Middlebury C.V. Starr School in Japan Middlebury School in Japan International Christian University 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka Tokyo 1818585 JAPAN +81-422-33-3230 (calling from the U.S.) 0422-33-3230 (calling in country) www.middlebury.edu/study-abroad/japan Director: Sanae Eda: seda@middlebury.edu +81-90-5307-8771 (calling from the U.S.) 090-5307-8771 (calling in country) International Programs Sunderland Language Center Middlebury College Middlebury, VT 05753 tel. 802-443-5745 fax. 802-443-3157 schoolsabroad@middlebury.edu www.middlebury.edu Copyright 2015 by Middlebury College. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photographic or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Middlebury College. Please note that information in this handbook is subject to change. 学生の皆さん、 このたびは、ミドルベリー大学日本校へのご入学おめでとうございます。 日本への留学を決心したあなたは、きっとこれまで一生懸命に日本語を勉強してきたこ とでしょう。そして、日本の言語だけでなく、歴史や文化にもとても興味を持っている に違いありません。 私は、いつも学生にこうアドバイスします。「日本語が上手になることを目標にしては いけませんよ。」 日本語は生きているものであって、意志を伝えるための道具です。皆さんは誰に会っ て、何を伝えたいですか?自分の才能や夢をいつ、どうやって表現しますか?地域をよ くするためにどんな貢献をしますか? 日本語が上手になるために勉強するのではなく、日本語という道具を使って自分が何を したいのか、何が出来るのかを、どうか留学中にじっくり考えてみてください。また、 日本で出会う様々な人から、今まで知らなかった何かを学んでください。 皆さんが日本で過ごす時間が、一生の思い出になる輝く瞬間であふれていますように。 そのお手伝いを出来ることを、とても楽しみにしています。 ミドルベリー大学日本校 所長 江田早苗 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pre-departure ....................................................................................................................... 6 Approximate Program Costs ............................................................................................ 6 Expenses .......................................................................................................................... 6 Student Visa ..................................................................................................................... 6 Japanese Consulates in the U.S. by Jurisdiction ................................................................ 7 Customs ........................................................................................................................... 9 Registering with the U.S. Department of State ................................................................. 9 International Students ...................................................................................................... 9 Travel to Japan ............................................................................................................... 10 TSA Regulations ........................................................................................................ 10 Airline Luggage Regulations ....................................................................................... 10 Travel Arrangements .................................................................................................. 10 Immunizations ............................................................................................................... 10 Checklist of Items to Pack.............................................................................................. 11 General Packing Suggestions .......................................................................................... 11 Clothing ..................................................................................................................... 12 Bed and Bath Linens .................................................................................................. 12 Prescriptions .............................................................................................................. 12 Electrical Appliances .................................................................................................. 12 Computers ................................................................................................................. 12 Gifts........................................................................................................................... 13 Arrival in Japan .................................................................................................................. 13 Flights ............................................................................................................................ 13 Immigration ................................................................................................................... 13 Orientation .................................................................................................................... 14 Placement Exam ............................................................................................................ 15 Academic & Administrative Matters ................................................................................... 15 Academic Calendar ........................................................................................................ 16 Credit ............................................................................................................................. 16 All Undergraduates .................................................................................................... 16 Middlebury Undergraduates ....................................................................................... 16 Students from Other Colleges and Universities .......................................................... 16 Educational Differences ................................................................................................. 16 Exams ............................................................................................................................ 17 Learning Outside the Classroom .................................................................................... 17 Living in Japan ................................................................................................................... 18 Housing ......................................................................................................................... 18 Living with Japanese Roommates ................................................................................... 19 Living with Japanese Host family ................................................................................... 19 Meeting Japanese ........................................................................................................... 20 Sexual Relations ............................................................................................................. 20 Cultural Differences ....................................................................................................... 21 Heritage Learners ........................................................................................................... 22 Travel Within Japan ....................................................................................................... 23 Public Transportation in Tokyo ................................................................................. 23 Health and Safety ............................................................................................................... 23 Medical Facilities in Tokyo ............................................................................................. 24 Psychological Health & Counseling ................................................................................ 24 Allergies and Accommodations ...................................................................................... 24 On-Site Money Matters ...................................................................................................... 25 Money and Banking ....................................................................................................... 25 Emergency Cash ............................................................................................................ 25 Communication with Home and Friends ........................................................................... 25 Communication and Immersion ..................................................................................... 26 Language Pledge ............................................................................................................ 26 Mail ................................................................................................................................ 26 Internet and Email ......................................................................................................... 27 Phones ........................................................................................................................... 27 Communication with School in Japan Office ................................................................ 28 Local Information .............................................................................................................. 