Show Me the Money!
Things are progressing quite well out here in the good old People’s Republic of China (PRC). We’ve been here a little over a week, and I already feel like it’s … well, not quite home yet. But it’s getting more comfortable!
I’ve been able to find almost everything that I need out here, usually at very cheap prices. One American dollar is equal to about 8rmb/yuan/qui (lots of names for their money). To give you an idea … a typical 2 mile cab rides costs 5-8rmb, a meal costs 3-10rmb, a bottle of coke costs about 2-3rmb, and an ice cream costs 1-1.5rmb. So it’s quite easy to live on less than $5/day here.
In reality, though, I’m starting to forget about American dollars altogether and think in terms of Chinese denominations. I’ll be living on 2000rmb/month, or about $250/month … and that should be plenty (not including splurges here and there and some travel). As long as I can live without peanut butter, cheese, pizza, and tap water!
Even this early in the year, it’s a little crazy to think back on American consumerism and the “plenty” that we gorge ourselves with back there. How disgusting!
August 14th, 2006 at 8:38 pm EST
Hi lance, I have seen you got a great travel in China. rmb is called kuai in China. and what you feel about a foregin just like what i felt when we first land in American. All things are expensible if I change to rmb. I think they are so mean to pay you 2000/m, but most common teacher also be paied like this except those in big city, such as beijng ,shanghai.
good luck, and keep on, i like reas you blog.
August 15th, 2006 at 12:03 am EST
Thank you, zhan! I’m glad that you enjoy reading my blog and hope you will continue to visit and leave comments about China and your experience in America.
They are not mean to pay me 2000/m … I am a volunteer teacher and I am doing this to serve other people. WorldTeach, the program that I am in, also pays for my international airline ticket, my health insurance, my 3 weeks of training (including hotel and food), my Visa costs, the 24-hour incountry support, and the support back at the home office in Harvard University. It’s actually a very good program and 2000/m is more than enough to live on!
August 15th, 2006 at 12:38 am EST
i’m just wondering if there’s any relation to paula…