I'll be.

[tortoisegirl]

Yesterday I was this close to withdrawing from the Japan program. The only reason I didn't is because the big WITHDRAW button isn't there anymore. They must have figured anyone who's this far won't want out at this point. I wasn't in my right mind a the time- it was, like, 6 in the morning and I hadn't slept and was just lying there going over all the thinks that are wrong right now and kinda freaked out and grabbed the laptop to withdraw and get it over with- so it's a good thing that button wasn't there.

There's a slim chance this may still work, but there's so much stuff in the way. My federal loan was canceled (at "lender's request" is all they said), so if I'm going to have to get a private student loan to pay for anything. I'll need the loan even if I stay in Philly, but it'll be less money.

(And on the note of money, the finance guide Temple has for this program recommended $3,000 for food per semester. $3,000? For 4 months for one person? I've never really kept track of my food bills, but that seems reeeeallly high. I will live off instant noodles and rice if I have it, but there's no way I'm spending that much on food.)

I still don't have a passport or a visa. This is all my fault though- I didn't keep track of due dates and didn't read the list of documents I need to get a visa until just before the deadline. I need my passport (which I don't have) to get the visa and my birth certificate (which I lost) to get the passport. So right now I'm waiting for a copy of my birth certificate to get here, but the entire process of getting the passport and visa may take too long. My dad's girlfriend does work with an international student exchange program so she knows how it all works and said it might be doable fairly quickly. There's a lot of maybes in all this business.

I'm going through Craigslist looking a job right now, and there are a few good possibilities. But I'm worried no one will hire me if they think I'm just a summer vacation temp who'll quit once school starts- and the thing is, I'm not even sure if that's the case. If I don't go to Japan I'll be able to work something out and stay on, but I'm still trying to make the Japan trip happen, so I don't know. I'm considering not telling potential employers about next semester's plans, just avoid the whole thing unless they ask directly. That's kinda rude though isn't it, getting a job then 2 months later be like LOL BYE, JAPAN NOW. Probably what I'm going to do though.

Comments

[celanduna.livejournal.com]

$3,000 for just one semester is a lot of money for a meal plan. i thought mine was bad at $4,600, and even though it only counted toward the main cafeteria, that was the annual cost. but maybe $3,000 will count towards a couple different venues where you can use your card to get food, as opposed to just the one in your compound or building. explore the options if you can, maybe you can find something cheaper.

[tortoisegirl.livejournal.com]

It's not actually a meal plan (as far as I know they don't offer one), just a recommendation on how much to have for food in general. I'm trying to figure out how large a loan I'll need, and I don't know how pricey food is in Japan, but that still seems really high.

[the-duckay.livejournal.com]

yea the meal plan is a waste if you ask me...you can only use the meal plan at the Cafeteria or at the SAC. I would never use up my meals when I had them. haha. Though if you're planning to go to either of those places and be on campus a lot for meals I suppose it would be beneficial, otherwise I'd probably say don't bother. I use Diamond Dollars cause they're taken at a lot more places so theres more options.

I think you can get like a rush on passports? I think I had to do that once...I'm sure it'll cost you though =/

I hope Japan works out! It would be a really awesome opportunity. Eh if you're able to get a job I would just take it and then explain to them that you wouldn't be able to work that semester. The worst that can happen is they won't let you come back, but at least then you'll have money from the summer.

[tortoisegirl.livejournal.com]

The $3000 is what they recommend for feeding yourself in Japan (forgot to mention that D:), and it's not a meal plan. I know really cheap instant noodles are common over there, so I'll live off those if I have it. Which I guess isn't much different than your average American college student diet.

And yeah, you can rush passports, but even then it can take up to 3 weeks. Since I'd have to leave in August that's cutting it a bit close. BUT MAYBE.

[the-duckay.livejournal.com]

ooh gotcha...didn't realize it was for Japan. But yea, $3000 does seem a bit on the pricey side still for food. lol. I totally live off instant noodles too!

[celanduna.livejournal.com]

ooooh, i think $3,000 would definitely be too much for food if you are just doing your own shopping in the first place. the thing that always bugged me about the food budgets that schools plan up is that they don't consider vegetarians. but i would guess that you can find vegetarian fare that's relatively cheap in japan anyway, since a lot of our staples are asian in origin to begin with.

[celanduna.livejournal.com]

mmmm... edamame. lol

[turtle-yurippe.livejournal.com]

Hello!
I saw your name at Pottersues and thought I'd say hello because, come on, tortoisegirl?! That's awesome!
And now I see you'll also be going to Japan! Wow! May I ask which university you're planning to attend? I'll be in Waseda for a year, starting next Monday.

Anyway, nice to meet you! :)
Julia

[tortoisegirl.livejournal.com]

Hi! Yay, I like getting random visitors here. :)
Actually I won't be able to go to Japan. :( I got accepted at Temple University Japan for the Fall 2009 semester, but I couldn't get the financial aid to pay for it so I had to withdraw. I was so disappointed, I really wanted to go. I'm looking into applying again next year, but I'm not sure if I can fit it in with my credits/graduation requirements.

That's great that you're going to school there, and for a whole year! I saw your countdown on your journal, and trust me I'd be doing the exact same thing if I were still going, counting down every minute. Do you speak Japanese fluently? I didn't consider Waseda when looking at schools because I don't speak Japanese well enough for it, and TUJ is an English-speaking school. Good luck with the trip over there and I hope you have a lot of fun at school!

[turtle-yurippe.livejournal.com]

Oh no, that's too bad!
Actually, Waseda gives me a lot of money, because when their students come to my university here, they also get their housing paid. So I'm lucky.

My Japanese is not yet fluent (especially the reading part ^^;;;), so I am taking language classes the whole year. There is also a programme that allows you to take English classes and Japanese lessons 50/50, so maybe you want to consider Waseda for next year if you can? :)

I wish you all the best of luck, I think you really deserve that chance as well!