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Was accepted to a Japanese University

About $5,000 of that is a student loan, right? Aside from the Pell grant. That's not free, it is both interest bearing and something you have to pay back.

That brings it up to 13K for the three months. It also uses up your one chance at the Pell grant.

It sounds like you're desperately trying to fit the solution you want to the problem you have.
 
I have to agree with Wonko. I get the impression you're smitten with the idea of a trip to Japan and chuffed at having been accepted by Temple.

You're a grown-assed man, it's (mostly) your money, and it is completely your life and you are free to do whatever you like...but I'm going to offer some unsolicited thoughts anyway. You may ignore every word of it without hurting my feelings the least little bit.

Let's pop the second balloon first: the program is just a summer revenue generator for Temple and getting "accepted" to it is no big deal. They'll accept whoever can fork over the cash. Don't let it go to your head.

At your stage of Japanese learning, it really doesn't matter where you are; being in Japan is going to convey no great educational benefit. You could make just as much real progress using Genki, doing the workbook, and having your fiancée drill drill drill drill drill the crap out of you.

If you weren't contemplating a move to Japan, I would think this a good opportunity to experience the place before you graduate and start on your life in the US. But since you're coming here anyway for an extended stay (don't marry her if you're not cool with the possibility of spending the rest of your life here), then it is a wasteful extravagance and an irresponsible self-indulgence. It doesn't matter how much of the bill gets footed by somebody else; the part of the tab you're left holding is still too much. If I had a very nice cigar box full of pretty shells I picked up at the beach and sprinkled with glitter, would you pay $18,000 for it? What if I told you somebody else would pay most of it and your cost would only be $5,000? That's essentially what you're looking at doing here in terms of lasting value and bang for your buck.

They're not going to give you any progress that you can't get on your own or any useful Japan experience running start that would justify the expense. If you're contemplating an international move, a marriage, setting up housekeeping, and paying back whatever student loans you already have out, then you're going to need every nickel you can scrounge as it is without throwing a buttload of cash you neither have not can spare at a university for them to teach you a few words and phrases that you are well set up to learn on your own anyway and which even if you weren't you could more reasonably do after you move here.

Frankly, the time and money would be far better spent acquiring useful certifications in your proposed field (IT) or getting some sort of TEFL certification to boost your employability.

As I said earlier, you may ignore every word of that without hurting my feelings. The only thing I would ask is that if you do manage to get the cash together and you do attend the program I would like to hear back from you a year or two after you've moved here if in hindsight the program was a benefit to you or if you wish you had put the money toward something of more immediate need.
 
Thank you for this. You're right. Every word of it. I need to think this whole thing over. I have no problem spending the rest of my life in Japan, I love the place.
 
Thank you for this. You're right. Every word of it. I need to think this whole thing over. I have no problem spending the rest of my life in Japan, I love the place.

You're welcome. I appreciate more than you can imagine not getting the angry resentment I usually get when I tell people stuff that wasn't what they wanted to hear.

Consider things carefully. Analyze things rationally. Time spent preparing yourself well before before you make your move will have a far greater positive effect on the smoothness and success of your stay than you might imagine. You're going to be here a while and Japan isn't going anywhere; don't let your mind get you in a rush to be here. (The moral in the well-known joke about the old bull and the young bull applies here).
 
I really appreciate the advice on this. I am looking into Genki with my fiancé, and it just so happens they have a school in Fukuoka. I might be better off moving there and learning as you said. I'm going to consider all of this carefully before I call the trip off, but I see exactly what you are saying, and it really means a lot to me. Thank You.
 
You might also look into applying for a MEXT scholarship to work on a Master's degree.
 
It warms my heart to see one of these threads not end poorly.

Good job, Teimu, for acting like an adult in a world where so few young men do.
 
There's another point that hasn't been touched upon yet: your fiancé's parents will not only want to see proof that you can earn enough money, but also that you handle it responsibly...

"He spent how much to be able to say 'The blue pants are Takeshi's'?"
 
Yeah, Mike. Just saw that and corrected it while you were typing. Still trying to figure out the 18,000. The web site expenditure list clearly takes into account food and books, which is what Teimu said he still needed money for. Huh?
 
Temple Japan Summer | Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses
^This is the program I was going to attend.


Agreed. I talked this thing over with her mother and we both decided that it was too much money for what I would learn there. I have cancelled this trip and am looking into other alternatives right now. Again, I would like to thank you all for your help in making a better decision for my future.

The bad thing is I lost my $400 non-refundable deposit I made for the trip. I could use that $400 lol
 
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