The current exchange rate is $1 = 78.12 yen. Not favorable for my American $$$ but advantageous because I am being paid in yen... if there is anything of my stipend left when I finish. I've already committed $2180 of it so I do not expect to come away with anything extra. My lab has been so kind as to set up a temporary bank account for me, so I do not have to store the stipend as a wad of yen under my mattress.
The cost of living is not as horrendous as people say. To rent my apartment (including utilities and "bedclothes"), I will pay 55000 yen/month ($704)... which is comparable to what I pay now and less than what I will pay next year in Atlanta.
They have sent a pdf with pictures of the apartment. I am happy to say I have both a couch and a bed... in one futon. I also have a small desk, which I believe is to also serve as my dining table. I appreciate the duel-function furniture in my 200ft^2 apartment. Amusing to no end: apartments do not come equipped standard with a microwave, the standard cooking convenience is a rice cooker. I'm sure I will come to appreciate that, as one who has never cooked rice before. I hope I can achieve that sticky but not mushy consistency. For a while, my failed attempts at cooking may result in trips to McDonald's or their beloved KFC. Yes, they have KFC everywhere in Japan!
The people with whom I have been organizing my travel and residence have been very helpful. They have provided me with several maps, and floor plans. I have no idea what the maps say, as they are in Japanese... I'm going to guess this will be a common experience along the way.
So exciting! You'll have to cook a rice dish when you get back and I'll make some roti sabjhi... :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a tasty idea :-)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait!