| 11-12-2009, 06:36 PM | #24 | ||
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| 11-12-2009, 11:01 PM | #26 | |
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I mean, I learned from my 'mistakes' lol My first program was for one month, and cost me 4200 for everything (airfare, trains, food, dorm, school, etc) My second program started right after the 1st one (i did this so I wouldn't need to fly to Japan twice [i.e. save $$ on a ticket]) But this turned out to be the most expensive... I went to ICU (International Christian University) http://www.icu.ac.jp/index_e.html BEST, and I want to emphasize, BESTTT classes for learning Japanese.. 3.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. The classes were worth every penny (at the time, about $1800 for 6 weeks, but it's more like 2400 now due to the exchange rate..) The class fee didn't include anything else... Dorm fee was 700, but I got an apartment with my (At the time) girlfriend, which was 800 a month, so 400 each... but 2 months meaning 800. Then travel expenses and train... You'll avg about $30 a day in Japan from train to food; less if you starve; more if you do whatever you want. I ended up spending about $10,000 those 3 months... but then again, I traveled to 15+ cities, ate a lot, bought a lot of stuff.... mandatory expenses were about 8500, rest was on my own. My 3rd program was by far the cheapest. I went through my school (CSUN) I paid CSUN tuition, which was about 1800, for 4 months of schooling, including airfare AND dorm. AMAZING and to top it off, they gave us a job that paid $25 an hour for 10 hours a week. I worked by ass off to make money to help balance my original 3 months. Main point: If you go through your own college, costs should be pretty minimal. If you go through a private program, be prepared to pay up the ass... However, I still 100% recommened ICU you're in the Tokyo, around an amazing staff (even after 2.5 years, I'm stil in contact with my teachers there), and their program is top notch. I can confidently say I learned more in those 6 weeks than I did in the other 7 months I was spending in Japan... or the other 2 semesters of classes I took while in the States Anything more you want to know, shoot me a PM I'd say PM me, but my box is almost full.... I really can't wait to go back in dec 
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| 11-13-2009, 03:13 PM | #28 | |
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On another note, I found an awesome clothing line up from ASM's blog:       This is definitely a fine example of Japanese styling, taste, and ingenuity at its best. -Hunter |
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| 11-13-2009, 05:16 PM | #29 |
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I love Japanese fashion for women (nothing would actually fit me, ever, lol)
And how they spend time getting ready etc... always wearing heels :P And regarding a phone: If you're going to be there for more than 3-4 months, I'd recommened getting a contract phone versus a prepaid Prepaid has much less costs upfront, but it's about (at today's rate) 90 yen a minute per call on a softbank prepaid.. where if you get the double white plan, it's 2k a month, then 3 yen per email (up to 160 characters) and 20 yen per minute. yes, in Japan, you have to pay monthly just to have the right to user their service... the 2000 yen double white plan includes no 'minutes' or email or anything... that's allllll extra a cell phone bill in japan comes out to roughly a minimum of 10,000 yen... 4-5k unlimited email/internet, 2k plan, your monthly fee for your phone (ranges from 200-2000 depending on how fast you want to pay it and if you bought a cheap 30,000 yen phone or an expensive 100,000 yen phone...), and then money to pay for the minutes you spoke of course plans change, and I only know of the plans that were there when I was there and now (since I'm going back in dec, I ended up looking at everything softbank had to offer). Also: if you do not have a special (work/student) visa, you wont be able to get a phone you can rent one for 300 yen a day, a sim card for 100 yen a day, and then pay 120yen a minute, 15yen per email though (which, of course, would only make sense if you were on vacation staying a week or something..not a long term study program) i personally recommend Softbank because they are the cheapest... DoComo has nicer phones, but it also costs more and AU i dont know much about... this isn't very accurate, but to me; softbank is like AT&T and DoCoMo is like Verizon. verizon costs more than AT&T, but they have better service, faster 3G [depending on where you live of course, but I'm talking nationwide0, and better phones in general (minus the iPhone of course)
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| 11-13-2009, 05:57 PM | #31 | |
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