i can't compare because i take it if you live in japan, then you went to a japanese high school which is MUCH different than any school in the west. here college, unless is a really expensive one or one that sint a community college, is usually more about meeting people and having parties and school comes second. from what i understand from my japanese teacher, they are much stricter in school there. he said some schools go from sun up till sun down and even on saturdays. i imagine that college, and since you mentioned its a tech. college, is going to more study oriented. another thing he said about japan is that people don't talk usually strike up conversations with random people just for the sake of talking, but here EVERYONE wants to tell you their life story and i hate sitting in waiting room because people always want to talk to me!! anyway no matter the case it will be what you make it, its you want it to be more social, its completly up to you. im sure that's the same around the whole world.
most of thime i like to be left alone... i have problems talking to people i don't know and i avoid it, so i don't know a whole lot of people. i live in the south east USA so you know where im comparing japan too.