Stephen Fry is currently appearing in a doc on BBC2 (2nd and 9th October) in the UK about the nation's (and, indeed, planet's) terrible attitude to HIV, if you have downloading capabilities where you are. Troubling and compelling viewing.
Good to hear on Yokohama. If you get stung with a reikin when you relocate, at least you can pretend it's xmas and you're being festive. Although I'm sure you're smart enough to avoid one.
A reikin is a "gratitude payment", known in the rest of the world as "key money", it's a non-refundable mandatory payment to your landlord to thank them for being kind enough to rent you their place and accept monetary rent and a security deposit from you.
We don't have such a thing in the UK because it's illegal, but it's a long-practised tradition in Japan amongst other places, though I hear they are trying to stamp it out.
Ah yes, I now. Fortunately, my company sorts out the accomodation and tends towards using Leopalace, and I don't think they have the key money system. Key money is crippling - about two months rent according to some people. Woebetide I ever need to get my own place!
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Good to hear on Yokohama. If you get stung with a reikin when you relocate, at least you can pretend it's xmas and you're being festive. Although I'm sure you're smart enough to avoid one.
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Downloading capabilities here are woeful as we're stuck behind a very good firewall (we all use the apartment provider"s ISP), but I'll check it out.
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We don't have such a thing in the UK because it's illegal, but it's a long-practised tradition in Japan amongst other places, though I hear they are trying to stamp it out.
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