28 PRE-DEPARTURE APPROXIMATE PROGRAM COSTS Estimate of program costs for full and half-year students as of February 2014 can be found on our website. Middlebury College will bill you for the tuition, room, and health insurance (and the $1,500 per semester study abroad fee for Middlebury students); the remaining expenses will be out-ofpocket. Figures may vary depending on individual lifestyles and situations. Please note that the “personal” figure covers only some basic necessities and does not and is not intended to include students’ discretionary spending (e.g. entertainment and travel). Fluctuating exchange rates make advanced planning of costs challenging. We advise that you overestimate your costs to accommodate these fluctuations. Please be sure to confirm the exchange rate shortly before your departure so that you budget accordingly. EXPENSES Keep in mind that the amount of money you spend ultimately depends on the lifestyle you choose. One School in Japan staff member noted "I would even make a direct relationship here: the less money you spend, the better the experience. The more money you spend, the more you alienate yourself from the Japanese experience and miss a main point of the program." Remember to budget extra if you are planning to travel before or after your program. Plane tickets are often more expensive than in the U.S., but train travel has remained relatively cheap. If you are a big spender in the U.S., bringing more money would be a good idea. Many students have found that they spend more than expected on gifts, cigarettes, liquor, etc. Students who plan on regularly sampling the nightlife of their cities should budget extra money for taxis. For the most part you will find things in Japan more expensive than in the U.S. Please visit http://www.tokyoprices.com/ to get a better idea of what things cost. STUDENT VISA All students are required to have a “College Student” visa (Ryugaku visa in Japanese) for entry into Japan as a student. This procedure requires that a student already have a valid passport. Students must apply for the visa from their local consulate. Some consulates allow students to apply through them if either their permanent or their home school address falls under their jurisdiction, but you should verify this with the consulate while you are researching your options. Please call or check the website of your consulate for instructions as soon as possible, and before making your travel plans. Some consulates require visas to be applied for and picked up in person; others will process them by mail. At the time of printing, the Japanese Consulate in Boston allows students to apply for their visas through the mail. Please note when applying by mail, you must send your passport by a traceable mail service (i.e. FedEx or UPS) and must also include a prepaid FedEx or UPS envelope for its safe return to you. ICU will initiate the visa application process by applying on your behalf to the Ministry of Justice in Tokyo for an official “Certificate of Eligibility of Residence (COE)”. The COE will be sent to you late-July or early August. You then must go to a Japanese consulate/embassy (or apply by mail where available) with the COE to obtain the college student visa in your passport. Please note that the COE is not the actual visa, but one of several required documents for the application. Students must be prepared to submit the following documents to the consulate: o o o o One application form, completed and signed. Blank forms are available without charge at the Japanese consular offices. You can also download blank forms of PDF document from the website of the Foreign Ministry of Japan. Valid passport with sufficient space for visa stamp. If, instead of a national passport, you submit a PERMIT TO REENTER THE UNITED STATES or a REFUGEE TRAVEL DOCUMENT issued by the U.S. government, it must have a validity date at least six months beyond the day of application. One photograph 1.7 inches square, taken within the previous six months of application, attached to the application forms. Certificate of Eligibility, original and one photocopy Students from countries other than the United States may have additional requirements. JAPANESE CONSULATES IN THE U.S. BY JURISDICTION The following list is current to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Embassy of Japan [Area Served: District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia] 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington D.C., 20008-2869 Tel: (202) 238.6700, 238.6800 [Visa Section] Fax: (202) 328.2187, 328.2184 [Visa Section] Anchorage Consular Office of Japan [Area Served: Alaska] 3601 C Street, Suite 1300 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Middlebury School in Japan Page 7 Tel: (907) 562.8424 Fax: (907) 562.8434 Atlanta Consulate General of Japan [Area Served: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia] Alliance Center Suite 1600 3500 Lenox Road Atlanta, Georgia 30326 Tel: (404) 240.4300 Fax: (404) 240.4311 Boston Consulate General of Japan [Area served: New England] 600 Atlantic Avenue, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02210 Tel: (617) 973-9772 Fax: (617) 542-1329 Los Angeles Consulate General of Japan [Area Served: Arizona and California (South)] 350 South Grand Avenue, Suite 1700 Los Angeles, California 90071 Tel: (213) 617.6700 Fax: (213) 617.6727 Miami Consulate General of Japan [Area Served: Florida] Brickell Bay View Centre, Suite 3200 80 S.W. 8th Street Miami, Florida 33130 Tel: (305) 530.9090 Fax: (305) 530.0950 Nashville Consulate General of Japan [Area Served: Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee] 1801 West End Avenue, Suite 900 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 Tel: (615) 340.4300 Fax: (615) 340.4311 New York Consulate General of Japan [Area Served: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and Virgin Island] 299 Park Avenue New York, NY 10171 Tel: (212) 371.8222 Middlebury School in Japan Page 8 Fax: (212) 319.6357 Portland Consulate General of Japan [Area Served: Idaho (South) and Oregon] 2700 Wells Fargo Center 1300 S.W., 5th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97201 Tel: (503) 221.1811 Fax: (503) 224.8936 San Francisco Consulate General of Japan [Area Served: California (North) and Nevada] 50 Fremont Street, Suite 2300 San Francisco, California 94105 Tel: (415) 777.3533 Fax: (415) 974.3660 Seattle Consulate General of Japan [Area Served: Idaho (North), Montana and Washington] 601 Union Street, Suite 500 Seattle, Washington 98101 Tel: (206) 682.9107 Fax: (206) 624.9097 CUSTOMS Customs regulations vary from country to country; there are usually limitations on liquor, cigarettes, and other goods. REGISTERING WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE In addition to securing a visa, all U.S. students are required to register themselves with the U.S. Embassy in Japan before departure from the U.S. In the event of international, political, or family emergencies, or in the event that a passport is lost or stolen, the U.S. Embassy will be much better able to assist registered students. Please visit the Department of State’s website and follow the links to register. Registration is fast and costs nothing. Please print the confirmation page after you have registered; leave one copy at home and take a copy with you. Students of other nationalities should check to see if it is possible to register with your own Embassy in Japan. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS If you are an international student in the U.S., you should meet with the international student advising staff at your home institution as early as possible to discuss how study abroad may affect your international student status in the United States and the ways it may impact your future plans. Middlebury School in Japan Page 9 The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires re-entry documents for some foreign nationals. If you are living in the U.S. but are a citizen of another country, check with the USCIS to determine the regulations that apply to you and be sure to obtain all necessary re-entry documents before you leave the United States. TRAVEL TO JAPAN TSA Regulations The Transportation Security Administration regulates what items may be carried aboard the aircraft and, as these regulations are subject to change frequently; you should consult their website close to your date of departure. Possessing certain items while going through security may result in fines or, in the case of firearms, may be considered a criminal offense. Airline Luggage Regulations Students should contact their airline to confirm exact luggage allowances. We strongly suggest you stick to these guidelines, or be prepared to pay excess baggage fees, which can be quite expensive. We also suggest that you consider insuring your luggage through a comprehensive travel