Hi, I’m Stevie.

Ever since 2010, I’ve dreamed about living and working in Japan. Two years ago, when I was 47, I sold almost everything I had and went back to school to make it happen. This summer, at 49, I graduated cum laude from Illinois State University with a degree in English Studies and TESOL training.

It's hard to believe, but my hard work paid off. I got hired by an eikaiwa, an English language school in Japan. I’ll be moving there this winter to start teaching.

Here’s where it gets challenging: getting started in Japan is expensive. The eikaiwa recommends I show up with about 300,000 yen (around $2,000 USD) just to cover housing setup and living costs until my first paycheck. That’s on top of flights, medical stuff, and other prep.

I’ve been saving what I can each paycheck, but between student loans, credit card debt from my school years, and health costs, I’m stretched pretty thin. That’s why I’m reaching out.

What this will help cover:

Rent, food, and basics until my first paycheck

Apartment setup (bedding, cookware, utilities)

A week in Tokyo before moving into my apartment

Vaccines and medical expenses

Work clothes for teaching

If you can chip in, it’ll go straight toward making this move possible. If you can’t, no worries. Even just sharing this helps a lot.

I really appreciate any support, and I’m excited to finally make this dream real. Thanks for reading.

- Stevie