American college student sick of being an American college student

Dec 22, 2006 03:10

Hey, everybody. I've been reading this community for quite some time, and I've thoroughly enjoyed every entry ( Read more... )

living in japan, moving to japan, non-teaching jobs

Leave a comment

Comments 16

dv8nation December 22 2006, 08:27:28 UTC
I've been to college in Japan and let me tell you, Japanese colleges are a joke. People only go to class if they feel like it and spend most of their time sitting around smoking and figuring out where they'll go drinking that night.

Go to college in the States and go to Japan when you have your degree. You'll be doing yourself a big favor in the long run.

Reply

homasse December 22 2006, 08:35:17 UTC
I agree with what dv8nation said. The fact of the matter is, realistically, you won't be able to get any kind of visa other than a student visa coming over here, and the schools here are pretty much a joke. If you really want to be able to come over here to live, as an American, you'll need a bachelor's degree--you need it for the visa (I have a three year working visa).

College malaise sucks, yes, but it's better to grin and bear it and get yourself set up properly than to just run off because you're chomping at the bit. If you're really in a hurry to come over and do something, save up some money and then come over for a summer in an intensive Japanese program, like the one at Yamasa Institute.

Reply


livelycynic December 22 2006, 08:36:18 UTC
Alright, I know that right now you are feeling out of place, but in order to meet your plans for the future it might be best to stick with it. Your host-mother Chieko was correct, having an American Degree will help you out, especially if you at least have a minor in Japanese ( ... )

Reply


she_rambles December 22 2006, 09:44:53 UTC
On what you've got now, you'd only get a working holiday visa. You can have that visa once, and once only, and it lasts a year at most. You don't stand a chance of settling in Japan without completing your bachelor, unless you can prove you have family links in Japan.

Once here on a decent visa, you could probably put that music degree of yours to use. I know at least three different gaijin bands that have scored recording contracts in Osaka and they're actually making decent money from various gigs on top of their English teaching jobs.

Reply

kevinsensei December 22 2006, 11:43:18 UTC
actually, Americans are not eligible for the working holiday visa.

Reply


roque December 22 2006, 09:52:37 UTC
I feel for you-- after I'd lived in Japan for a month, I couldn't wait to get back here. you could probably come over right now somehow and make a living someplace, but it might be a lousy living. you've got a better shot at a *good* living situation if you get that American degree. however, that's not to say that you can't come over and visit or even take a sort of sabbatical here. (do cultural visas still exist? what are the details on those? anyone know ( ... )

Reply


wendye December 22 2006, 10:05:59 UTC
Why don't you do a year or semester in Japan? You'd get credit with your American university and be in Japan. If you're going to take Japanese clasess, your school will definitely encourage it. Ask your study abroad office for help

Reply

snobabi04 December 23 2006, 17:21:59 UTC
Going along with that, Temple University (out of philadelphia) has a campus in Japan that you can be matriculated at n then you can live in Japan while you earn your degree at an american university.

Reply


Leave a comment

Up