Studying in Kobe

[dmar57]

I'm going to Japan in August/September(haven't decided yet). I'm going to be studying at Kobe University for a year, as the year abroad of my degree (Business Studies and Japanese). The prospect of studing business studies in Japanese in classes of Japanese people has me a little nervous. Still, I'm really looking forward to going back to Japan. I was there for a few months a couple of years ago, and I really loved it there. I've never been to Kansai, which is part of the reason I chose it, and also because I think that being in Kobe and beside Kyoto and Osaka, there should be a lot to keep me occupied during the year. Has anyone here spent time in Kobe? Will I regret not just choosing Tokyo?

If anybody's studied at Kobe University, any info about that would be greatly appreciated too.

As I mentioned, the year in Kobe will be the 3rd year of my degree, so I find it odd that I have to do proper Business Studies classes in Japanese. We had a lot of choices of universities, and apparently all the choices that aren't Kobe just make people do Japanese language classes, but at Kobe University you do Japanese language classes and Business Studies classes. I know this is undoubtedly a question I should ask someone in my University,and I will, but does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? My Japanese isn't awful, but it's nowhere near "taking University business studies lectures" standard. Am I doomed to fail? The nice thing about it is that there was no mention of this before we made our choices and it was all set in stone.

Anyway, aside from that. Any information about Kobe would be appreciated. Is it a nice place to live? Is it hard to get around? Nightlife? Quality of restaurants?Friendly people?(I'm aware I'm asking for a generalisation, but common consensus seems to be that Tokyo and Osaka people are usually quite different, would Kobe people in general be more like Osaka people?) I've heard there are a lot of gaijin there, is being a gaijin less of a novelty act than it is in other parts of Japan(I'm not sure which answer I'd prefer here, heh)?

[Hokuto-shinken]

[color="RoyalBlue"]Hello [color="Orange"]dmar57[/color],

I can`t really give you much information about being a student in Kobe, but I know Kobe is quite popular for students travelling from abroad. I think on a whole, people from Osaka and people from Tokyo have some different characteristic, but everybody has their own opinions, so we should not tar everyone with the same brush. The stereotypical Osaka-jin is very open minded and the Kyoto-jin is quite proud of their heritage and vast history (Some people from Tokyo would say people from Kyoto are quite snobbish).

After the horrible Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, which clamed over 6000 lives, I think it has brought some of the community closer together in Kobe. Every year there is a festival to remember the great loss of life. The festival is very moving and at night all the streets are lit up with thousands and thousands of lights and different patents.

I believe there are more foreign residents living in Kobe than Osaka due to the large business port. Also there is one island with seemingly thousands of foreign workers. You would think you are in America. I think it is called Rokko Island and has many international businesses on the man made island.

Locals fist think (when they see a westerner) ahh, look at that American. Also they presume you are sightseeing or now possibly an English teacher. I think if you said you were a student to anybody in the Kansai area, they would be quite surprised.

Anyway, sorry I don`t think I have give you any useful information. However, good luck with your degree. [color="Pink"]☆[/color]＿[color="Pink"]☆[/color][/color]

[Samurai_Jerk]

Kobe's a great city. I've never lived there but I've visited several times and it's one of Japan's nicer looking cities. It's also got great food, decent nightlife, and plenty to see. Plus you're so close to Osaka and Kyoto.

It's probably a good thing you'll be taking regular classes in Japanese. That'll force you to learn a lot more. It'll also give you more of a chance to make friends with regular J-college students and not just spend all your time with the other int'l students.

[dmar57]

[FG Lurker]

Well, the good thing about Port Island is that it isn't too far from Sannomiya -- "downtown Kobe". The bad is that there isn't a whole lot of interest on Port Island itself. I don't think you'll spend much time on the island anyway so don't worry about it.

I like Kobe a lot, I think you'll have a good time there. Lots of shops/bars/restaurants/places to go on dates etc. Getting to Osaka is also easy, about 400yen and 20 minutes from Sannomiya by JR express. You can continue on to Kyoto on the same train as well, for another 400yen or so I think.

I don't think you will regret your decision to go to Kobe at all. The Kansai area is a great place to live and I'm sure you'll have a great year.

[amdg]

[QwertyJPC]

I had to say,

do girls from Kobe usually look like Misaki Ayame? She's from Kobe and no one seems to look like her at all.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ayame_misaki/

from all of the other photos I've seen of her, she physically matches what I want in a J-Girl. But because I can't meet her or anything liker that, I don't know how she iis internally.

[Hokuto-shinken]

There are a lot nicer girls than Ayame Misaki.

[Greji]

There are a lot nicer girls than Ayame Misaki.

I don't mind second best!

[Hokuto-shinken]

[QwertyJPC]

There are a lot nicer girls than Ayame Misaki.

If you are talking about the paler, thinner variety that's exactly what I don't want... Ayame just seems more natural and cuter with her chunkiness any day compared to those vegetables. But if I find out she's a meat eater because of the Kobe Beef?
SADNESS.

[FG Lurker]

But if I find out she's a meat eater because of the Kobe Beef?

Are you looking for a vegetarian J-chick?

Thankfully that is one nutter fad that hasn't much caught on in Japan.

[QwertyJPC]

It's not fair, you know, she just happens to have those genes. that freaking genetic code and all that.

prolly won't meet her soo...

[succubusqueen]

I had to say,

do girls from Kobe usually look like Misaki Ayame? She's from Kobe and no one seems to look like her at all.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ayame_misaki/

from all of the other photos I've seen of her, she physically matches what I want in a J-Girl. But because I can't meet her or anything liker that, I don't know how she iis internally.

She has the same organs as any other girl!..and no there are all types of girls in Kobe and in all Japan. Ayame Misaki is a beautiful model.

[Greji]

She has the same organs as any other girl!..

So does Rosie O'Donnell. But some ladies have their equipment in a bit nicer location within much better foundations than some others.