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Has anybody studied abroad?
Started by xnfs93hy
I was considering Newcastle (UK) since my uni has a program with them, but two of my friends have studied abroad there. From what I have heard, adcoms generally consider study abroad as a very positive experience as long as you show appreciation from what you learn through the program and culture. You should be able to find the program specifics on their website if you are interested. They have a premed-tailored program that gives you clinical exposure at their hospital as well as taking med school level courses on various subjects.
I'm finishing up a year in Japan. It wasn't related to medicine, but it ended up pretty important to me. I don't think you should study abroad unless you really want to, though. Don't do it for an application; do it for you.
I came to Japan to do classwork for my majors (Japanese and Anthropology), as well as research. I ended up learning so much more than I ever though I would. It's also made me understand the plight of immigrants into the US. I know now what it's like not to be understood, to be thought of as ignorant or stupid, and to not know how to get medical treatment even with insurance. I've faced racial prejudice (note: I'm white, so this doesn't happen as much in America), discovered sexism as a cultural normalcy, and gotten a better idea of international politics, disasters, and trade.
It's not all bad, though. You meet the best and worst people studying abroad. You learn more about who you are and what you want, and you simultaneously have the most and the least pressure on you you've ever had. It's one hell of an experience.
I definitely recommend people study abroad. But if you're only doing it for your application/resume, that's not enough. Figure out if you really want to and I think you'll be great. 👍
I came to Japan to do classwork for my majors (Japanese and Anthropology), as well as research. I ended up learning so much more than I ever though I would. It's also made me understand the plight of immigrants into the US. I know now what it's like not to be understood, to be thought of as ignorant or stupid, and to not know how to get medical treatment even with insurance. I've faced racial prejudice (note: I'm white, so this doesn't happen as much in America), discovered sexism as a cultural normalcy, and gotten a better idea of international politics, disasters, and trade.
It's not all bad, though. You meet the best and worst people studying abroad. You learn more about who you are and what you want, and you simultaneously have the most and the least pressure on you you've ever had. It's one hell of an experience.
I definitely recommend people study abroad. But if you're only doing it for your application/resume, that's not enough. Figure out if you really want to and I think you'll be great. 👍
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I didn't study abroad, but I took a semester off to go to Ireland as an au pair. It had absolutely nothing to do with medicine, but it was absolutely fantastic. I think everybody (especially us sheltered Americans with our gigantic country) should spend time abroad, but I agree, only do it for yourself. It's definitely tough sometimes, even in a country as similar in culture to America as Ireland, so it shouldn't be something you do just to put it on an application.
This might be nosy, but could you elaborate on what kind of racial prejudice you experienced being Caucasian in Japan? I'm just curious.
I studied abroad and one of my classes was clinical anatomy. Taught by a couple of clinicians and we learned to interview patients to take a patient history and come up with a diagnostic plan. They also had classes about the different healthcare systems and they've added one about drug development.
Great experience, you should definitely look into going abroad. I initially thought I couldn't but turned out that I could finish all my major requirements abroad.
Great experience, you should definitely look into going abroad. I initially thought I couldn't but turned out that I could finish all my major requirements abroad.
I have no intention to offend any Americans but the following characteristics are the ones I have discovered.. and the funny thing is that most Americans agree with what I think..
*Fat
*lazy
*Ignorant
They are even on my international student handbook
*Fat
*lazy
*Ignorant
They are even on my international student handbook
👍
add that to all the characteristics you can think of to label tiger woods too =P
Are you studying abroad in Japan at detective Conan's place?
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In Kyoto in particular, there are shops that will not let you in if you're white. That's my first example. There are large signs posted that say "NO SERVICE FOR WHITE PEOPLE" or "NO SERVICE FOR FOREIGNERS". Most of Japan isn't like this, but older cities and more isolated places harbor some prejudices.
Example two would be presumptions people make about you. I apparently 'look European', so it's not as bad for me as it is for my other American friends in particular, but if you're white and live in Japan for more than a few weeks, you're probably going to hear comments about 'hakujin' (white people) being "ape-like" or "unevolved". Sometimes, people even try to 'wipe' the white off our faces. And heaven forbid you go to a bathhouse. No matter how thoroughly you wash yourself before soaking (as is necessary in Japan), the people already in the tub will comment on how dirty you are and move away from you. That, or they'll unashamedly comment on the color of your nipples (as has happened to me).