insurance policy. We always recommend packing a change of clothes, necessary medications, all documents, and any valuables in your carry-on bag in case a checked bag should go astray temporarily. If your luggage does get lost, be sure to fill out a lost luggage report before leaving the airport. You need to notify the Director immediately upon your arrival. Travel Arrangements Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements. We recommend using a student travel agency for flexibility and the best rates: http://travelcuts.com/ http://www.studentuniverse.com/ http://www.statravel.com/ Consult the School in Japan calendar when planning your travel dates. You must arrive at ICU campus on the day specified in the calendar. Dorm rooms will not be available to students until the day before the orientation at ICU begins. All students are required to attend orientation. It is also important that you not plan your return to the United States nor travel to another destination before the date of your last final exam. Exam dates will not be changed to accommodate students’ travel plans. No exceptions will be made, so please don’t ask. IMMUNIZATIONS Although no agency requires proof of any immunizations for travel to Japan, experts strongly recommend that travelers take certain precautions. You should ask your doctor for advice regarding inoculations. We suggest you inquire as to the advisability of tetanus, flu, and encephalitis inoculations, as well as immunoglobulin injections for hepatitis A and/or B. You may also check the most recent CDC recommendations. Some immunizations require waiting periods in excess of six months between doses and others may cause brief discomfort, so, if you decide to be inoculated, we suggest you plan ahead; do not wait until only a month before you depart. Also find out if you are allergic to penicillin, as it is often prescribed abroad. Middlebury School in Japan Page 10 CHECKLIST OF ITEMS TO PACK Visa/Passport (and photocopy) Airline ticket/itinerary (and photocopy) Calling card (optional) Insurance card (to be printed from the HTH Worldwide website after Middlebury enrolls you) Credit/Debit cards U.S. driver’s license or certified copy of birth certificate (in case your passport is lost or stolen Medications in original containers with generic drug name and with the corresponding doctor’s prescription (even OTC medications must be kept in original packaging) One set of dress clothes and shoes GENERAL PACKING SUGGESTIONS Pack your luggage carefully, keeping in mind that you will have to carry your luggage on your own while traveling over great distances or on crowded trains. One rule of thumb is to pack your bags and walk around the block with them three times; then re-pack! It is also prudent to bring at least one bag or container that can be securely locked for storage of money or valuables, and a smaller bag which can be used for weekend trips out of town. If you don’t need it, don’t bring it. Mobility is key and you’ll undoubtedly be taking home more than you brought. Conversely, if you do need it, then bring it. Besides your casual clothing, pack one or two outfits for specific situations: swimming, exercise, rain and formal occasions. Bring things that make you feel at home: iPod, journal, books, magazines, pictures (Japanese roommates are very curious about what your home, friends, and family look like), camera etc. Note cards for writing thank you notes. Packing thin clothes that can be layered is better than a few bulky items. Do not bring items that you want to keep white and/or need special laundering (such as silk or items that need dry cleaning). Toiletries and personal hygiene items are readily available in Japan. You may wish to bring small amounts to use when you first arrive, but you can always buy more there. Contact wearers should remember to bring eye drops, saline solution (for preferred brands) and a pair of glasses. Don’t forget to bring your medications as discussed in the Health Issues section. Also, you may wish to bring over the counter items such as Advil, aspirin, Pepto Bismol, vitamins, and laxatives, as well as heartburn relief, anti-diarrhea, athlete’s foot, and motion sickness medications. These items are relatively expensive in Japan. Other misc. items you may wish to bring include: a travel-sized first aid kit, disinfectant wipes, flash drive, a small flashlight, and a travel alarm clock. Middlebury School in Japan Page 11 Middlebury strongly recommends buying a money/document pouch that can be worn or hung underneath your clothes. Clothing Choose each item carefully and avoid duplication. Tokyo is a temperate climate and has four distinct seasons. Spring and fall are mild and will last for three months each. The summer is very hot and humid. The winter months are relatively dry and the temperature rarely goes below freezing. Please dress appropriately in public spaces. Your appearance is regarded as a sign of respect for the Japanese community. Please avoid, for instance, tank tops or very short shorts (for men and women). No one wears pajamas to classrooms in Japan, either. Going clothing shopping with your friends while in Japan will be a lot of fun. Make it a part of your plan! You will find a wide variety of styles and prices to choose from. Women who are over 5’6” and men over 5’9”, however, may have a hard time buying clothing there. Also, it is quite difficult to find shoes that fit American feet. Bed and Bath Linens We do not recommend that you bring sheets, blankets, or pillows with you. These items can be easily leased once you arrive in Japan. Prescriptions Pharmacies are plentiful and reliable in Japan, and can meet most prescription needs – although there is no such thing as a refill on a prescription in Japan. To obtain a refill you will need to get a new prescription from a physician. Japan carefully controls medications entering Japan, so please review this website well before you depart for Japan. The authorities even pay attention to “quasi-drugs” which include things such as cosmetics. If you are allergic to any commonly prescribed medicine such as penicillin, be sure to notify the Director and any doctors you see while abroad, and ask your personal doctor to suggest some alternatives to the medications before leaving the U.S. If you regularly take or are allergic to any medicines, it is very important that you write down the generic name of that medicine. Ask your doctor to help you with this. Please also note that in the event that a prescription must be replaced in Japan, you must have the GENERIC NAME of your medication on the prescription, in addition to the American 'brand' name. Local doctors will not be able to assist you in filing a prescription unless you know the generic/Latin name of the drug that you need. Electrical Appliances Voltage in Japan is 100 volts. Japanese power outlets are the same as U.S. outlets (ungrounded, 2pin). Most U.S. electrical appliances will work fine in Japan without an adapter. Computers Computer resources in Japan may be more limited than in the U.S. You are therefore encouraged to bring your own laptop. (There are computers in the Library for student use, but it is closed during weekends!) Please back up anything that you have stored on your hard drive. Previous students have recommended that you take a USB drive abroad. It is very difficult to find WiFi signals in Japan outside the campus. Middlebury School in Japan Page 12 Gifts We suggest bringing small gifts for your future roommate. Something simple from your local area such as candy, pictures/postcards, key-chain, baseball cap, t-shirt (medium size) etc. will be much appreciated by your new friends and acquaintances in Japan. You will find gifts in Japan are always wrapped, so bring items along with bags or tissue paper to wrap them in upon arrival. ARRIVAL IN JAPAN FLIGHTS All students are required to attend the Matriculation ceremony. If you are living on campus, you must arrive at ICU campus on the scheduled arrival day (one day before the Matriculation). Our director will be at the airport on the official arrival day. If you choose to do home-stay, you are to arrive on the same arrival day, and keep in contact with the agent (Home Stay Japan) and your host family regarding the arrival and transportation to your home-stay family. If you plan to arrive in Japan early to travel in Japan, please inform your director of your arrival date and contact information during your stay in Japan. Please enter your itinerary on Studio Abroad (your on-line account to study abroad) so that our director can track you down in case of delays etc. IMMIGRATION You will receive immigration documents on the plane that you must complete prior to clearing customs and immigration at your port of entry. These will include a Disembarkation and Embarkation Card and Customs Declaration Card. After you