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That transformation isn’t only visible to you, though – others see it as well. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and developed the confidence and resilience to accomplish anything you set out to do. When you return home, if you’re like most AFSers, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. “Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad.
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Optional school trips will give you the chance to visit popular tourist sites in Japan or sometimes even overseas. Activities throughout the year include Bunkasai (school festival), Tai’ikusai (sports day), chorus competition, and excursions. After the school day ends, you’ll participate in a custom called souji, when everyone gets together for 30 minutes to help clean the school and grounds. You will likely wear a uniform and commute by bike, bus, or train. School in Japan runs from April to March. Schools have classes Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to around 3:30 pm, and some have classes on Saturday morning, too. This challenging high school study abroad environment provides excellent language-learning opportunities, since all high school classes, including English, are taught in Japanese. Instead, it’s seen as a voluntary commitment made by students. In fact, high school is not mandatory in Japan.
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The Japanese place a high value on education and academic achievement.