Student Blog

3min read

The Exchange Program Cafe is a casual event where students interested in studying abroad can get information and hear firsthand experiences from seniors who have already gone on exchange. We're here to give you a recap of the event held in April!

Overcoming Pre-Departure Anxiety

This cafe event featured a panel discussion with students who have studied in the UK, Turkey, Taiwan, and Germany. They shared their experiences and answered questions from the audience in a friendly, conversational format.

Miu Tanaka, a fourth-year student in the College of Asia Pacific Studies, was one of the panelists. When asked about her pre-departure anxieties, she offered some great advice. As APU's first-ever exchange student to Turkey, she had a lot of worries before she left. She emphasized how important it is to be prepared-like using Google Maps to plan the route from the airport to the university and taking screenshots in case there’s no Wi-Fi. Miu also mentioned that for non-English-speaking countries like Turkey, it's helpful to learn some simple phrases for daily conversation. Participants listened attentively, some even taking notes.

Other questions came up during the Q&A, such as "Why did you decide to study abroad?", "Do you think it was a good experience?", and "Did studying abroad change your future career goals?" The panelists answered based on their personal experiences and perspectives.

The Goal of the Event

Hinano Yoshikawa, a member of the student organization Student Exchange Advisors (SEA), which organized the event, explained their goal. "We want students to clear up any questions and confusion about studying abroad through the experiences of their seniors and use that information to create a concrete plan." She noted that while many students are interested in studying abroad, some hesitate due to anxiety. That's why SEA wanted to offer a casual event where students could "just drop in" and learn more.

One attendee, Ayana Yoneyama, a first-year student in the College of Sustainability Tourism, found the event through SEA's Instagram account. She said she was glad she came, especially because she got to hear how the seniors chose their destinations. She was particularly impressed by one senior who said, "I purposely chose a country I knew absolutely nothing about." Ayana said this made her realize that "passion is essential if you want to study abroad."

A Panelist's Perspective

As a panelist at this event, I was surprised by the number of students who showed interest. I think many of us who want to study abroad also have a lot of anxiety and wonder if we can actually go through with it. At the Exchange Program Cafe, you can hear real-life stories and get specific advice from seniors, which can give you that push to take the first step. The event also made me realize how much support is available at APU, both from the university and student groups, precisely because so many students take on the challenge of studying abroad. I even found myself wishing I had used these resources more before my own exchange.

Get Started Today!

The Exchange Program Cafe is held about five times per semester. The topics change every time and can cover anything from "What is exchange?" to "How to write your application" and "Balancing exchange with job hunting." The best part is that it's a casual event, open to everyone—no reservation needed. If you're even a little bit interested in studying abroad, be sure to check it out!

You can also check out SEA's Instagram account for more details. For one-on-one advice, visit the SEA consultation booth in the library. To make a reservation, click the link below!

SEA Consultation Booking Page

Natsuki Aoki

Hello! I'm Natsuki, an APS 3rd year majoring in International Relations. I hope to inspire you all by sharing my interesting experiences, new discoveries, and encounters at APU. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!