A serious entry I need everyone to read

[klena]

Alright.

I'm not sure where to start from with all this. I'll just pick a random point. Actually, fuck it. I know where I'm starting.

This year - as people may have gathered from some of my journal posts and emo-ridden MSN conversations - has been rough on me. My entire world's been expanded by university and it's wonderful but it's dark and there's a lot of new stuff I have to deal with now because of it. Which is just a part of life.

Just before I came home from Leeds I received another email from Dr. Rose's office - she's the head of the East Asian department and was in my Japanese oral exam along with Morimoto-sensei, telling me that they were worried about my marks in a particular area of the module and wanted to discuss with me. Now, the previous 3-4 meetings I've had with Dr. Rose have gone along the lines of "You're a lovely girl, you're obviously intelligent but we don't think you have the capability to do this course and maybe you should think about changing it. Because of the not-passing-first-semester and all."

So this meeting didn't fill me with an awful lot of confidence. I went to it after a very bad freak-out to discover Morimoto-sensei and Oeda-sensei were also there. I, however, managed to hold it together throughout the meeting which is something I hadn't done during the last ones as the following news was relayed.

I passed Semester Two - meaning I passed all of Basic Japanese Year One - meaning I passed first Year.
They still want me to leave.

So.

I've been thinking about this - the majority of people that I'm really close to are on the Japanese course with the exceptions of my flatmates. Ex-flatmates. And they're all going to be in Japan next year.

I've been lost. But after going through tons of choices I've made a choice. I could have gone to Japan on my own, organised it and stayed on the course. But I could have failed and then been even more fucked over. Plus I'm £1400 in debt already, my parents are beyond broke and there's no way I can pay my debt as well as raising between £6000-£8000 over this summer to fund the year.

I could go back in September to do Second Year English even though I averaged 2:1's this year with little effort put in. (I do realise that first year is easier and that marks are easy to get but it's like breathing to me - there's no real challenge to it, y'know?)

I could change courses.

I could go back in First Year in September however, if I continued doing English I'd have to do other modules and they're amazingly dull to me. So that sounded like pulling teeth out.

Which left me with this choice.

I'm taking another year out. I'm going to earn money and then - and this is the point where everyone reading this comes in - I want to travel.

I plan to go to Japan and see the guys - maybe spending my 21st birthday there.
I have family in Australia and New Zealand I could ask to take me in.

And then there's America. And Canada. And Europe. You guys.

I realise that this is so fucking cheeky of me. But I want to see you. I want to visit and sit with you all and talk and see where you live. And maybe live for a bit myself.

These are my questions to you, my darlings.

If I came to your country, your town - could you put me up for a while?

How easy would it be for me to get a temporary job in your area?

How much is the cost of living?

Would you want to see me?

Is this a stupid plan?

Do you have any advice for me?

Please help me out. This is something I want to do. I think it's what I need to do - I want to grow, I want to travel - I want to see things - I want to see you. Please - PLEASE EVERYONE READING THIS REPLY. Please

I can do this on my own and just travel from place to place. But I'd prefer a little support. Please let me know.

Comments

MY ICON IS CONFUSED BY YOUR ICON'S GRANDIOSE CLAIMS

[marlinkhylacat]

If'n you came here, it'd be easy to find temporary work...the only reason I had trouble finding a job was because I live in income-restricted apartment housing, and most jobs didn't pay enough to meet the minimum income requirements. All the jobs I would have loved to do wouldn't have paid enough, but there were so many of them!

And I have a two-bedroom apartment, though you'd probably prefer to sleep on the pull-out futon couch than on an airbed in the spare room. XD

If you live here alone, it's very expensive because rents and land are so high, but if you're crashing with someone, most things are in walking distance or a short drive, and there's tons of cheap or free things to do around here. Right now I'm trying to decide WHICH July 4th fireworks show I want to do. :3

If you still want to study Japanese, there's tons of online resources out there; you could just study on your own time!

THIS ICON IS AS HOT AS MY LAST ICON, ONLY IN A LESS FEMININE WAY. *SNERK*

[marlinkhylacat]

ALSO. WE HAVE BUSCH GARDENS EUROPE NEAR HERE, IN WILLIAMSBURG. Bwahahaha! Maybe I'll go see the fireworks show over there....

Y'know, traveling around and crashing with people isn't a bad idea, if you want to save up some money. You won't usually have to do things like divide rents and utility bills if you're a guest. XD

[waxrose.livejournal.com]

I think that's a good idea, boo. If things aren't working out now and you're unsure about which direction to take, it sounds like a good idea to take some time out and see the world while you're at it.

I'd love to put you up, but I don't know how possible it would be, family being the final word and they're not too accustomed to guests. Plus, you'd be sharing my bedroom and it's not all that cozy. :D There's a good amount of temporary work around here, even if it's not the most attractive of cities, and I would think you were nuts if you visited during the winter. But if you came, or even if you came somewhere nearby in Canada, I'd love to meet you. I'd do it in a second, because I'd love to meet you in person.

<33333

[whitehaiku.livejournal.com]

You could definitely stay with us here in boring ol' MN... short term in our apt, or we could find a cheap but nice hotel for longer term (our landlady's kind of a nazi about it). Or we could talk to her and see about... things. But anyway, it's a definite vote in.

