I'll be moving to Tokyo at the end of September to study for two years. I was wondering if there are other TL people around. I only know of Cambium being there too, anyone else?

Would be nice to meet up and stuff.

Also: looking for any kind of tips and tricks for moving abroad. I'm sure some of you have been in similar positions before.

Also: I'm slowly freaking out.

Diader

United States232 Posts

August 22 2012 21:46 GMT

Dude, there's nothing to worry about. Since you're going to be on a study abroad program, there will be several (possibly tons) of other students from western countries that are just as worried as you, and you'll make more friends than you can remember during the first few days and weeks. Since you'll all be in the same boat, you can explore and get used to Tokyo and Japan together, and constantly be finding more specific tips and tricks to share with each other, like good local places to eat, things to do, etc. People that choose to study abroad are extremely nice and helpful.

tenacity

1587 Posts

August 22 2012 22:47 GMT

I'm so jelly T.T; How can you afford it?

Vestrel

Canada271 Posts

August 22 2012 23:09 GMT

That's so cool, gl hf!

What are you studying?

Jitensha

Sweden68 Posts

August 23 2012 01:45 GMT

I'll move there for two years starting mid-Sept as well!

I'm up for randomly meeting up with TL strangers anytime :>

Sickkiee

Japan607 Posts

August 23 2012 04:10 GMT

I'm already studying there atm, firstly you usually get a class with the same people in your situation (I had a bunch of people from my uni do the same, so we had some classes during the summer which is now). After that you usually get put into a class of international students. There you all learn Japanese.

Plus you get used to it within a few weeks. It's so good lol. I managed to get my own apartment pretty close to the uni (sorta LOL) although some people choose to do homestay. Then again I'm not too sure how your uni works so ya.

Other than that, it's super fun and a really good learning experience!

EDIT: Also unless you're super bad at learning a language, you should become fluent in Japanese within 6-8 months and if you study well learn a bunch of kanji. Just take it easy and don't stress, there's so many people that do what you do right now.

fanta[Rn]

Japan2465 Posts

August 23 2012 06:56 GMT

On August 23 2012 07:47 tenacity wrote:
I'm so jelly T.T; How can you afford it?

MEXT scholarship

On August 23 2012 08:09 Vestrel wrote:
That's so cool, gl hf!

What are you studying?

Thanks! Computer Science

On August 23 2012 10:45 Jitensha wrote:
I'll move there for two years starting mid-Sept as well!

I'm up for randomly meeting up with TL strangers anytime :>

I think we've talked before, I'm not sure :D. Is it Tokyo? Which school? Where will you be living etc.?

On August 23 2012 13:10 Sickkiee wrote:
I'm already studying there atm, firstly you usually get a class with the same people in your situation (I had a bunch of people from my uni do the same, so we had some classes during the summer which is now). After that you usually get put into a class of international students. There you all learn Japanese.

Plus you get used to it within a few weeks. It's so good lol. I managed to get my own apartment pretty close to the uni (sorta LOL) although some people choose to do homestay. Then again I'm not too sure how your uni works so ya.

Other than that, it's super fun and a really good learning experience!

EDIT: Also unless you're super bad at learning a language, you should become fluent in Japanese within 6-8 months and if you study well learn a bunch of kanji. Just take it easy and don't stress, there's so many people that do what you do right now.

Are you in Tokyo as well? Which school and where do you live? I'm also planning on getting an apartment close to uni. I'm going to rent one of those monthly apartments for the first month while I'm looking for a real apartment.

I've had some Japanese classes before and I know about 600 kanji so far, but it's just kanji - I know very few compounds.

Tobberoth

Sweden6375 Posts

August 23 2012 07:24 GMT

Like everyone said, you get used pretty quickly and it's easy to make friends.

Also, you're a douchebag for getting the MEXT scholarship.

fanta[Rn]

Japan2465 Posts

August 23 2012 07:33 GMT

It wasn't that hard to get tbh, maybe because of 3.11

Tobberoth

Sweden6375 Posts

August 23 2012 07:42 GMT

#10

On August 23 2012 16:33 fanta[Rn] wrote:
It wasn't that hard to get tbh, maybe because of 3.11

Maybe, depends on country as well. In Sweden, the competition is firce as hell because we have almost no spots and tons of people who want to go. When I applied for the master degree one, I didn't even get invited to Stockholm for interviews, even though I put a lot of effort into my application. Another guy I know got to go for the interview, and he said there were quite a few people there, and they only give out like 2 scholarships each year.

fanta[Rn]

Japan2465 Posts

August 23 2012 07:53 GMT

#11

I've applied directly to a Japanese University with the idea that embassy recommendations are probably more popular.

Tobberoth

Sweden6375 Posts

August 23 2012 07:57 GMT

#12

On August 23 2012 16:53 fanta[Rn] wrote:
I've applied directly to a Japanese University with the idea that embassy recommendations are probably more popular.

Yeah, definitely. From what I hear, at least in Sweden, most of the people who get it (for the master degree) not only have applied to a japanese university, they have personal contact with a professor in Japan they want to work with.

fanta[Rn]

Japan2465 Posts

August 23 2012 08:00 GMT

#13

Well yes, you have to have personal contact with the professor if you're trying to get a recommendation from the University you're applying to.

I found it was quite an easy route. Also you don't have to take any tests (at least for TiTech) and all you need to do is an interview with 5 professors over skype.

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

August 23 2012 13:08 GMT

#14

Tokyo is pretty good for most things, but some of the most trivial things may be hard to find. I brought a shitload of Colgate toothpaste to Japan because I just couldn't find it and I hate the Japanese brands. If there is a specific brand of product that you can't live without, I'd just bring it.

You can probably find most things here pretty easily, but if it's of a western origin, be prepared to pay a premium. I really wouldn't worry too much about what to bring here since it's a first class city, and availability of goods far exceeds most cities I've seen in the U.S.

E-mail me when you are settled in. I think Tokyo Tech is some distance away from the city, but you do get easy access to Shibuya

edit:
Assuming they aren't picking you up from the Airport, figure out exactly how to get to Tokyo Tech. Almost everyone speaks decent English at the airport, but once you get out, you are really on your own. Bring a good amount of cash with you, while credits are getting popular in Tokyo, there is still a long way to go, and the forex rate will kill you anyway.

Jitensha

Sweden68 Posts

August 23 2012 21:58 GMT

#15

On August 23 2012 15:56 fanta[Rn] wrote:

Show nested quote +

I think we've talked before, I'm not sure :D. Is it Tokyo? Which school? Where will you be living etc.?

Yeah, I think we have :> I'll be living in Hiyoshi, Yokohama - around 15m away from Shibuya. I'll be attending Keio's grad school at a campus around the same station (Hiyoshi).

And I don't mean to scare, but I think 6-8 months for becoming fluent in Japanese is a gross understatement :> Unless you define fluent as being able to manage normal daily conversations.

fanta[Rn]

Japan2465 Posts

August 23 2012 22:45 GMT

#16

you're about 15m from my campus away. We should definitely meet up.
Will you be living in Yokohama?

Maybe we could go shopping some time for every day stuff and such things.

fanta[Rn]

Japan2465 Posts

September 23 2012 20:38 GMT

#17

D: flights tomorrow

are you there yet, jitensha?