EF Stories: Kawachi from Japan at EF Manchester

Here is an interview with Mr.Kawachi, who studied abroad for 44 weeks in Manchester, England from April 2022! Mr.Kawachi was able to study abroad despite many ups and downs. We interviewed him about his thoughts.

1.  Why did you decide to study abroad?

First of all, I have always had an interest in foreign countries. The second reason is that I was not able to go to the university of my choice in Japan. I took studying abroad as a good opportunity then.

2.  What is the most memorable thing during your stay?

The most memorable thing was going sightseeing to Liverpool with my friends on my day off! Liverpool is a city in the north along with Manchester , and it's not too far away, so I recommend it.

3. About living abroad

Basically, you are free to go out. However, if you will be returning home late or if you do not need dinner, you must contact your host family in advance. I think each house has its own rules, so it's a good idea to check them when you arrive!

(About transportation)

Buses are often late! I sometimes feel that the way of thinking is different from Japan, where the basic idea is to take your time. If you spend your time in a Japanese way, you will sometimes have to leave early and have to wait, so be careful. It is convenient to purchase a bus pass, and you can also buy it at the school reception desk. (*Depending on the timing, it may not be possible to purchase.) Please check with the reception staff.

4. For those who are considering to go to Manchester.

Manchester is a bigger city than I expected, and I think you should definitely go, especially if you like soccer! City and United stadiums are easily accessible by bus or train. And if you like Liverpool, you can get there in about 1 hour and 30 minutes by train. You can even take a day trip to London on your days off, so I think the location is great! London is a bit expensive, so I think it's a good idea to choose Manchester!

5. Looking back.

I was very nervous on the first day, but I quickly made friends, went sightseeing, went to the city center, and had a great time every day. I was really worried before I went and talked to the people in charge at EF a lot, but now I'm really glad I didn't delay my departure.

Unlike other people, I didn't go to university, so I had a lot of fun, and I'm really wondering what university life is like. But now, I feel very glad that I was able to choose to study abroad . It was a great experience and I learned a lot every day.