Random Stories

So I don’t have internet yet (the guy comes this afternoon) so I am writing this in word to post later. It feels like I am Creed from the office. The episode where Ryan helps him to set up a blog but does think idea are fit for the internet. Anyway…

I figure I would type up a few stories that happened while I have been settling in.

Story 1: Getting an Apartment. The group of new teacher got taken out by various members of the Chinese staff to look at apartments (so they could negotiate the contract for us). Personally I looked at 9 different apartments that ranged from gross and in disrepair to amazing but outside my price range. After looking at the only single bedroom place the realtor could find, Alessio and I decided to room together. There is one that we really like and thought was a great deal since it was only 3200 RMB a month and our stipend is 3000 RMB each. We told Phillip that we would like to rent it and he set up an signing appointment. Then we got to the meeting and the landlady had thought that she was renting to the female teacher who had seen the place with us and did not rent it to us because we would be too messy. The situation was made even more awkward when she offered it to the couple who had come along to the meeting with us because they were going to see another apartment after. After much arguing I did not understand, Phillip got us the apartment.

Story 2: Moving in. I had been living at the school for a few days when, to save money, the school put another new arrival in the same room as me. He snored really loud. Therefore when we got t apartment I wanted to move out right away so I could get a good night sleep. I packed up all my stuff back into my bags (One giant rolling duffle bag that is exactly the maximum size allowed by the airline, one rolling suitcase, a medium size duffle bag and a backpack) and went to try to get a cab with Alessio who had about the same amount of luggage. None of the cab drivers would have us because they thought we wanted to go to the airport in the middle of rush traffic. Finally we convinced one that we only wanted to go down the street using a great deal of hand waving and pointing but just when we thought we had him ready he drove off. Frustrated we started walking the three quarter miles to our apartment (looking like fools dragging all our stuff.) We go about a block when the cab driver we thought had left us showed up again with a second cab right behind him. It turns out that he had gone to get another cab so that all our stuff would fit. This brings me to an observation: if this had been America, they would have been complaining about how we didn’t speak English but instead the people here try there best to help us.

Story 3: Cleaning Lady. The apartment we moved into had not been lived in for 3 years so it was disgustingly dirty. I was thinking that we would just clean it but Alessio wanted to hire a cleaning lady. We asked Phillip about it and found out she would only charge 15 RMB and hour (about $2) so we have hired a cleaning lady to come once a week and clean. We did not have any cleaning supplies so through Phillip we told her to buy whatever supplies she need and we would pay her back. She showed up yesterday with 1 bottle of soap and 3 rags costing 4.5 RMB. It took her 5 hours to clean because it was so disgusting but the placing is amazingly spotless. I think she did not want to spend out money though so I am going to get her a broom and mop for next week.

Story 4: Toilet. The first morning we were here, Alessio came out of the bathroom with the report that the toilet had backed up. I went in and said we should go and get a plunger. Alessio says that he does not think a plunger will cut it and that it needs to me snaked. He has experience working construction and doing pluming and all that so I figure he knows what he is talking about. The next day we have Phillip call the landlord who calls us a plumber who comes with a plunger and fixes the toilet. I bought us a plunger.

I think that is all the stories for now.