Ill have a year off before starting university and want to spend a year studying Japanese in Japan. Kobe specifically, where my grandparents are from. They live in the US now, but I still have some relatives living in Kobe that it would be nice to get closer with. I've worked really hard this past year and saved up a good amount of money, but if I do end up studying in Japan, I'm estimating it'll set me back around $25,000 which is half of all the money I have saved up. I love Japan, but I feel that the work culture is something that strays me away from wanting to live there long term. I was wondering if there are any people in this sub that have had the experience of living/studying in Japan without any intention of living there long term, and if you would say it was worth the cost.
by Spcnccr
1 comment
Anecdotally, I’d say that most of the people I know who are happiest about their time in Japan were those who came for a year or two and then went home to continue their lives. It’s totally reasonable to study abroad for a year, and connecting with your family sounds like a great bonus. Lots of people do it, and I think most of them are glad they did.
Without knowing your own personal monetary valuation of that experience – especially weighed against other potential uses for that money – it’s not really possible to say if it’s “worth the cost” or not.