pass through immigration, pick up your luggage and proceed to Customs. When filling out your customs declaration, make certain that you accurately state the amount of dollars and other foreign currency (cash and travelers checks). Your declaration will be examined and stamped by the customs agent. Students who do not have anything to declare may exit through the Green (“nothing to declare”) line. All passengers will be required to be fingerprinted and have a photograph taken. You will be asked to provide the address at which you are staying in Japan. Please make sure to have this information readily available with you. You may use director’s phone number as a part of the contact information: 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka-shi Tokyo, Japan 181-8585 090-5307-8771 In the airport, you will receive an “entry card.” You will need to go to the Mitaka City Hall to register your address. (This will be a part of our orientation.) This guide will be useful: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/pdf/language/007.pdf Middlebury School in Japan Page 13 Our director will be at Narita airport on the day of the arrival. Look for a Middlebury Banner at the Meeting Place (located in the center portion of each of the two Terminals). TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT To ICU Students headed to the ICU campus should take a shuttle bus (Airport Limousine Bus) from Narita Airport to Kichijoji Station. It will cost 3100-yen and the schedule can be found here: http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/. Their ticket counters are located right in front of the luggage area. It is very well marked and it is hard to miss their bright orange sign. The bus does not make any other stops on the way to Kichijoji. When you get off the bus, the taxi station is right next to the drop off spot of the Limousine Bus. Take a taxi from Kichijoji to ICU campus (cost approx. 2500-yen). You may wish to coordinate with other students in the group to share the taxi ride. Tell the taxi driver to go to the ICU campus (say “I see you” and the driver will understand it). Here is the address—we recommend you print it to show it to your driver: 三鷹市大沢 3-10-2 国際基督教大学内 ダイアログハウス To an Off-Campus Location Students who are going do a home-stay should get in contact with your host family well ahead of time to inform them of your arrival date. They will give you the name of the nearest train station and you will need to take local transportation to get there from Narita Airport. Your host family, in many cases, will offer to come pick you up at the local train station. Thank them for their offer, and make sure to ask which exit you should take. Travelling on public transportation with your luggage will be difficult after 4:30 p.m. on a weekday. You should consider sending your heavy suitcases by delivery service from the airport (cost approx. 1500 yen per item). The luggage will arrive the following day. The delivery service’s desks are located at the end of the terminal where you arrive. If you plan to use this service, you should have your address at hand when you complete the delivery label. You may use your director’s cell as your contact phone number (090-5307-8771), but make sure to send the luggage to your host family’s address. http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/service/list/svc_05.html#t1 ORIENTATION Upon arrival in Japan, all students will participate in a mandatory orientation program that is organized by ICU for all incoming students, as well as the one organized by Middlebury College. Please note that even though all orientation meetings organized by ICU are held in English, the spirit of the Language Pledge is always in effect while you’re abroad. Staff will be available to answer questions throughout orientation, so you will be ready to dive into the Language Pledge and your first day of class. Middlebury will organize a visit to a cell phone shop and a group dinner on the first weekend of orientation. Middlebury School in Japan Page 14 PLACEMENT EXAM Japanese Language Placement testing will be administered during orientation to determine language level. This placement test is mandated by the Japanese Language Program (JLP) at ICU, and Middlebury College will not be able to change the placement once the result is given. Students do not need to prepare for this exam, but we highly recommend that you to review kanji before the placement test because ICU’s Japanese Language Program weighs heavily your ability to read and reproduce kanji characters when placing you in your language class. Some students in the past felt that they were placed “lower” than what they thought they were capable in terms of speaking and listening. Review kanji during your summer! ACADEMIC & ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ACADEMIC PROGRAM Middlebury College considers a semester or academic year abroad equivalent to a semester or academic year in the United States. Students are not permitted to carry either lighter or heavier than normal loads, even if their home schools would allow it. Because an undergraduate student's home institution determines the number of credits awarded for work abroad, students are urged to consult with their advisers well ahead of time. Students are required to enroll in a Japanese language course (JLP) according to the results of the placement test during the fall, and proceed to the subsequent levels during the winter and spring trimesters. Students will also enroll in the Cultural Portfolio courses, offered by Middlebury College, all year. Students will add one content course in the winter and two content courses in the spring trimester. Courses at ICU are taught in either Japanese (J), Japanese with some English (J/E), English with some Japanese (E/J), or English (E). Students will choose a content course (J or J/E course) by consulting the course catalogue prepared by ICU prior to the university's winter and spring course registration day. Upon approval, students may also be permitted to enroll in E/J or E courses in their major field of study when doing so is absolutely necessary to fulfill the major requirement while studying abroad. Students who wish to do so must consult with his or her major advisor, program coordinator, and director and be approved PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. Students must be prepared for the fact that the professor's approach to teaching may be very different than what they are accustomed to. Students must write final project papers in Japanese even if instructors of J/E courses may leave the choice up to the student. Students will work closely with theMiddlebury’s Writing Advisors to complete a research paper in Japanese on the topic that is appropriate for the course he or she is taking. Students will purchase textbooks and required course materials at ICU. Middlebury School in Japan Page 15 ACADEMIC CALENDAR Students are expected to remain in Japan until they have finished all academic obligations including program courses and exams, university courses and exams, internships and all associated work. Students who choose to leave before the established date for the end of the trimester or year may forfeit credit for the entire program. Students should take careful note that the fall trimester ends in late November. There is then a two week break, followed by a second trimester (including another two week break from Christmas through the new year) that goes until the end of February. There is a monthlong spring break followed by the third trimester, which finishes in late June. CREDIT All Undergraduates Every student’s academic program must be approved by the Director of the School in Japan. Students are not permitted to take lighter loads, nor will they receive additional credit for heavier loads. Forms are available at the School in Japan office to help students document all information relevant for course recognition and transfer to their home institutions. Middlebury Undergraduates Middlebury College students receive three units of credit for the fall, six units of credit for the fall/winter, four units of credit for the spring, and nine units of credit for the academic year. To receive major credit for courses taken abroad, you need to bring the following information back with you: · Course syllabi · Course work · Any other material you think will be useful in determining the course content Students from Other Colleges and Universities Middlebury College considers a semester/academic year abroad equivalent to a semester/academic year in the U.S. Students who transfer their credits to other institutions typically receive 15-16 credit hours per semester or 20-25 quarter units per semester for a full course load. Because an undergraduate student’s home institution determines the number of credits awarded for work abroad, students