Example three is primarily in the older generation, but it's one of the worst things I've experienced. What makes it so bad is that it's totally understandable. As most Japanese people tend to equate caucasion foreigner with "America", the generation that went through WWII has a tendency to see all 'white people' as evil. A few days ago, an old man had a stroke in front of me while I was walking in Shibuya. I immediately went to him, ready to use all my first aid and medical training to assist him. He refused all help on the basis that I was white/American and acted like Satan himself had laid hands on him when I touched his wrist. He went on and on about my 'crimes' and made a few remarks about my 'violent, ignorant, weak-willed country' and 'bloodthirsty heritage' and insisted that I leave. I ended up having to convince (yes, convince - bystander apathy is at its worst in Japan) a local shopkeeper to call an ambulance for this man or at least get him out of the gutter.
And regardless of how long you've studied Japanese or how proficient you are, it's never good enough. They're always shocked you can read even one of their alphabets (note: Japan has three, not counting the use of Roman letters) and assume you're just trying not to embarrass yourself. They bring out the wrong food and insist that you ordered wrong. If you try to ask directions, they'll tell you incorrect or made-up directions. And if you try to find housing here, the company will usually charge you more because you clearly don't know how to read the fine print and they can charge you whatever you want.
Mostly, Japan is a welcoming place. But it can also be distant, cruel, or completely backwards in places. Even so, I still don't regret coming here. I just wish someone had told me what to expect.
😱
I've never heard of the view in Japan that whites were "ape-like", "unevolved", and "dirty", but that is horrifying. It makes me sad to see that racism takes all sorts of forms around the world.
Are there anti-discrimination laws in Japan? It's illegal in the US to discriminate in employment and consumer transactions.
I went somewhere in Africa. I did an independent project related to their health system which was pretty fun (just kind of came up, didn't plan on doing it). It was also great to experience an extremely different culture and religion. It was one of the best experiences of my undergrad career. For whatever reason my profs made the classes there ridiculously difficult but I guess that's a hit or miss thing.
The only downside was the cost. Plane ticket was like $1800, argh.
The only downside was the cost. Plane ticket was like $1800, argh.
lol
Are you sure?
When were you in Japan? 30 or 40 years ago?
It's like saying Americans still have bathroom for black people separated from white people.
And you know when did "Hakujin" become "ape-like" or "unevolved" meanings?
"Haku" means white. "Jin" means people. So they are saying you are white people.
When I was in Japan, I got many hot chicks because I am not Asian. J/K.
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I studied abroad in japan for a year, and will study in korea this summer. Going abroad was by far the most educational experience. Whether or not med school will care for it, you will grow as a person and make realizations and gain perspective that you would've never experience at home.
In japan, racism does exist, as well as every other country in the world.
Frankly, most people, in any country, just don't like or care for foreigners. Think about it. In your own country, do you go out of your way to make friends with a study abroad student who can barely speak english? most likely not, it's a hassle if you have no interest. Why invest anything into people who you will probably never see again after a few months? Foreigners kinda get in the way, of normal life. Japanese want to live in harmony, and loud, incomprehensible foreigners doesn't equate to harmony. It's nothing special that countries discriminate against foreigner. I just believe that the japanese are more open about discrimination. Japan especially, as well as other ethnically homogeneous countries (e.g Korea), like to deter from diversity and want to "protect" their nationality. I know a non-ethnic japanese who was born in japan as well as her parents; however, they are not able to gain citizenship in japan. I, as an american, am saying to myself, "wtf!?". But that's just how it is, and if I think about it more, there really nothing wrong with that. My friend didn't think anything was wrong with that. Why did I think there was something wrong with that? With American's past history with racism, american are made hypersensitive to anything that has an implications of discrimination.
Abroad, I learn a lot about americans, ignorance be the big one. Americans think their way is best and everyone else is doing something so messed up. Although, I'm not fat nor too lazy, I too used to think my way was best. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on america.
josh
In japan, racism does exist, as well as every other country in the world.
