This probably isn’t good enough for General Questions…
Begin Discussion of details leading to this question
I’m in a CO-OP program at university, studying mechanical engineering. The results of the interviews I did last week come out today at noon; that is, how each employer ranked me. I rank the employers by tomorrow at noon, and then based on that I’m assigned a job.
I’ve got a whole bunch of marginally-to-moderately-interesting jobs that pay not all that great, one that pays pretty well and would be a real challenge and source of learning (but is in a field I’m not too eager to support) (the Hercules job), and one that pays not at all, but looks fairly interesting, and is overseas (the LMS job).
This last job is for a company that develops software in Leuven, Belgium. The deal is, they buy my airline ticket to get there, and give me a room to live in, and 250 Euros a month to live on. Ordinarily, I’d make some money on a CO-OP work term, and use it to pay tuition and expenses on the following school semester. This time, obviously, I can’t do that. But I’ve done the math and using what I’ve got in the bank now, I should be able to cover those expenses (and have a bit of a reserve) if the LMS job is revenue-neutral. (Actually, I calculated a $2000 deficit, but I figure I can up for that by working in Canada during the seven weeks I’ve got free between this job and the next school term, tax refunds, cost-reduction in some of my budgets, and a few other minor cash streams.)
/End Discussion of details.
With all of that said, I hve one big assumption there: That the term in Leuven is revenue-neutral.
So, can I live in Leuven, Belgium, from Sept 1 - Nov 12 2004 on 250 Euros a month, assuming my rent and transportation to and from are paid?
Do any EuroDopers know how much food costs over there? What other expenses would I need to anticipate? Apparently I can walk to work, or take a bus (and I think student bus passes are free).
Help would be greatly appreciated… I think it’s a fantastic opportunity, and they told me right in the interview the position was mine if I want it (It was mine last time, too, but I turned it down to work for GE here in Canada). Can I live on EUR 250/month?