The office was extremely helpful in providing assistance to acquire health care

Although the nearby monorail is expensive if used often, there are other methods of getting to campus. Trains and buses were always timely from my experience and travel was never an issue. Even transportation to nearby countries, like South Korea, was possible for many students. University-organized excursions were delightful and provided unique experiences we may not have had otherwise.
As for safety, there were a few perverts in the park (two instances of women being groped in a park near my dormitory), but if you follow basic safety procedures (the buddy system, don't walk alone late at night, etc.) there will be no problem. I never felt unsafe in Japan, especially because there are almost always several people around due to the dense population and the recent release of Pokemon GO.

I enjoyed all of my classes and felt the teachers were qualified to do their jobs. Personally, I wished the Japanese program was more intensive in OUSSEP, but there were other study options. Because each class is typically held only once a week, I don't think it's fair to compare to the US university system in terms of workload. However, I will say that I never felt burdened by my classes and had plenty of personal time.

Field trips were excellent! My favorite was visiting a small town in the mountains (Koya-san) where we stayed the night at a Buddhist temple and attended the morning service. The tour was well organized and very entertaining; many students who enjoyed photography had the time of their lives.

The dormitory I lived in had a very tight-knit community and was very welcoming. My only complaint was the beds were uncomfortable, but any pre-furnished dorm around the world is going to have uncomfortable beds I think. It could have been closer to campus as to encourage mingling between Japanese students and international students, but there were other ways to get involved with campus/community life.

If you traveled anywhere then there was always something to learn. Any day walking outside was a chance to interact with the local culture; Osaka people are generally very friendly and open to talking to you if you try.

The staff was extremely helpful in guiding students through paperwork and daily life. Program coordinators were always happy to help.

It depends who you talked to, but personally I was always able to find the help I needed with ease.

I was surprised at the cost of living outside of major cities. Japan can be very affordable if you have a steady income.

I learned so much on this program. I went into the program with high expectations and I was not disappointed. except for one bad experience in one class, everything else was perfect.

I expected more intensive Japanese courses but was very satisfied with the professors.

In Osaka University in particular, you get a lot of time off from school. Make sure to go travel and see the surrounding country.

"I officially got credit for 2 semesters of Japanese Language (2001 and 2002), but when I returned to UGA, I ended up jumping to 4000 level Japanese because I learned so much while studying abroad."

Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity for growth, both personal and academic. I have learned more about myself during a one-year exchange than throughout any of my time attending university. This experience has given me a clearer idea of my career path and the choices I will make after graduation.