad advisor.
What if I don’t have enough money?
This was a also big obstacle for me to overcome personally. Your best choice is to meet with your financial aid advisor. He or she will let you know if any of the financial aid you are receiving during the school year can be applied to studying abroad. Apply for all of the scholarships that you can find. It will be worth the effort. Many scholarships have early deadlines, so start as soon as possible. For RIC students, you can view this webpage for a list of scholarships and other funding methods available to us: http://www.ric.edu/studyabroad/funding.php
RIC students also have the option of applying for the Shinn Fund: http://www.ric.edu/studyabroad/shinn.php
Please keep in mind that this scholarship is exclusively for students who wish to travel for at least 14 weeks, but no more than 2 years.
Personally, I was chosen as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship recipient. It was an immense blessing and helped lower the financial burden. You can visit their website here for more information: http://www.iie.org/programs/gilman-scholarship-program
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship! I will be glad to answer any questions or help guide you through the process.
Do you have any other tips?
Make sure your passport is up to date! It can take several weeks for your passport to be updated, so don’t leave it for the last month before your flight.
Get a physical, make sure all of your immunizations are up to date. Your program provider will likely want proof of your health prior to accepting you into the program.
Remember to alert your credit card company of your travel plans. It only takes a few minutes to complete online, or you can call them directly on the phone. You risk having your card frozen if your credit card company assumes that someone took your card for a ride across the globe. Consider applying for a credit card that does not charge fees for foreign purchases. I applied for a Capital One card to use during emergencies. Research available ATMs in your country to determine if you can use your existing debit cards with or without fees. I personally went to Bank of America prior to leaving the U.S. and converted my dollars into yen bills. It was very convenient having the cash on me at all times, and I did not have to worry about finding a place to convert my money.
Make sure your family has a means of reaching you. Some cell service providers offer international plans. I have T-Mobile, and they offer free international data coverage. This was extremely useful because I used Google Maps many many times while I was abroad. Text messages were slow and phone calls cost money, so it would be wise to have an internet-based method of communication. I used Facebook Messenger, LINE, and WeChat for communicating with friends and family.
If your cell service provider does not offer international coverage, research the Wi-Fi situation in the country of your choice. There might be portable Wi-Fi devices you can rent. I rented a 4G portable Wi-Fi device for 60 days through eConnect Japan. It cost me around $200, but it’s definitely worth the money if your cell service provider does not offer international coverage.
If you are studying for over a year, it may be wise to get a phone plan in the country where you are studying. It may be the cheapest and most convenient alternative.
Know where the US embassies are located in your country. If you apply for the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship, they will ensure that you are aware of where the embassies are located.
Transportation may not be covered, so you would have to search online on your own time. I used Kayak (http://www.kayak.com/) to find the most affordable flight with reasonable departure and arrival times. Make sure you don’t sacrifice comfort for saving a couple of bucks. Some airlines aren’t as reliable. Some may have several layovers in between, which can be taxing on the body and increases the chances of losing luggage or missing the flight. However, if you have to go through customs, make sure you leave at least two hours during layovers. The lines could be unrelenting and beyond your control, and you don’t want to be running towards your gate with your last breath. Other layovers could last for 10+ hours, requiring you to stay overnight at the airport. Bottom line, do your research before purchasing the ticket.
What is your personal experience?
I studied abroad at KCP International Language School during the summer of 2015. Due to my fall classes starting in late August, I was only able to take the short-term summer semester. The cost for KCP was substantially less than other program providers and it was located in Shinjuku, close to the heart of Tokyo. However, it was not one of RIC’s sponsored program providers, so I had to do research and communicate with several individuals to ensure that the credits I earned will be valid. I submitted an application to KCP, filled out a budget worksheet for RIC, and after many many many meetings with my study abroad advisor and financial aid advisor, I finally finished sorting everything out by early March.
I applied for many scholarships with little luck. Finally, I managed to submit my application for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. I had to prepare a lot of documentation and I had to write two essays, but it was well worth it in the end. There are many recipients for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, and you can check on their website for a list of previous recipients. Don’t feel discouraged. Continue applying for scholarships until you leave for your studies, perhaps even after. I took out a federal subsidized loan to help ease the burden on my wallet. It is always wise to have extra money for emergencies as well.
You can view my tumblr for pictures of my stay abroad! It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. If you have even the slightest desire to study abroad, definitely pursue it further!
The best summer of my life. Thank you for the experience, KCP! Thank you to the Benjamin A. Gilman Program for the financial support. Thank you to Rhode Island College for helping me make this happen. And thank you to my new friends for making this an unforgettable summer. ♥
つけめん (tsukemen) at a noodle place in Akihabara. Tsukemen is also known as “dipping noodles,” so as you would imagine, you dip them in the broth a little at a time. It prevents the noodles from absorbing all the moisture and getting soggy, while enhancing the flavor.
Sashimi bowl! A bit on the pricier side, but delicious. The restaurant didn’t separate smoking from non-smoking though, and the salarymen next to us smoked like chimneys. All the indoor smoking was something I never got used to, but that sashimi was still out of this world.
Amazing matcha latte. I can’t say this enough, but I miss having matcha readily available. Trying to avoid matcha is like trying to avoid pumpkin spice during the fall seasons in the U.S.
Ichiran Ramen in Harajuku! Customers sit in single, individualized booths separated by movable wooden panels. Simply pick what you want, the chef will immediately make it for you, and then lower a curtain so that even employees cannot see you. Perfect for taking a breather from other people. Of course, my friends immediately moved the wooden panel separating us and forced social interaction unto me
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