I was watching the NBC nightly news podcast this afternoon when they mentioned the price of food going up. So I decided to take a look at prices online from one of the stores I used to shop at in Vegas, and compare to what I spend here in Tokyo. Though the current exchange rate is somewhere around 108 yen to the dollar, I’ll use 100 yen to a dollar for simplicity’s sake.
Item: Vegas Price, Tokyo Price
- Eggs: $4.49 (12), $1.89 (10) or $0.37/egg, $0.19/egg
- Milk: $3.19 (.5 gal), $1.60 (1 litre) or $6.38/gal, $6.06/gal
- Bread: $2.00 (20 slices), $0.99 (8 slices) or $0.10/slice, $0.12/slice
- Yellow Bell Peppers: $2.00 ea, $0.75 ea
And it continues on in this manner with meats and veggies etc. For instance, I buy packages of 2 large chicken breasts for around $3.15. I’m shocked. When I came to Japan, I felt like everything was so expensive. Have prices gone up that much in the States in the last 6 months? Or was my initial perception of prices in Japan just misguided?
It snowed in Tokyo today. After a while it turned to rain, creating a nice slush all over the ground perfect for playing the “try not to slip and die” game.
I’ve noticed that Americans aren’t the only ones who go retarded when using a cell phone. Walking through the train stations the last few days, I’ve been slowed down any number of times by people looking at their cell phones instead of keeping up the pace.
The local Jusco sells some really good tortilla chips (made in Belgium of all places) but is definitely lacking in the salsa department. The only place I’ve seen salsa (and peanut butter) is Nissin. Even they didn’t have much to choose from. I’ll have to check out National Azabu. Speaking of Jusco, while browsing their tiny pizza/cheese area of the store, I came upon a “pizza crust.” I shit you not, it was a tortilla.
I’ve been dying for some good pizza lately so I decided to cave in and picked up a small frozen pizza for dinner today. It wasn’t too bad. It didn’t exactly taste wonderful, but not any worse than the small frozen pizzas I’ve had in the US. Tomorrow, since I’m out of school early, I think I’ll do a little real cooking and fire up an omelet.
Luckily I’ve had very little homework so far. Had to finish a short essay I began in class the other day, and I’ve got a rough draft of an essay due tomorrow morning. That’s it really, but I expect it to pick up as the semester moves along.
Want to stay young and beautiful looking? Don’t forget your daily dose of pig placenta
∞
I have finally experienced the pure joy that is Uncrustables. I’d heard rumors of these little wonders in different corners of the internet, but I’d never come across them at the grocery store until a few days ago. Normally I don’t eat peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, but I didn’t see them sans jelly so I decided on the strawberry variety. They’re not cheap at about $3.00 for a box of four, but I believe larger quantities can be had at the big box stores for a more reasonable price. Now, I don’t know what kind of crack Smuckers put in these damn things, but I’m hooked. I’m sure I’d eat them a box at a time if I lacked what little self control I manage to maintain. Smuckers really nailed this one; the bread is soft and dry, the peanut butter tastes normal and of course the jelly is true to the Smuckers name.