are urged to consult with their advisers well ahead of time. EDUCATIONAL DIFFERENCES The relationship between teachers and students in Japan is different from that in the United States. It is often warmer and yet more formal at the same time. If you keep a few of these differences in mind, it will help prevent misunderstandings and miscommunication between you and your teachers. Students should show a high level of respect toward their teachers. This respect may be shown in ways that are somewhat different from in the United States. It is expected that students will go to class on time, turn their cell phones off, be well-prepared, notify the instructor if they take a sick leave in advance of the class, or will otherwise miss class. Middlebury School in Japan Page 16 Keep in mind that some behavior that is acceptable in the United States may convey a message of disrespect in Japan. For instance, “asking questions” or “offering unsolicited comments” may sometimes be regarded as impolite, or even inappropriate, in classrooms. This tendency might be more common among older male professors who received academic training in Japan. The best advice is for you to be aware of such differences and use your judgment. Remember that the same intentions (for instance, “being respectful”) are expressed differently in different cultures, and you are there to learn a new way of such expressions. The School in Japan maintains a strict “no eating in class” policy. When you miss a class due to illness, it is not unusual for your teacher to show concern by calling you. This does not mean the teacher doesn’t believe you are sick or is being overly nosy; instead the teacher is demonstrating care for your well-being. EXAMS Students are required to take all exams when and where they are scheduled, even if students on other study abroad/exchange programs are allowed to opt out or rearrange exam schedules. This means that you are required to sit for exams at the same time and place as students in the host country. LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM In addition to the Japanese Language Program and main stream courses at ICU, the Middlebury program offers the Cultural Portfolio where students are sent around Tokyo for information gathering expeditions and to engage in structured reflections as a group. Year-long students in their second and third trimester may pursue a credit-bearing internship as part of the School in Japan program. The School in Japan requires that all internships take place in an environment that is at least 80% Japanese-speaking. Detailed internship applications, and instructions will be provided to academic year students during the fall semester. Students will participate in a variety of cultural excursions to relevant sites, some as a School in Japan group, and sometimes independently. Students will also participate in other activities organized by the Director. Students have a variety of co-curricular options in sport and arts. On-campus clubs include aikido, folk dance, taichi, karate, music, flower arrangement, soccer, rugby, baseball, water-polo, among many others. More than most other clubs on campus, ICU's Kendo club was a fantastic way to immerse myself in the culture and tradition of Japan. While it required a considerable commitment of time, the strong friendships, discipline, and cultural immersion that came with being a member of this club easily made it one of the highlights of my study abroad experience! -- Gregg Thomas, ‘14 Middlebury School in Japan Page 17 GRADE EQUIVALENCY ICU Course (JLP and direct enroll) Scale A 83-100 A- 80-82 B+ 77-79 B 73-76 B- 70-72 C+ 67-69 C 63-66 C- 60-62 D 50-59 F 0-49 Middlebury Course (Cultural Portfolio) Scale A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D 60-69 F 0-59 LIVING IN JAPAN HOUSING Life in a Japanese dormitory will provide you with an excellent opportunity to study and experience Japanese culture. Those students who are participating in the full year program will live in one of the ICU campus dormitories and will be assigned a Japanese roommate. We recommend the traditional dormitory for an authentic, demanding and rewarding cultural experience where all residence hall members participate in meetings and activities to govern themselves (Second Men’s Dormitory, Canada House (male), Third Women’s Dormitory, Fourth Women’s Dormitory). The new dorms on the ICU campus (Ginko House, Zelkova House, and Oak House) are more modern, but do not come with dorm traditions and may not give you as strong a sense of belonging. Also keep in mind that new dorms are meant to be freshman dorms. Students who are applying to ICU through The Middlebury School in Japan are NOT allowed to apply to live in Global House. This dorm is designated as an “English House” for ICU students; therefore their mission is incompatible with the spirit of our Language Pledge. Students who study in Japan for only one or two Canada House is one of the oldest guys-only dorms on campus. trimesters may apply to live in the Dialogue House, which is the dorm on the ICU campus for Because it is old, the rooms and building itself are not the international students. Your roommate in this prettiest or cleanest. Despite this, it’s still a pretty good place to dormitory will, by definition, have to be another live. As an old dorm, it’s considered one of the more “traditional” international student, who may or may not have dorms, meaning that it has features like an onsen-style enough language ability to uphold the spirit of our Language Pledge. We realize that this housing bathroom. Also the rules are pretty chill, meaning that there is arrangement will not maximize the effectiveness of no curfew and that you can bring girls over, etc. your study abroad but being able to live on-campus –Alberto Servin ‘14 gives you a different kind of advantage. Please consider the pros and cons of this arrangement carefully before you make your final decision. Both short-term or full year students may apply for a home-stay program through ICU. Homestaying offers an ideal opportunity to learn the real Japan outside the campus. Please be aware that Middlebury School in Japan Page 18 home-stay families may be located at a distance from the university and may make it more challenging to integrate into activities on the ICU campus. Please know that this is the reality of Tokyo life; one- two-hour commute to work place is considered normal. The dormitory entrance is closed every day from 11:30pm to 5:00am. If for unavoidable reasons it is not possible to return to the dorm before curfew, residents must contact the dorm supervisor. All rooms are inspected prior to the students’ arrival to ensure that everything is in good working order. Students are held responsible for all damage incurred thereafter. Students must supply their own towels and toiletries. These can all be purchased in Japan. Linens, blankets, and pillows can be leased through a linen supply service. A small kitchenette is available in the dormitory for preparing light meals. There is also a small convenience store on campus (inside the bookstore, Sanseido) where you can buy boxed lunch, rice balls, breads, snacks, noodles, etc. Students are not permitted to move into the dorm room earlier than the day before the start of orientation. LIVING WITH JAPANESE ROOMMATES All full-year students live with Japanese roommates in dormitories on the ICU campus. Room assignments are made before student arrival. Having a Japanese roommate should be considered a privilege. Former students have found this experience to be one of their favorite aspects of the program. Both challenging and rewarding, living with a Japanese student gives you the opportunity to make local friends while simultaneously improving your language skills. Your roommate is not your teacher or your dictionary, though roommates are almost always happy to help you if you have a question about Japanese culture or your language studies. It is simply the daily interaction between you and your roommate that makes this living arrangement so productive for both sides. There are lots of ways you can strengthen your relationship with your roommate, eating meals together is one. There are several cafeterias on campus and all are convenient to the classrooms and dorm. Not all roommates become best friends, but many do. Should you encounter a problem in your relationship with your roommate however, you are encouraged to try and work it out with him or her as you would if you encountered a problem with any other roommate. Talk things out, compromise, and try to be more sensitive to each other’s needs. If this does not work, the “dorm parents” and the Director can help. LIVING WITH JAPANESE HOST FAMILY We highly recommend you to take a tutorial at the following site to prepare yourself for your homestay experience in Japan. Middlebury School in