Crunch Time! Number-wise. Also, solving a KNOTTY problem <--Get it?!

I did a bit of number crunching. My tentative expenditures for the first month (not including food) follows:

• LeoPalace Apartment: 
• Two Months Rent Upfront: 101530¥ (US$ 1234)
• Insurance: 20000¥ (US$ 243)
• Lock Change 3150¥ (US$ 38)
• Data Entry Fee (Whatever that is, I imagine they simply add my address to a Rolodex in town hall): 2100¥ (US$ 25)
• Utilities (Electric, Water, Gas): 10000¥ (US$ 121)
• Furniture and accompanying Accoutrement: 16451¥ (US$ 200)
• Total: 153085¥ (US$ 1861)

• Phone
•  iPhone 4 32g: 51330¥ (US$ 624)
• Value Plan (Unlimited Data with free* Voice Calling): 6185¥ (US$ 75)
•  Total: 57499¥ (US$ 699)

• Car 
• Car Lease (?) with Insurance: 24677¥ (US$ 300)
• Novelty Dice (jk)
• Total: 24677¥ (US$ 300) 

•  Grand Total: 235263¥ ($US 2860)

In short, best to work and save some money before heading over to Japan land. These expenditures do not even count purchases leading up to Japan like clothes, plane tickets, etc. I suppose everyone already knew that moving is expensive; but for the rest of us still late in the adulthood game, this serves as a reminder. Also, I remember my initial estimates for graduate school and dorm life at Ritsumeikan APU totaled (with granted 50% tuition scholarship) 2478000¥ (US$ 30124) for one year. Upon retrospect, spending a little money now to work and make money feels like the better decision. 

Anyway, the following is one of the more effective videos on Tying a Tie, specifically, a Windsor Knot. For those of us who still find ourselves confounded and wounded against a lank piece of cloth, Godspeed.  

 

So, I have two weeks left. I really feel restless. Oh, while in Japan I intend to start up a video blog on Youtube not unlike the many expat blogs already established. The late Rodger Swan, TkyoSam, and Meaphe inspired me to record my own impressions and maybe, just maybe, intelligently contribute to the thriving expat community. Or hell, maybe just entertain. For now, http://www.youtube.com/user/MightyDandyLion just houses some Japanese language video projects from yesteryear.

  

Packing Preparation and Phone Plans

Leaving in a little more than a couple weeks frequently makes me mull over my packing. Ideally, I'll bring only one checked-in luggage and bring my messenger bag; but the list looks overwhelming. I tentatively plan to pack the following:

Clothes

•  T-Shirts
• Oxford Shirts (x3 blue; x2 white)
• Pants (x1 brushed khakis; x2 corduroys; x2 jeans)
• Suit (x1 blue; x1 gray)
• Ties (x3 gold; x1 blue)
• Sweaters (x1 heather charcoal gray; x1 plum)
• Jacket (x1 blue; x1 gray)
• Socks
• Belt
• Watch
• Pom Pom Hat
• Jogging Shirt (x1 blue; x1 gray)
• Jogging Pants (x1 black; x1 gray)
• Gloves
• Pajamas
• Boxers 
• Swim Trunks

Shoes

• Bostonian Dress Shoes (x1 pair)
• Sperry Top-Sider Tremont Kiltie Tassel (x2 pair)
• Keen Austin (x1 pair)
• Asics jogging shoe (x1)

Hygiene

• Gillette Deodorant (x6)
• Electric Toothbrush (x1)
• Sensodyne Toothpaste (x pack)
• Listerine (x pack)
• Pepto Bismal(x lol idk)
• Nail Clipper (x1)
• Floss Wands (x pack)

Omiyage

• Poker Chips

Sundry

• Bible
• Batteries
• Caribiner (x2)
• Casino Playing Cards
• Collapsible Pull Up Bar 
• American Flag
• USA Map
• State Map
• Family Photos 
• Photos Around Town
• Batman Plushie
• Eye glasses x2

Japanese Reference

• A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
• The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary
• Oxford Beginner's Japanese Dictionary
• Remembering the Kanji: A Complete Course on How to Not Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters

Anyway, I have been researching iPhone 4 offerings and plans in Japan. I plan on getting an iPhone 4 largely for its camera, GPS, and video conferencing with friends and family. SoftBank solely sells iPhones in Japan. iPhone 4 go for $500 and $624 (16g and 32g respectively). The price more than doubles US offerings of $199 and $299. SoftBank offers a monthly bill discount of 1920¥ ($23) in the 32g unlimited 24month data plan (the value plan) to "defray" the initial phone costs. According to the previously linked article, the money saved over 24 months with the discounted data plan amounts to 46080¥ ($559): the article argues that in a sense, a person effectively pays $125 for the iPhone4 32g. Still, this is a suspect suggestion because over the course of 24 months, a person still must pay the $30 data/calling plan. So, $30x24months=$720 after 24 months. Then, $720+$624 (iPhone 32g)=$1344. Very pricey. Still, compared to the US offering of $299 32g for $114 (AT&T 4g data plan and unlimited calling): $114x24months=$2736. $2736+$229 (iPhone 32g)= $2965. Much pricier.

As an aside, avoid T1/Mcall providers. An ALT friend relayed how many other ALTS found themselves wanting out and hit with a weighty cancellation fee. 

The packing list and the number crunching makes me appreciate just how difficult and expensive immigration is. Much respect and admiration to my parents and the many unsung immigrants past and present.