Frankly, most people, in any country, just don't like or care for foreigners. Think about it. In your own country, do you go out of your way to make friends with a study abroad student who can barely speak english? most likely not, it's a hassle if you have no interest. Why invest anything into people who you will probably never see again after a few months? Foreigners kinda get in the way, of normal life. Japanese want to live in harmony, and loud, incomprehensible foreigners doesn't equate to harmony. It's nothing special that countries discriminate against foreigner. I just believe that the japanese are more open about discrimination. Japan especially, as well as other ethnically homogeneous countries (e.g Korea), like to deter from diversity and want to "protect" their nationality. I know a non-ethnic japanese who was born in japan as well as her parents; however, they are not able to gain citizenship in japan. I, as an american, am saying to myself, "wtf!?". But that's just how it is, and if I think about it more, there really nothing wrong with that. My friend didn't think anything was wrong with that. Why did I think there was something wrong with that? With American's past history with racism, american are made hypersensitive to anything that has an implications of discrimination.
Abroad, I learn a lot about americans, ignorance be the big one. Americans think their way is best and everyone else is doing something so messed up. Although, I'm not fat nor too lazy, I too used to think my way was best. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on america.
josh
Jus soli vs Jus sanguinus
The majority of developed countries don't recognize jus soli unless at least one of the parents are a national or at least a permanent resident, mostly to prevent so-called "anchor babies". Sad, but that's just the reality.
I know a lot of naturalized foreigners in Japan (I used to go to an international school), it's not impossible but it takes significant paperwork such as accounting for siblings, showing assimilation (but not much language skills apparently) on top of the usual background checks, etc. I would say it's no harder than trying to get citizenship in most EU countries (especially Scandinavian ones with language fluency requirements, in Japan you don't even have to be able to read a newspaper). Plus the sticking point for many is having to give up their original nationality they were born with, unlike the US renunciation clause they will actually enforce it though they don't actively check. It's just a piece of paper but there's a lot of psychological baggage attached, just like most people won't go and change their name even if they aren't completely happy with it.
I did translate "Hakujin" as "white people". Reading comprehension skills FAIL. And as I said, I am still in Japan right now. I'm guessing you must've stuck around some big cities while you were here. Tokyo? Osaka? Where was it?
I spent a few weeks in Kyoto, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and various other areas. It's way worse in some places.
While I was in Kyoto, I was not allowed to enter several izakaya on the basis that I was white. In Kanazawa, there was an incident involving an old woman at Kenrokuen (Japan's most beautiful garden) who repeatedly made loud mentions to her friend about the "saru-mitai" and "Soya-na" hakujin (The "ape-like" and "vulgar" white people). And in Hiroshima, a father pointed at me and a friend and explained to his son that we 'were the ones who bombed Japan'.
I'm not saying you're going to see it every day. Some people obviously aren't going to travel enough to experience it themselves. But it's something that does exist, whether you saw it or not. I've been here for a year now, and this is what I've experienced. Most of my trip has been great, with acceptance and curiosity and so much learning. The bad in no ways overshadows the good. If anything, it makes the good seem better.
So. When were you in Japan? I'd be interested in hearing your wealth of experiences (beyond the 'hot chicks', I mean).
Summary(for guys):
Japanese chicks are hot and tight. They also like Westerners. American guys can have a very good time everyday. They also cook, clean and do laundry for you. That's what I understood as.
Polite way(for women):
Many American men think most Japanese women are beautiful. Due to the unique cultural influence, Japanese women also feel attracted to American men. The old Japanese tradition still influence many Japanese women to cook, clean, and do laundry for their boyfriends or husbands today as a way to show love and respect.
Japanese chicks are hot and tight. They also like Westerners. American guys can have a very good time everyday. They also cook, clean and do laundry for you. That's what I understood as.
Polite way(for women):
Many American men think most Japanese women are beautiful. Due to the unique cultural influence, Japanese women also feel attracted to American men. The old Japanese tradition still influence many Japanese women to cook, clean, and do laundry for their boyfriends or husbands today as a way to show love and respect.
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lmao. I never take your posts seriously, but they always make me laugh. It's even funnier when people refer to you like that one guy who said you were giving out MCAT advice when it says you haven't taken the MCAT.
Anyway, back on topic:
I stand by my original assessment. Study abroad if you are genuinely interested in doing so. If you think doing it would be a 'good idea' for your application or resume, don't. It means nothing if it's just a means to an end.
🙄 at tennisball80, though. Clearly, taking this guy seriously is a bad idea. Bound to be a couple funny guys on SDN, though. Maybe he'll meet one someday and his poor little ego will be crushed.
Kidding!
I stand by my original assessment. Study abroad if you are genuinely interested in doing so. If you think doing it would be a 'good idea' for your application or resume, don't. It means nothing if it's just a means to an end.