If you want a temporary job here (I don't know if you can work here without a visa?) I'm sure Jeff wouldn't mind me training you in to sling some drinks. Hah.

Let me know. xox

[cirquoise.livejournal.com]

I don't know

a) if I could put you up, or
b) why you would want to visit scenic Bumblefuck, Maryland, but

I would love to meet you. Incidentally, how on earth do you know the Engine Room?? I went to high school with those kids!

[cirquoise.livejournal.com]

*googles it*

...Wait. Which Engine Room?

[kalidor.livejournal.com]

You'd definitely be welcome. Canada, Kiwi Land, and west island, would probably be relatively easy to find a temp job in. You should look at what you need in the way of Holiday work visa's tho. I think you can get a two year holiday visa that allows you to work for a total of one year for relatively cheap.

would it be kewl to see you? Hell ya.

Is the plan stupid. I dunno .. I dropped out 3rd year of JHU and switched schools so I don't think I am qualified at all to give out educational planning advice.

[sacchifox.livejournal.com]

Most of those questions I really have no idea about, seeing as I'm still a dependent, but I would TOTALLY want to see you! Florida's a great place to visit (in the winter, anyway) and it should be really easy to land a hotel if my parents get leery of letting a total stranger to them stay in their house. I don't know about price, though, or about the availability of jobs, but I could ask once I get home. Hah, I could see if my dad needs help in his office or something. Plus it's just a nice place to visit, even if I complain about it all the time.

And you should totally visit NYC. Maybe you could stay at Em's house or something, but NYC is just an awesome city and everyone should go there at least once to see what it's like.

Oh oh and if you come to Florida you should go see DISNEYWORLD!!

[trowicia.livejournal.com]

If I came to your country, your town - could you put me up for a while? Well, right now I'm living in a small house with my family, so I don't know if we'd have enough space. But who knows, by then I might have my own place. :P

How easy would it be for me to get a temporary job in your area? I have no idea, as I've never officially applied for one, eheh...

How much is the cost of living? Again, another thing I don't know. Yet. It varies, of course.

Would you want to see me? OF COURSE! ♥

Is this a stupid plan? No, I don't think so. Traveling's hella expensive, though, but one of these days, when I'm in a more comfortable money situation, I'd love to travel too.

Do you have any advice for me? Just stay positive about your goals and what you want to do. :)

[ryutsuki.livejournal.com]

Whoa. That's some rough stuff. I don't know you well enough, and I couldn't really offer room anyway, but I sincerely wish you find something that works for you.

Just have faith, you know?

[sideswipe9th.livejournal.com]

Hey Kat.

This is Ryan, we went to school together(seems quite a while ago now). Dunno if you still remember me ;)

I discovered your LJ a couple of months ago while looking around at random stuff on LJ and have taken a while to actually post anything. Now with regards to your course you should do what makes you feel happiest. I started in a chemistry course, and have totally fucked up this year. After much much thinking, and talking to my friends here I decided to change, and the thought of it made me happier. hybrid_xisha makes a good point, there are tonnes of online material so even if you can't continue Japanese at uni, you don't need to give it up altogether. Now in response to your other questions.

If I came to your country, your town - could you put me up for a while?
Well I go to Queen's in Belfast, but wouldn't have a problem putting you up for a few days. Our sofas are very comfortable, and if you did bring along some bedding until the end of the summer there is a spare bed in the flat.

How easy would it be for me to get a temporary job in your area?
Well it's NI. I'm currently looking for work. Yesterday I handed in around two dozen CVs, and have been doing a lot of the same for the past month and a bit.

How much is the cost of living?
Probably around the same as in Downpatrick, though some things are a bit cheaper here :) and some things aren't :(


Would you want to see me?
As I haven't seen or talked to you in...over a year now the answer would be yes. I'd love to catch up and hear what you've been doing :)

Is this a stupid plan?
I don't think so. From what I remember of you, the year out would definitely not be a bad thing and you would be able to earn extra money for use while you are studying again :) Also perhaps you might find something/do something that'll change your outlook and plans while you travel.

Do you have any advice for me?
Don't worry too much about it, think things through. Talk to your mum, dad, friends...hell even your brother. They all would have something helpful to say.

If ya want to talk to me, well you can get my email from my LJ user profile. Just ignore the LJ talk thing, never did get that to work. Or you could text/phone me. I've still got the same mobile number from when I first got my phone :)

Hope your well.

Ryan

[blindeadmcjones.livejournal.com]

Go for it. ♥
I'm pretty sure my parents wouldn't mind you staying with us in Sharnbrook for a while. I just hope you can put up with my dog. ^^;
In terms of jobs... it depends what you're looking for. There's plenty of jobs at places like the school and Thurleigh farm (I work there) but they might not pay enough to finance a trip round the world. I'm not too sure about that and the cost of living, as I'm still reliant on my parents.
What I can say for definite is I want to see you! If you have the oppurtunity, I'd love to meet you and talk to you and bore you to death in this backwater place. ^_^ Travelling is a great thing to do, and I hope you have an awesome time!
Advice? Um. Take a roll of string with you, in case you need to make an impromptu clothes line on your travels! I heard that somewhere. And keep your head up.