Hello! My name is Ashley Wilson, and I am a double major in Economics and International Affairs. I am currently a senior at the University of Maine, and after my graduation in May, I will return as a graduate student in the SPIA (School of Policy and International Affairs) program, majoring in Global Policy with a concentration in Trade and Commerce.

For two months in the summer of 2024, I had the invaluable opportunity to study abroad in Okayama, Japan, through the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS). This is a fully funded program—offered by the U.S. Department of State that provides students the chance to immerse themselves in intensive language study while serving as cultural ambassadors of the U.S. abroad. As someone passionate about international relations and diplomacy, this experience not only strengthened my Japanese language skills but also allowed me to engage meaningfully with local communities and represent the U.S. in a positive light.

Japan is one of the world’s leading technology hubs and is home to Tokyo—the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with over 37 million people in the Greater Tokyo Area. The country has a total population of approximately 124 million and is known for its mix of ultramodern cities, rich history, and vibrant culture. In 2023, Japan recorded its highest number of inbound tourists ever, with over 25 million visitors exploring its diverse landscapes, from bustling urban centers to countryside retreats.

One of the most common concerns for travelers, especially those who do not speak Japanese, is whether it’s possible to navigate the country without fluency in the language. Before arriving in Japan, I had limited Japanese proficiency, and I initially worried about managing daily life. However, with the right preparation and mindset, it is entirely possible to travel in Japan comfortably without knowing the language!

Before my program, I had minimal Japanese knowledge beyond basic greetings and essential phrases. While this made certain interactions challenging, I quickly discovered that Japan’s infrastructure is designed to accommodate international visitors. From clear signage in train stations to technology-driven solutions, there are many ways to overcome the language barrier and still have a smooth travel experience.

Here are a few strategies that helped me navigate Japan:

• Google Maps: This was an essential tool for checking public transportation routes, train platforms, and bus schedules. However, searching in Japanese yields better results when looking for restaurants or attractions, so using a translator app can be helpful.

• Shinkansen & Train Travel: Purchasing tickets is easy, even without Japanese fluency. Ticket machines at train stations have an English option, and online booking platforms like SmartEX allow travelers to reserve seats in advance.
• Cash & Payments: Japan remains a largely cash-based society, especially in rural areas. 7-Eleven ATMs are the best option for withdrawing yen, as they offer English instructions and accept most international cards.

While many Japanese people in major cities have some level of English proficiency, it’s important to not assume that everyone speaks English. In my experience, even when I attempted to speak Japanese, locals would sometimes respond in English, recognizing that I was a foreigner. However, learning a few basic phrases—such as ordering food, asking for directions, or thanking someone—goes a long way in showing respect and enhancing your interactions.

Exploring Japan: What to Do & Where to Go

Though my CLS program was based in Okayama, I had the chance to travel on weekends to some of Japan’s most famous cities:

• Tokyo–A fast-paced metropolis with a mix of modern attractions (Shibuya, Akihabara) and traditional sites (Asakusa, Meiji Shrine).
• Osaka–Known for its amazing street food and nightlife. The iconic Dotonbori district is a must-visit!
• Kyoto–The cultural heart of Japan, filled with historic temples, shrines, and preserved traditional districts like Gion.

Even with limited Japanese, I could fully enjoy these experiences by planning ahead and using helpful tools. Whether it’s visiting bustling city centers, exploring historic temples, or enjoying Japan’s famous cuisine, there are endless opportunities to immerse yourself in Japanese culture, no matter your language level.

Traveling abroad—especially through a program like CLS—is about more than just learning a language. It’s about building cross-cultural connections, embracing challenges, and growing as a global citizen. My time in Japan reinforced the importance of adaptability, helped my Japanese proficiency grow exponentially, and I met lifelong friends while maintaining a respect for different cultures. Whether you’re a student, a traveler, or someone considering studying abroad, I encourage you to embrace the unknown, prepare well, and take the leap—you’ll gain so much more than just travel memories. 

If you’re considering a trip to Japan, get excited! With a little preparation and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, you can have an unforgettable experience, regardless of your Japanese proficiency.

~ Ashley Wilson (Okayama, Japan) Double major in Economics and International Affairs

Last time we talked about making a priority list when choosing a hostel. Now, we’ll go into things to consider when choosing one. I hope that this list, and my experiences, will help you with finding the perfect hostel for you in the future.

