Apartment Hunting

Good news--we got an apartment! I'm so relieved we found something, I was starting to get a little stir crazy in the hotel room, and I think the maids don't like me. I feel bad, because I usually go meet Mike for lunch, but once I get back I'm usually so hot I like to relax and watch TV for awhile or play on the computer. This is inevitably when the maid decides to stop by, so I know I look like a lazy asshole every day. Also, they don't give us any dish soap, so I'm forced to leave the dirty cups and plates in the sink. I would seriously be more than happy, and much more comfortable, if I could wash them myself, but I don't have any way to do it. But no more! Hopefully we'll be able to move out by this weekend.

Getting an apartment here is insanely complicated, and I hate to be ethnocentric, but I really don't understand WHY it has to be so hard. First of all, rent goes up like every month, and everyone needs an apartment, so you have to kind of fight to get it. You can't just go to a complex and see what's available, you have to have an agent who scopes out places for you. Then you have to write a letter of intent to the landlord that includes a good faith offer, which is equal to the first month's rent. If the landlord accepts your offer, then you have to pay the first month's rent, deposit, a stamping fee (yeah, I don't know what the fuck that is), and then you have to pay your agent. Since I have an irrational fear of paperwork, this is all very trying for me. But success! The landlord accepted our offer for the first place we looked at, which was the one we liked, so now we have a home!

The place comes with quite a lot--it has built in cabinets in the bedrooms, two beds, a couch, a table and chairs, and some pots and pans. Thank god they have an IKEA here, or I think we'd be in a lot of trouble. Tack sa mycket, Sverige! I'm planning several large shopping trips to load up on cheap Scandinavian furniture. It's weird, we need all this stuff you don't even think about ever buying. Like hangers--I've never had to buy hangers before. It's just something I've always had, and I don't know where they came from. Or pillows; I've always taken pillows for granted. One has always been provided for me, I've never gone without a pillow in my life. I guess these are the things our parents supply, and then we steal them when we leave for college. Sorry mom, I didn't realize. I owe you one pillow. At least I'm not as bad as Peter, who took your microwave when he moved out.

Anyway, I'm very excited to get over there. Our camera isn't working right now, but we're going to get a new one sometime this week and I'll take some pictures when we move in. I'm guessing the place won't be cleaned before we move in, since the apartment attitude here is pretty much "you'll take whatever we give you and be grateful." I can't help but picture the landlord as Prince John from Robin Hood. The lion from the animated one, counting his stacks of gold coins. A-ha! A-ha! So I'll have to do a thorough cleaning, and then start the unpacking process. I'll get the guest room set up soon, and then everyone is more than welcome to come visit Hotel Wood. I'll leave a Mentos on your pillow and everything.