🙄 at tennisball80, though. Clearly, taking this guy seriously is a bad idea. Bound to be a couple funny guys on SDN, though. Maybe he'll meet one someday and his poor little ego will be crushed.
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I did two official study abroad programs. I've heard the same comments about americans, but the truth is that anywhere you go there are people that suck. One tends to see the stereotype stick out far more than the dozens of people that aren't like that. I've met plenty of Japanese and Europeans that were ignorant to American life. Many people live in states larger than many countries here. So yea, if you live in some of these regions you're going to experience some cultures because you are so friggin close. On the other hand, aside from general language, the cultures between many states are pretty different too.
It was worthwhile to study abroad. It was my 4th and 5th time over there, so it wasn't as momentous for me but it did change the lives of many others I know.
It was worthwhile to study abroad. It was my 4th and 5th time over there, so it wasn't as momentous for me but it did change the lives of many others I know.
How did you go about finding an opportunity like this?
I didn't study abroad but I did live and work in the Czech Republic for a year. I taught English as a Second Language to students who were taking a year off between between high-school and university. It was really an amazing year and I made so many friends with my students (no stigma over there about hanging out after class..). My family is from Bavaria, and Prague is like 4 hours from Munich, so I got back to the roots and spent time there with family. I love Europe, I don't think about it much anymore because I'll get sad that I can't pick up everything and go back. Beautiful architecture, vibrant art/music scene, lots of stuff going on, AMAZING people; Czechs are reserved but once you get to know them they are so genuine... czech girls..... no more needs to be said.. I took a lot of time off and travelled. it was an amazing year, I can't imagine being in med school without this experience. It was also a great talking point on interviews, but I never considered that as a reason to go. If you have this "bug" take advantage of the opportunity while you can; don't imagine that it will "cure you"; your year abroad might just make you more interested in experiencing other cultures and create dissonance (the feeling of having multiple lives and not being able to be with all the people you wish you could see all the time) but it will be an amazing experience if you do it right.
I'm actively postponing my med-school admission plan in order to make time for a semester/year abroad in Denmark and Japan.
I loved reading your posts about Japan, Janieve. They are so thoughtful and well-written. I haven't been myself, but considering that I'd like to go there, I'm astounded by the racism you experienced as a caucasian. I have a question -- I'd be going to Japan with my husband who is Chinese. Would we likely experience less racism considering he is Asian? Or would it be worse, because he is Chinese?
I loved reading your posts about Japan, Janieve. They are so thoughtful and well-written. I haven't been myself, but considering that I'd like to go there, I'm astounded by the racism you experienced as a caucasian. I have a question -- I'd be going to Japan with my husband who is Chinese. Would we likely experience less racism considering he is Asian? Or would it be worse, because he is Chinese?
Well, if you're not there for too long, it shouldn't be as bad. If you stick to the big cities, you'll barely encounter any racism, per se. But Japan will almost definitely be worse with a Chinese husband. China and Japan have a lot of animosity towards each other over WWII, especially. The media here actively portrays the Chinese as selfish, stupid, and backwards. People tend to be prejudiced against China without actually having reasons, actually. It just seems normal to them.
However, like I said: you shouldn't encounter too much in a big city. Stick to Tokyo or Osaka and you'll be great. If you can speak Japanese well, more power to you! It's a great thing to experience, living and studying in a whole different culture, and I think if you're interested you should go for it.
(I actually had this conversation (albeit more formally) with someone else via private messages yesterday. I can post that information here too, if you want. It's more thorough. This person was a Chinese individual living in Japan, and I'm sure that would be helpful.)
There are a TON of au pair agencies, which can be very helpful since they screen the host families and take care of most of the details for you. I went on my own, having found my host family through http://www.greataupair.com. It turned out great for me, and I'd highly recommend it as long as you feel confident in your own judgement about which family you're picking. (Of course, this can be quite difficult with a language barrier, so how effective this is can depend on where you want to go.)
If you have anymore questions about it, feel free to PM me 🙂 Oh, and I'm sure you'd figure this out on your own, but there are a lot of scams going around the au pair world. Never send a host family any money for anything, even if they send you a cashier's check first.
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Who said about heir virgina?
I said they are tight. I meant their butt are tight.
Dear Sir/Madam, it is possible for women get a tight butt through eating less fast food and exercise often.
In Asia, there is less fat women because of the eating habit. So yeah, they have more "tight women"
Here are some videos if you want to work on your butt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cOwbPutIXs
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