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Does it seem at all realistic to be able to go to Japan for a semester?
I'm 21 and I really want to go to Japan for a semester before I graduate. I've been learning about China and Japan through Youtube videos for around 4 years now off and on and know a little bit of Japanese, but honestly not enough to have a conversation. However, I'd like to think if I immerse myself in their culture that I could learn more. I'm a Junior now at a University and found out recently they have a program with a college in Japan where you can go there to learn for a semester and use the credits from the college there back at my home university.
I really would absolutely love to do this, but I'm worried it may not be realistic. While they do guarantee housing and tuition, it looks like they probably don't supply a meal plan or anything else so I'd have to figure out transportation, shopping, health insurance, etc and that all sounds very expensive.
Currently at home in the states I work and pay for rent, a car I'm leasing, groceries, and insurance which is around $1500 a month altogether. I obviously couldn't just ignore these costs while I'd be away and would have to figure out how to manage both...oh I also have a cat so he would have to stay with family or something, which is a lot to ask for around 4 months.
So basically I would have to pay for all of that in advance and then pay for my living costs minus rent in Japan...I'm just not sure that sounds doable.
My parents are not on board with the idea at all and think it's a waste of time. I'll be honest, I do kind of agree that it's a waste of time. I have no intention of living there after college unless I found somebody to move with me and a great job. However, I would love to go for the multicultural education aspect and just to experience life there.
On top of this, the Japanese school checks for previous arrests and criminal records. I do have one arrest just from being stupid with friends two years ago, but I was offered to do community service to have the evidence dismissed and case thrown out since it was my first offense ever and I was deeply sorry. The arrest still shows up, but it shows up as the evidence and case being dismissed for completing community service on my record. Now, I'm not a bad kid. I was honestly just with the wrong group of friends at the wrong time and will never ever do anything that could get me arrested again. I learned my lesson and cut them out of my life. However, I don't know if Japan would see it that way since it was only two years ago. Also, I would rather my parents never found out about the arrest (they don't know) and I'm afraid that they would somehow if I were to go through with the application process and they were contacted to approve anything else on the application (such as an emergency medical contact or birth country). I just don't want to have to explain the situation to them and get in an argument since I took care of it all on my own and moved on.
I still really want to go to Japan though if I can. I just don't see it as being feasible mostly because of the financial matters. I figure I could always wait and maybe teach english over there after I graduate, but I would just much rather go in college and be with other college students from the states and in a school environment instead of on my own in an apartment.
What do you guys think?
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Sometimes things just don't work out as we would like them to. There is an old saying; "If it was meant to be it would be." Meaning, if you were meant to go and study in Japan you would find a way to do so. From what you have written it does not look as this semester in Japan was meant to be; there are just to many obstacles in your way.
For the cultural aspect of touring Japan I suggest you look at different summer vacation trips you might be able to save for. Some of these trips may even be sponsored in part by the cultural office of the government of Japan.
If this is of any interest to you I would suggest you call the Cultural attaché office of the Japanese Embassy in any of the following places, Washington DC, San Francisco or New York. If your school offers a Japanese study course contact the head of that department as well to see if they have any tours going during the summer. Last id the Cultural Attaché does not have anything in the way of tours they sponsor ask them if they know of any travel agencies that do specialize in tours of Japan.
Trying to study and maintain a grade point average in a land whose language you are not fluent in will be much harder and probably will not allow you the time you want to tour the country. I believe your main desire to immerse yourself in the culture would be better achieved in touring on a vacation rather than a study program.
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