Japan Page 19 http://athome.nealrc.org/index.html This tutorial will help you realize that the most important preparation for inter-cultural communication begins by learning to know that one’s own “common sense” might not be valid in the host culture and that most well-meaning natives of the host culture would not hold the same set of values as yours. Be ready to appreciate the warm welcome of your host family by learning to recognize the signs of hospitality in appropriate contexts. If you are able to do so, this home-stay experience will become the most rewarding and most memorable part of your study abroad! MEETING JAPANESE Developing friendships with locals can add significantly to your learning experience in Japan. Besides language practice, you can also gain insight into the local culture and society. Middlebury encourages you to meet and talk to local citizens. We also strongly encourage you to speak to ordinary Japanese people outside the campus. Being on campus, you will be surrounded by friends who are your age, with your kind of background. Real Japan extends far and wide beyond the limit of ICU campus. Talk to strangers on the street and ask for directions, strike up a conversation with someone at a bus stop. Take the initiative to communicate with a wide spectrum of people, all of whom represent some segment of Japan. Because English is considered the language for “international” communication, many of your Japanese friends will want to practice English with you. The School in Japan is located in Tokyo where you are more than likely to be surrounded by friends whose primary interest in you is to improve their English skills. Now in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, the government is encouraging Japanese to speak to foreign visitors in English. All of these, we realize, are going to send you a discouraging message upon arrival in Japan. We understand that it will be difficult for you to convince them that you really want to speak Japanese with them – but don’t be discouraged! Help them understand that you are there to learn the language, and use tactics to communicate your commitment to speaking Japanese. We will discuss strategies to help you “negotiate” this with locals, but remember that ultimately it is you who will uphold the spirit of the language pledge and use the target language consistently in your everyday interaction with others. One of the strategies in making friends is for you to join groups, such as sport clubs or local community organizations. They are meeting because they share a certain interest, and you are likely to be welcomed as one of “them.” If you need Volunteering has allowed me to get out into Japanese society and advice, contact the staff of the School in Japan or former participants of the program. Some integrate myself there, seeing and participating in regular Japanese lives students have spent their free time volunteering far from international student culture and large-scale international at local organizations and found them to be relations. When I volunteer, I feel like I'm getting to know about real life, excellent opportunities not only to use the everyday life in Japan, more than the politics, gender studies and agelanguage but also to be engaged in distinct and meaningful conversations with local residents. If old literature that they teach you in class. – Katherine Jordan, ‘14 you are interested, please speak to the staff of the School in Japan for more information. SEXUAL RELATIONS Friendships between Japanese and foreigners should also be handled with sensitivity. The locals might see a relationship that an American student might consider a casual friendship as a serious relationship that will lead to marriage. Even a casual relationship does not go unobserved by Middlebury School in Japan Page 20 others. Japanese society is much more conservative than Western society in this area. Sexual relationships in Japan imply a different level of commitment than they do in the United States, and the potential for emotional damage is great. For this reason, Middlebury strongly discourages students from engaging in casual sexual relations with locals. As a result of growing exposure to Western pop culture in the form of travelers, films, music, etc., you might find that some of your new friends seem very westernized, even to the point of having acquired excellent colloquial English. Please keep in mind that while their understanding of our culture helps make a good basis for friendship, their “Americanization” is often very deceiving. Ironically, this superficial familiarity with our language and culture can cause even more misunderstanding, especially surrounding issues of romance. Be careful. You may stay in Japan for one semester or even one year, but your Japanese friends will likely spend their whole lives in Japan. Youthful indiscretions now may hurt your friend later on. One more note of caution: while the School in Japan has confidence in our students’ ability to make good decisions and take care of themselves in an unfamiliar place, situations are sometimes not what they appear. In Japan this is particularly the case with prostitution. The number of prostitutes has increased dramatically over the last few years, particularly in large cities. It may be difficult to tell who is a prostitute, especially in nightclubs, where it is normal to meet and socialize with many different types of people. In the past, students have gotten into trouble by not realizing how others perceived their intentions. Leaving with a person you just met can lead to conflicts with the police or gangs. For your own safety, we ask that you be aware of what is happening around you at all times and exercise good judgment in social situations. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES The language barrier and living as a foreigner in a strange city will present a variety of challenges. Culture shock and cultural differences specific to Japan will be discussed in great detail in orientation and in the Cultural Portfolio course throughout your stay in Japan, but it is a good idea to begin preparing yourself for some of these challenges now. During your stay in Japan, you will need to adapt to new patterns of behavior. The best way to begin this is to keep in mind how you as a foreigner appear to local citizens. Notice the differences in the behavior of students of your gender and age. Our participants do not go to Japan deliberately indifferent to local sensibilities. However, some customs and attitudes differ from ours, and it is possible to offend someone unintentionally. You will also sometimes be offended by the behavior and comments of the Japanese. Beware that prejudices that exist in American culture (against African-Americans; against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals; against Jews, etc.) are common in Japanese culture as well and are spoken of much more openly. Be prepared for these comments on the street, in the classroom, and in your dormitory. Life as a foreigner in Japan can be fun, exhilarating, and eye-opening, but also frustrating at times. Your experience depends to a large degree on your own expectations and approach. We have found that if you go to Japan with unrealistic expectations, you will almost certainly be disappointed; but if your expectations are realistic, you will be able to enjoy Japan to its fullest and take any frustrations you encounter in stride. One of the major differences between life in the United States as a student and your life in Japan is that you will be perceived by many as a member of a group. In Japan, membership in groups is considered more important than it is in the United States, and you will be expected to act as a group member. For instance, Japanese dormitories have many organized activities and regular meetings that all members are required to attend. As a member of a sport club, you may be requested to attend Middlebury School in Japan Page 21 meetings and parties; you may be told to clean equipment and grounds as a junior member. Former students will tell you, without an exception, how such chores were felt as nuisance at the beginning, but that they were indeed excellent ways to see the workings of “inner-circles” of friendship. Be patient. Know that it takes a long time for a Japanese group to accept foreigners as an in-group member, but once it happens, you will know that you have indeed accomplished true cultural competence. You will find it easier to adapt if you avoid spending a lot of time with other Westerners in Japan. Western bars, restaurants, and clubs may be comfortable and fun, but resorting to them will hinder your adjustment to life abroad. Instead, consider joining a student “club” on campus. Previous students have participated in many sport clubs, such as baseball, rugby, badminton, kendo, judo, aikido, Frisbee, hip-hop