Before I came to California, I read that it was expensive. I thought I was prepared. I was not prepared. Everything costs so much more than I expected and my money is disappearing so fast. 
Rent alone is more than my parents pay for our whole apartment in Seoul. And my apartment here is tiny! My roommate and I share a room smaller than my bedroom at home. The kitchen is so small two people cannot stand in it at the same time.
Food is also shockingly expensive. I used to buy lunch at school for maybe $5-6 in Korea. Here, a simple sandwich is $10. Coffee is $5. I'm spending so much just to exist.
I read a report that said "the cost of living is going up" for students everywhere, and that "managing a job, social life, and school at the same time is really difficult" . I need a job but I'm scared my English is not good enough to work. What if customers don't understand me? What if I make mistakes?
The report also mentioned that some students "couldn't even afford to buy a cap and gown for graduation" and had to rent them . That's so sad. I don't want to be in that position.
My Korean friend here works at a coffee shop and says they are flexible with student schedules and don't care about accent as long as you can make drinks. Maybe I should try that. But I'm still scared.
Also, textbooks! Why are textbooks so expensive? In Korea, we have affordable used book markets. Here, one book is $200? How do American students afford this?
I'm considering asking my parents for more money but I'm embarrassed. They already sacrificed so much to send me here. I don't want them to worry.
For other international students: how do you manage money here? Where can I save? What's a realistic budget? Are there jobs that are good for students with English as second language? I need practical advice before I go bankrupt.
Rent alone is more than my parents pay for our whole apartment in Seoul. And my apartment here is tiny! My roommate and I share a room smaller than my bedroom at home. The kitchen is so small two people cannot stand in it at the same time.
Food is also shockingly expensive. I used to buy lunch at school for maybe $5-6 in Korea. Here, a simple sandwich is $10. Coffee is $5. I'm spending so much just to exist.
I read a report that said "the cost of living is going up" for students everywhere, and that "managing a job, social life, and school at the same time is really difficult" . I need a job but I'm scared my English is not good enough to work. What if customers don't understand me? What if I make mistakes?
The report also mentioned that some students "couldn't even afford to buy a cap and gown for graduation" and had to rent them . That's so sad. I don't want to be in that position.
My Korean friend here works at a coffee shop and says they are flexible with student schedules and don't care about accent as long as you can make drinks. Maybe I should try that. But I'm still scared.
Also, textbooks! Why are textbooks so expensive? In Korea, we have affordable used book markets. Here, one book is $200? How do American students afford this?
I'm considering asking my parents for more money but I'm embarrassed. They already sacrificed so much to send me here. I don't want them to worry.
For other international students: how do you manage money here? Where can I save? What's a realistic budget? Are there jobs that are good for students with English as second language? I need practical advice before I go bankrupt.