My host family was the highlight of this trip. They were incredibly hospitable, and very kind. I legitimately feel like I now have a second family in Japan, and I can't wait till I get to see them again.

My favorite part was when we traveled around to Kyoto and Osaka. Just being in the city made it feel like we were truly experiencing the "Now" of the program.

My favorite part of the program was traveling to Hakone and soaking in a traditional Japanese onsen.

Participating in the Japan Then and Now program, I got to see many different culturally and historically important sites in Japan. It was amazing getting to visit everywhere, and be told about the history on site while there!

The Kyoto and Osaka tour was by far the best part of this program. It was educational and interesting, while showing real places we've learned about in real-time. It also had the most intriguing areas and was overall had the best locations.

One of the most rewarding experiences was visiting a zen temple and participating in meditation. It has made a lasting impact on me back home, and I have continued using some techniques taught.

I found the homestay experience especially rewarding because I felt that I really was able to experience Japanese culture and the relationships that I made with my host family members will stay with me forever.

The most rewarding portion of the program, I think, was speaking Japanese with students of Kanagawa University and my host family. It was great to see that all my studies in Japanese language had bore great fruit, and my host family and the students appreciated it immensely.

Having a host family was incredibly rewarding. It gave us a chance to immerse ourselves more fully into the culture and language of Japan--something we wouldn't have been able to do as fully had we not had a host family. If nothing else, it took away any anxiety about where to start and basically forced us to go for it.

Most rewarding was definitely the interactions with the people in Japan, especially the homestay experience. Everyone was so lovely and welcoming, it couldn't have been any better.

I found my home stay to be a very rewarding experience, as I got to experience every-day Japanese life with my wonderful host parents as well as practice my Japanese.

I learned how to be more humble and able to sit back and enjoy what's around me through japanese societal habits. You can also have a better understanding of your own culture once you view another's.

I learned a lot about myself, a lot about Japanese history and literature, but most important I learned what living in Japan is really like.

We're all just citizens of the world. Other countries may seem vastly different when looking at them from afar, but once you live in and/or spend time in that country, you do not truly know how life is there. You may find that other countries are actually quite similar to your own, or at the very least find them personally appealing, when beforehand you had held a more than different view. It is my personal opinion that every student should study abroad at least once in their life, because it is a truly necessary experience.

The best thing to do with this program is to not get swamped with the work. Dr. Childs is really flexible with the workload due dates because she knows that it's more important to be out and about, exploring the country, instead of being stuck in your room doing homework.