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  • I knew I’d want to take a shower when I arrived at my hostel because of my lengthy travel getting there. So, I realized how important it was to consider what I needed to be comfortable in the hostel showers. For me, I didn’t care if the shower was hot or cold, or whether it had shampoo for guests, but what was big for me was whether the stalls themselves were individual. Luckily, this wasn’t an issue in Bath, but I struggled with the fact that I brought the wrong towel. I had one of those microfiber towels which saves room, but I wished that I’d just brought a regular towel because of how long I had to wait in the stall for my body to dry off. 

• What if I am a light sleeper?: 
  • If you’re a light sleeper, make sure you bring ear plugs and eye masks. This wasn’t an immense problem for me, but there were people inside of the room who would wake up in the middle of the night and turn on their flashlight as they sorted through their things. This woke up the person who slept on the bunk bed beside me, but I was completely fine. Mostly, people are very considerate throughout normal sleeping hours and won’t be screaming or playing loud music inside of the room when they know that people are sleeping. (The sleep mask also works wonders when you’re on the bus and the lights are on but you’re exhausted from sightseeing all day). 

• Padlocks will keep you safe: 
  • Make sure you bring a padlock. A lot of hostels will have lockers for you to put your precious belongings in. This is important for people who are afraid of their passports being stolen. But, not every hostel will supply the lock for the locker, so if you plan on using one, make sure that you bring a lock. 

• Sticky notes are an invention from God: 
  • Hostels oftentimes have kitchens that you can put food in while you stay. And like everything else on this list, they rarely provide the most important part of storing your food: sticky notes. Which, right? Sticky notes are important? Sticky notes are important because they help people label their food so others won’t eat it. It’s also a good way to label expiry dates, ensuring that anything left behind gets thrown away. 

• Pillowcases in hostels can be a nightmare: 
  • If you have sensitive skin like me, the pillowcases for beds will be the worst thing ever. But if you’re unlike me, you’ll actually care about taking care of your skin. It might be useful to bring a small pillowcase that you can pull over the pillow. So that your skin doesn’t cry itself to sleep as you slam into bed exhausted at the end of the night. 

• Should you wear more layers at a hostel?: 
  • You need the basics for your outfits, when it comes to hostels you’ll be saving money on your travels but you don’t want to make up that difference by having to pay overcharge fees for oversized luggage (ALWAYS, and I mean it, look at the luggage dimensions for whatever form of transportation you take because they will charge you if it’s too big). Also, because of taking cheaper transportation, it’s not always super clean, so what’s the use of wearing expensive clothes when it’ll be in a bag placed on a dirty bus floor? I always brought three shirts, two pairs of pants, and the basic toiletries. (Of course you can have more than that, but I’ll add the bare necessity list at the bottom of this article). When you bring so little clothing, you’ll probably need to bring your stuff to a laundromat for a longer stay. Yet, it’s totally worth it when you pay for dirt cheap tickets for the bus or train or airport. 

• Do I need a water bottle?: 
  • You need a water bottle. You don’t want to pay money every single time you want water. They don’t have free refills anywhere. 

• Policy on Shower Shoes: 
  • Bring shower shoes. That’s it. 

• Bare Necessities: 
  • 3 shirts 
  • 2-3 pants 
  • Underwear
  • Passport 
  • What toiletries you need and are under 100 mL 
  • Small hand towel (for after the shower) 
  • Flip-flops for the shower 
  • Water bottle 
  • Any medicine / doctor’s notes 
  • Small umbrella (like actually small OR raincoat OR wear a coat that doubles as raincoat (would be better) 
  • Plastic bag
  • Padlock
  • Sticky notes

Note: the less you bring the more you can buy -> wouldn’t suggest banking on buying clothes as they’re expensive, but you’ll have more room for trinkets, etc.

– Evan Carter (Norwich, England) English Major

There are a lot of horror stories with hostels. There’s even a movie franchise dedicated to depicting them as horrendous places, just waiting for naïve travelers. However, they’re also one of the best ways to travel cheaply abroad. I’m sure it’s not just me that has heard of how expensive it can be to study abroad AND travel at the same time. This article will delve into the bare essentials for hostel stays and their significance. But, it will be most useful for those who have already researched and want more niche suggestions.

Topics Reviewed in this article: 

• How to Choose a Hostel? 
• Showers in Hostels
• What if You are a Light Sleeper?
• Padlocks Will Keep You Safe 
• Why Sticky Notes Matter
• Should You Wear More Layers at a Hostels? 
• Do I need a water bottle?
• Policy on Shower Shoes

At the bottom of this article will be a bare necessities list of what to bring to a hostel. 