dance, etc. Spending time with your Japanese friends and exploring the city itself will also enhance your language learning and make it easier for you to understand why things happen the way they do in Japan. Please keep in mind that the local administrators of the School in Japan must operate under local restrictions and conditions. There may be unspoken social conditions that you and/or the School in Japan staff may not realize that affect everyday situations in Japan. The School in Japan works very hard to solve whatever problems you encounter, but there will be times when there may be no possible resolution or you won’t find the solution to your liking. For these reasons, it may be easy to get discouraged. The best defense against this is to try to understand the underlying reasons for difficulties, change what can be changed, and work around those things that cannot be changed. You can spend a lot of time getting frustrated over aspects of life abroad that you as an individual cannot change, or you can accept them and get the most out of this experience by considering this a unique opportunity to gain an insider’s view of Japanese society up close and focus on becoming able to describe accurately the features of such cultural differences. Life in Japan can be exciting and rewarding for those who approach it with the right frame of mind. Remember too that to the people you meet, you represent not only yourself, but your country. You may be the only foreigner they have encountered, and they will often judge others by their impressions of you. HERITAGE LEARNERS If you are of Japanese descent, studying in Japan may be the realization of a long held desire to learn more about your own heritage and roots. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience first-hand the country that you’ve heard and read so much about and, of course, to improve your language skills. It may also be an important phase in developing your understanding of yourself. At the same time, some former students felt they were psychologically unprepared for the challenges to their selfidentity that they met in Japan. There is often a feeling of being “caught between two worlds.” You may be surprised by the assumption made by classmates, locals and even some teachers, that, since you are Japanese-American, you should speak the language well. When off campus with your classmates, some locals may mistake you as their official interpreter. Or they may tell you how poor your language skills are while your non-Japanese peers are complimented for being able to say just Middlebury School in Japan Page 22 “ohayoo gozaimasu”! While being of Japanese descent will help you blend in and avoid the stares that your other classmates may regularly encounter, at other times you may be envious of the “novelty” treatment your fellow classmates receive—everything from photo requests to spontaneous invitations home for a meal. There may be times when you encounter discrimination. The vast majority of the time, however, people will simply be curious about your upbringing and eager to hear about your experiences in the U.S. as a Japanese-American. Many Japanese citizens will be pleased to learn that you have “returned” to study the language. TRAVEL WITHIN JAPAN The School in Japan’s on-site office has several travel and guidebooks for your use. Due to the intensive nature of the program, the Director has the right to restrict or refuse an excursion if he/she does not feel it is safe or if the student is not maintaining satisfactory academic performance. When you are traveling outside Tokyo, please complete a travel form and inform your director of your travel plans. This is a required safety precaution. Public Transportation in Tokyo Bus, subway, and train service in Tokyo is extensive. Most students at ICU rely exclusively on public transportation when travelling off-campus. Bicycles are considered the most common means of transportation among local students and we highly recommend you to purchase one, especially if you are living in Japan for a year. There are bicycles for purchase (including more affordable used bikes) near campus. Dialogue House (on campus dormitory for short term students) provides bicycles to check out for the residents. HEALTH AND SAFETY As an international student, you should take the same precautions you would in any large city, anywhere in the world. During orientation, we will address the issue of security in greater depth. For more information about general conditions in Japan, consult the State Department information page. Middlebury does not permit students to travel, even independently and even while on break, to areas under a State Department warning while enrolled in the program abroad. SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT A recent study has shown that studying abroad may increase your risk of unwanted sexual contact. The Department of State has this to say: http://studentsabroad.state.gov/smarttravel/forwomentravelers.php Our on-site staff is your primary resource for advice to keep yourself safe and can also direct you to local support resources, including the Human Rights Commission on the ICU campus. Middlebury School in Japan Page 23 MEDICAL FACILITIES IN TOKYO There is a clinic on the ICU campus which should be the first stop for ill students. The staff at the clinic will refer students to other hospitals if the students’ situation is more complex. Students can also refer to the HTH website for physicians and hospitals in Tokyo. Adequate and inexpensive medical and hospital services are available in Japan. All international students are required by law to join Japan’s national health insurance upon arrival. Once you receive the insurance card in country, you should carry it with you at all times. This card serves as your ID (an equivalent of your SSN in the U.S.) and, if you need to consult a medical doctor, you are required to present it. You are expected to present your Japanese National Health Insurance card to receive treatment at any local hospital, and you will automatically receive 90% discount of ordinary medical treatment (surgeries and hospitalization will not fall in this category). You will pay the amount as requested out of your pocket, then file the HTH claim form to receive reimbursement of what you have paid. Students are strongly advised to contact the Director of the School in Japan before going to a hospital. PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH & COUNSELING Students should be very realistic about their abilities to function in a high-stress environment. Japan is a difficult and stressful place in which to live, and, rather than disappearing in the new surroundings, conditions like depression and eating disorders are often exacerbated by a stay in Japan. ICU Counseling Center is conveniently located next to School in Japan’s office and English speaking counselors are available; a licensed psychiatrist is available every Friday, as well. Visit the office to receive advice if you recognize symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, etc. Middlebury staff will always be happy to see you in the office, too. ALLERGIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS If you have any serious allergies that may be an issue in Japan or require accommodation for any condition while abroad, please be in touch with the Middlebury staff before making a final commitment to the program to ensure that your needs can be met abroad. Middlebury School in Japan Page 24 ON-SITE MONEY MATTERS CURRENCY EXCHANGE We highly encourage you to cash your travelers’ checks and/or exchange money at the airport if do not take cash (yen) abroad with you. We recommend you to have an equivalent of at least $500 in cash with you during your first week in Japan. You will need to buy a cell phone and do some other shopping to start your new life during the first week. Please keep in mind, also, that ATMs are not open during the weekends in Japan! MONEY AND BANKING Japan is primarily a cash-based society; large transactions in cash are common. Credit card use is much more limited in Japan than in the U.S., and people rarely use credit cards for purchases of less than the equivalent of $50. We therefore suggest that you travel with several sources of money: ATM/debit card, credit card (Master card or Visa), and cash. This will ensure that even if one of your means for accessing money fails, you will not be stranded without money. If you plan to use debit or ATM cards while overseas, be sure to notify your U.S. bank that you will be living in Japan for the semester/year. You may want to request the bank to raise the daily limit of cash withdrawal. You should also check with your bank regarding applicable fees which can sometimes be steep. ATM machines in convenience stores and post offices can be used to withdraw money from