I decided to put this four-part "guide" of my experiences together for MICA students who are considering a potential, future semester at Osaka University of Arts because I feel that I was not given adequate information when I made my decision eight months ago. This wasn't anyone's fault per-se, there was just so much only the experience itself could communicate. I hope this can help fill in the massive holes lost in the translations between OUA and MICA.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
• Learn Japanese
OUA didn't seem to have a staunch requirement for my ability to speak or read Japanese, but I feel they should have. No one speaks English in rural Osaka. My professors, peers, anyone I interacted with on campus could not understand me, and it severely affected my educational experience. I seriously would not recommend one to spend a semester at OUA unless they can communicate basic ideas effectively in Japanese... seriously.
• Work out your course schedule before departure
OUA's majors are very different from what I knew at MICA. Japanese university students typically enter their freshman year declared to their desired department and stay in that same department for four years. OUA is a pan-arts university, so my peers were much more diverse, made up of visual, musical, dance, and theatrical arts students. As a result, I found courses did not translate well. I recommend you plan out EXACTLY what is needed in your degree plan (i.e. IL 200 elective, GD 300 required seminar...) before departure and try and match it as best that you can to a similar course at OUA. This was hard for me, because I didn't know what OUA had to offer until I arrived, so I tried to be sure to have a very clear understanding of what I needed and didn't falter when I was pressured to take random courses taught by one of OUA's three English-speaking teachers.
• Things to ABSOLUTELY bring
Japan imports close to nothing. If you have any specific American brand of beauty products, dietary supplements, or medications you can't live without, bring them and make sure you pack enough for four months; shipping is expensive. Here are some things I forgot/figured I could find in Japan, but was sadly mistaken/dissapointed:
• Deodorant/Lotion/Facial Moisturizer
• Toothpaste
• Vitamins
• Comfort foods (peanut butter, oatmeal, etc.)
Also, remember you will be starting a new, temporary life in Japan. You will need cookware, household amenities, cleaning products, etc. Pack what you can and budget to make purchases when you arrive.
• Addresses
You will need the address of a place of residence to enter Japan. However, I wasn't given any information on where I was staying until I was dropped off at my apartment. Here is the address to the International Affairs Office at OUA, I used this as my unofficial shipping address and, at the very least, it got me through immigration:
469, Higashiyama, Kanan-cho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka, 585-8555 Japan
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