How to Choose a Hostel?: 

Unless there’s an enormous concern with how much it’ll cost you–always make sure that your hostel is within walking distance of a bus stop or train station that is relevant towards your projected travels for the following days. Okay, so I know this might sound like I am trying to get you to go to whatever hostel is closest to the train station, but I’m not. Especially if said hostel has bad reviews. 

My point is: why stay at a hostel that’s ten miles away from your bus stop if it’s only going to save you five dollars? You don’t want to travel for two hours by bus, on a route that you don’t know, especially if the money you save by going there won’t even cover your bus ticket. 

So, if it’s hard to choose which hostel, make a pros and cons list. Well, no one likes making those. So maybe just do what I did and open every tab and have a list of priorities, which automatically disqualify a hostel for you. 

• How do you make that priority list? 

I wish I could tell you everything that you should care about. But not everyone cares about the same things. It’s annoying.

So, let’s say that you find six different hostels that each have different prices but all of them fall into a good $10-$30 range. How do you pick the best one? This happened to me more often than I would’ve liked. I was on a trip to Norway and this was the situation for Oslo and I wanted to ask ChatGPT to just tell me what to do. Don’t do that. Just consider these things: 

• What is next on your list? Does one of your plans have you waking up at 6am in order to get to a train at a specific station? Look at how far away each of your hostel options are and cross off any that have too many transfers between buses, trams, and trains (these transfers can be delayed and you don’t want to walk an hour because of a train system shutting down when you only have thirty minutes to get there)
• What are the reviews? Do you care about what people are complaining about? Honestly, I didn’t really mind when people complained about cleanliness because I knew that my other priorities would probably knock any super unclean hostels off the list. However, you might care about whether there’s always toilet paper and if they clean the couches regularly.
• What are people saying about management? If people complain about long response times, then that means if you have a situation where you’re stuck in a train and can’t get to the hostel before your allotted time, it’ll be difficult to get into contact with someone at the front desk to let them know of your late arrival. 
• Are people able to get refunds if they had an awful time? Was the hostel open and honest about their policy before other people stayed there? 
• Did the hostel quickly remove guests who were being disruptive? 

What kinds of complaints make you uncomfortable? (I was uncomfortable if a complaint had to do with inappropriate advances from staff towards women travelers).

Read part 2 for things to consider when choosing a hostel!

– Evan Carter (Norwich, England) English Major

Hello! My name is Kelly Pellegrino and I am a nursing major in my junior year of school. For about a month in the summer of 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea. With a very busy and difficult curriculum, many nursing students don’t think that it’s possible to go abroad during college, but not very many nursing students are aware of the fact that they are able to study abroad during the summer! I am hoping that, with this blog, I can share some of my experiences overseas and inspire fellow nursing students to explore opportunities to travel the world.

I participated in a summer program through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) and was able to study at a private school set in the outskirts of Seoul called Kookmin University. There were students who attended college all across the US who participated in the program as well, and we were able to create friendships that I know will last a lifetime.

We all lived in dorms in a building called “The Guesthouse” on campus and were able to take classes and participate in lectures during the school day. We took classes on the Korean language and sat through lectures from various amazing professors on topics surrounding Korean culture. Now many people may think that since these classes have nothing to do with nursing or healthcare in general, nursing students shouldn’t use their time and effort on them. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. One of the most vital aspects of nursing is being culturally competent and able to understand the importance of recognizing cultures and customs different from your own. Throughout a student’s nursing career, and their life in general, they are going to come across individuals from all walks of life. Understanding the importance of language and culture will allow these students to provide patient-centered care and ensure their patients have the best healthcare experience possible. I know that after studying in Seoul, I have a much better understanding of what it is like to either not be able to speak the primary language of where I am or encounter customs and traditions different from what I am used to in Maine. This whole experience will help me when I am working with patients who might be experiencing the same thing.

Outside of class time, my friends and I were able to explore as much of Seoul as we possibly could in a month. We went to amusement parks, cafes, malls, historical palaces, museums, and so much more! Even though we did something every single day, we barely touched the surface of what Seoul has to offer. I would say my favorite excursion was when we took a cable car to the top of Nam Mountain in central Seoul. At the top you could go inside the N Seoul Tower, eat great food at the shops and restaurants there, and marvel at the breathtaking view of all of Seoul. The coolest thing about the top of Nam Mountain is that you can purchase what is called a ‘Love Lock’ that you are able to write on and lock anywhere on top of the mountain. You can do it with a significant other, your friends, or even just yourself to symbolize eternal love and harmony. My roommate and I put a lock on together, and hopefully one day I can go back and find the lock again.