foreign bank accounts, and there are some on the ICU campus. It is possible to open a bank account at a Japanese bank once you are in Japan and this may make sense if you are staying in Japan for a year. This way funds can be transferred most easily in a lump sum and you will be able to get a local ATM card. EMERGENCY CASH BEFORE you leave the U.S., you should discuss with family and friends a plan for getting more money during the program. Check Western Union details and service fees, credit cards, and ATM daily limits and availability. WORKING IN JAPAN Students participating in study abroad programs are not allowed to work even though it is legally permitted. For instance, it is very common for international students to be offered well-paying jobs to tutor English. Please remember that this contradicts the spirit of Middlebury College in two ways: students are here to study and they are here to speak Japanese. If, however, you are invited to work at a place where you may be speaking in Japanese more than 80% of the time, please consult with the Director of the program to turn it into an (unpaid) internship so that you have guidance and approval while participating. COMMUNICATION WITH HOME AND FRIENDS Middlebury School in Japan Page 25 COMMUNICATION AND IMMERSION Students who seek maximum immersion in Japan should also note that regular communication with home can significantly hinder their language progress and their adjustment to the new culture. If your goal is maximum immersion, you should prepare family and friends for the reality and explain to them that regular calling or e-mailing may interfere with your language acquisition. If something has gone wrong, your family will learn about it immediately. Otherwise, you can remind them that no news is good news. LANGUAGE PLEDGE Among the many things that Middlebury College expects during study abroad is for students to develop a degree of independence and to take responsibility for them. Here is a copy of the pledge you signed when you enrolled in the program: To take fullest advantage of my time abroad, I will maintain the spirit of the Middlebury Language Pledge to speak only the language that I am studying. I understand that no English is to be used in the School’s offices, except in emergency consultations with the Director and his or her staff. I recognize that the Language Pledge plays a major role in the success of the academic, social, and personal dimensions of my time abroad, both as a symbol of commitment and as an essential part of the language learning process, as proven by the successes of the summer Language Schools. I understand that speaking the target language with other students on the program as well as with locals will help me focus my energies on the acquisition of the language and internalize the patterns of communication and the cultural perspectives associated with the language. Violation of the Language Pledge deprives me and my fellow students of a valuable opportunity. By signing this, I agree to abide by the Middlebury College Language Pledge. Calls to family and friends overseas are permitted, but students should realize that frequent contact with anyone back home removes them from the experience they signed up for. MAIL Please have your family and friends keep the following things in mind when mailing materials to you: All mail sent to the student should be mailed no later than two weeks before the end of the program. The student should not expect to receive mail or telephone messages during long weekends or tours away from his/her home city, except in an emergency. Please note that the School in Japan is not responsible for, nor will we be able to forward, any mail received for students after they have left the program. Send everything by airmail and never surface mail. Airmail may take two weeks to arrive. UPS, DHL, FedEx, and USPS express mail take about a week. Include a list of contents that should be in the package should the package break or items become lost during occasional inspections. Carefully seal all items in a plastic bag if the item has the potential to leak or break apart. To avoid large customs fees, senders should label packages “used personal belongings” and if anything new is shipped, it should have tags removed and have been washed. Packages usually will not go directly to the student. The student will be notified in writing and will have to go to the post office with his/her passport where the package will be inspected before being released. Middlebury School in Japan Page 26 Your mailing address will be: (Your name) (Your dorm name) International Christian University 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka Tokyo 181-8585 JAPAN In case of an emergency, your family/friends may contact International Programs at Middlebury College. When writing home, first consider the effect your e-mail or mail will have on your loved ones thousands of miles away. On a given day you may be feeling upset, but by the time your relatives receive your messages you may be in good spirits again. Remember that your friends and relatives will be very concerned about you and have little recourse from the United States to help you out at the time of difficulty, however willing they might be. For daily troubles, therefore, nearby friends are the best people to consult. Problems and inconveniences that you feel are significant enough to mention to your parents (by mail, e-mail, or phone) should also be discussed with the Director. The Middlebury office often receives calls from worried parents with valid concerns. If you have not communicated these concerns to the Director, however, the Middlebury office is unequipped to address your parents' concerns. An informal journal can be kept by recounting your activities in letters home and requesting that your friends and relatives keep the letters for you. You may want to number your letters so that all letters can be tracked, and the people receiving them will know when one has been delayed or lost. Blogging is also a great way of updating all of your friends and relatives at the same time while also keeping a record of your experiences. INTERNET AND EMAIL Internet connection is available at your dormitory and in campus buildings. Bring your laptop to Japan if you use it regularly. Be aware of how much time you spend on the computer and in your room. It’s a good idea to set a weekly computer time limit and then stick to it. Most of your free time should be spent exploring life outside of the virtual world. PHONES A cell phone is a vital part of everyone’s life in Japan. For both practical and security reasons, Middlebury strongly encourages all participants to purchase a domestic cell phone. School in Japan organizes a trip to a shop to purchase cell phone during the orientation week to buy an inexpensive prepaid service cell phone locally . There are four cell phone service providers, but they offer virtually the same services at the same rates. Most students end up using Softbank by default because this is the only company in Japan that offers pre-paid service, which many international students buy, and calls and text messaging between Softbank accounts are free. All local cell phones can send and receive text messages, receive international calls, and to add an option to place international calls. Middlebury School in Japan Page 27 We do not advise you to take your U.S. cell phones to Japan. Unlocking SIM cards is illegal in Japan (as of Feb. 2015) and the ones that are available offer bad rates.) Japan is 12-13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Tome depending on the time of year. The time difference can be checked at: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ For dialing direct to Japan: 011: U.S. International Dialing Code 81: Country code for Japan Example: 011+ Country code+ local phone number COMMUNICATION WITH SCHOOL IN JAPAN OFFICE It is of vital importance that the director and staff in Japan always have your current phone number and home address. If your cell phone is lost or stolen, it should be immediately reported to the director. In the event of an emergency, you should do your best to contact the staff abroad to let them know if you are alright. When you plan to travel out of Tokyo for weekend or during winter and spring breaks, please inform the director of your travel plans (dates of your departure and return, destination, phone numbers at which you can be reached, names of friends that will be traveling with you, etc.) LOCAL INFORMATION During the on-site orientation, students will receive an Emergency Card listing emergency numbers, which they should carry on their person at all times. In case of emergency, please contact Sanae Eda (Director, School in Japan) Cell Phone: 090-5307-8771 E-mail: seda@middlebury.edu / seda.jp@i.softbank.ne.jp Middlebury School in Japan Page 28