This worries me, too.  Whatever people say about plastic, at least at the end of the month you have a statement.  With cash, I can never tell where my money goes! Then again, you have a smart excel system, so you're all set.

I also wonder how it is possible to follow the advice to foreigners, not to carry too much cash around. Maybe there is a secret trick we don't know about?

On a side note, how are the language classes going? Also, when exactly is the orientation?