It is safe to say that although I was only away for a month, I learned so much about myself and the world outside of Maine. I gained so much confidence and courage, and I made memories that will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life. The skills I learned while I was gone will continue to help me throughout my nursing career and my everyday life. If you have the opportunity to go abroad, I say go right for it. You definitely won’t regret it.

Written by Kelly Pellegrino, University of Maine, Nursing Student

When I studied abroad in Japan, I decided to stay with a host family and it was one of the best choices I could have made. Not only did I receive a better cultural immersion, I can now also say that I have another family across the sea.

I went abroad during my sophomore year to Waseda university in Tokyo, Japan. The university had three different housing options for international exchange students. We could stay in the dorms, find our own accommodation, or we could stay with a host family. While I had thought about staying in the dorms with other international students, I knew that I wanted to become more thoroughly integrated into the culture. I also wanted to have more opportunities to practice and speak Japanese. Staying with a host family afforded me both of those things. I couldn’t have been more satisfied with my choice.

My homestay family was located in the Chiba district and the house was about a five minute walk from the train station and a forty minute train ride from the university. That may sound like a lot but the time went by rather quickly. I usually listened to audiobooks and pre-downloaded podcasts to pass the time. The train ride was never an issue for me, I rather enjoyed it, especially when the train was above ground as I got to see so much scenery.

My family consisted of my host mom, Ran, my host dad, Tatsuya, and my host sister, Remi. Remi was on the verge of turning one-year-old when I arrived there and Ran and Tatsuya both spoke beautiful English as they had prior experience with the language. This allowed me a very smooth integration into the Japanese language and culture. I was very lucky and I’m still so grateful for that luck because I know some of the people I met studying abroad chose the host family option ended up with people who spoke little to no English. It should be known that English isn’t widely taught in Japan. Many people that I ran into, even in Tokyo, didn’t speak much English. Despite this, I didn’t have many issues while navigating around the country whether through speaking or using the trains for transportation. I picked things up and took Japanese classes while enrolled at Waseda. My host family also helped with my Japanese studies; this was something that those staying in the dorms didn’t have the chance to utilize.

Since I signed up for a homestay, I also received breakfasts and dinners throughout the week (Monday-Friday). For lunches and meals on the weekends I was left to my own devices which was fine since I was generally on campus in the afternoon on weekdays and out exploring on weekends. The meals I did receive with my host family were delicious and very traditional. My host mom also taught me how to cook bentos-or school lunches-so that, rather then spend money everyday for lunch, I had the option to pack my lunches.

My host family also took me on trips around Japan. While I covered my own travel costs (we split it half and half), it was such an amazing experience to have, traveling with them. I was able to see a different side of Japan that I’m not sure I would have seen had I either gone on my own or with another group of students.

The times I spent with my host family were some of the most important and cherished moments of my study abroad. I wouldn’t change anything and I strongly recommend that, if you have the chance, you decide to stay with a host family.

–Shania Soler (Tokyo, Japan), Study Abroad Assistant

Hello world! I’m Shania and I work at the University of Maine as a Study Abroad Assistant with the Office of International Programs. I graduated from the 91���� in December 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in English and a minor in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality studies. I spent a majority of my Sophomore year in Tokyo, Japan at Waseda University.

I knew I wanted to study abroad before I even entered university. It was something I wanted to do way back in high school. Unfortunately, the cost for high school students is enormous and it wasn’t a feasible option for myself or my family. Thus, I decided to wait until I entered university and boy am I glad I did that.

I wholly believe that waiting to study abroad until college was one of the best choices I made. I not only managed to save money by waiting, but I also want to say my experience was much better since I’d had more time to cultivate my independence as an adult at university during my freshman year. I went into the program as a much more developed person and appreciated the experience and opportunity all the more.

I spent 2019-2020 in Tokyo, Japan with a host family in the Chiba district. I was centrally located and attended the well known and renowned school, Waseda University. Technically, I was supposed to spend a year in Japan but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to cut my program short and wrap it up in February. I still appreciate the time I spent in the country, though. The months flew by and I made a number of lifelong connections and friends-two of which I’ll be getting an apartment with in the UK while getting my Master’s degree during the 2022-23 academic year.

I enjoyed my experience abroad so much that, once I came back to my home university, I wanted to continue working in an environment that allowed me to stay close to the topic of traveling; this led to me starting work as a peer advisor at 91����’s Office of International Programs. I now work as a full-time Study Abroad Assistant focusing on marketing, advising, and English teaching.

–Shania Soler (Tokyo, Japan), Study Abroad Assistant