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Starting in September I will be studying in Japan for the duration of an academic year. My mom is helping as much as she can but it's up to me to find scholarships and pay for the majority myself. The total amount of financial aid I received for the next year is only $1,300, while my expenses are $6,000 for the program and $2,000 for room and board. On top of that is the airplane ticket, which will have to be out of pocket and living expenses. (Most likely up to $3,000.) There is an automatic program scholarship of $1,500 which is deducted. Therefore out of the estimated $11,000 for the tip, roughly $2,800 has been deducted. This leaves me with about $8,000 remaining and an enourmous problem.

I applied for several scholarships, some which I won't know about until mid-summer or fall. I know for a fact I did not receive the Bridging Asia Scholarship which was worth $4,000 for the academic year. I'm not expecting any scholarships because statistically I know it is not likely. Loans are not an option because my family was in extreme poverty when I was younger and I made my mom and myself a promise to never be in debt again. Even though I know the rates are very low and I don't have to pay on them until I graduate, I'm not interested because I do not plan on making very much money with my career.

My family is kind and will help but they are not in a situation to give that generously. My mom makes a decent living but my sisters are entering college this year as well and they have many expenses to take care of, too. While I understand that my asking of you to help me is forward, rude, and puts you in a weird position, I would not be asking if I did not feel it was imperative. I'm a very independant person and I have had a job for three years, I have (with a little help from my mom) paid all of my tuition by myself and am debt free thus far. I would rather work very hard right now while I can, rather than work extremely hard later on when it is much more difficult for me to do so. It is hard for me to ask others for help, I'm not used to doing so and I really do apologize for being so rude. I know everyone is in a financial crunch right now, times are tough, but I would be so very grateful for anything, anything at all. A dollar, even. I'm very sorry to have to be asking you, most of you I don't even know, I feel rude and I'm very, very sorry.

Thank you very, very, very, very much

謝謝大家。

どうもありがとうございます皆様