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Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Am I being too picky?

This is quite a weird story and I really don’t know what to think of it. Let’s start with the beginning. I just moved flat two days ago. I now live with a maybe 35 years old Spanish woman in this flat I was talking about some days ago. When I moved in, one of the first things I did was testing internet. But it did not work with the password she gave me. Never mind, I left for a weekend and thought that this would work out. Hoping to get internet as soon as possible as I am, you could actually say, addicted or rather dependent on internet. I need it for working for university and AIESEC, to communicate with my friends and family, to get information and to have some divertissement. Anyways, when I came home tonight, quite tired (as my classes lasted until 9.30 PM) and a little sick my flatmate asked me again if it worked now the internet. I tried it once (rather 100 times) again and it still did not work as my computer told me the password is invalid. She then called the company and was talking with them for 20 minutes. I did not understand everything they were talking about, but basically the outcome was that this very password worked for the person that was here before and if it did not for me then this is kind of my problem. They told me that this company usually has problems with Mac and that this is just the way it is. Which is a very good explanation for someone that spells wireless wrong when writing down things, which they told her on the phone. Anyways. I called Juan from the Spanish MC who really knows about computers. He offered me that I should send him the data of the router and that that he would try to find out some stuff. So far so good. Now came the point that irritated me. I told her and asked to note me down the data of the router. But she refused for security reasons and told me things like the password are only for her and me and for no one else. Wow, how nice is that, shows that she really trusts me. But I could not say much, was just speechless and being a little sick did not help me finding the good answer for this. I then took the paper with me that had my notes I made during the phone call, which had also her notes including her IP number or something like that. When I was than in my bed reading a bit, she came to ask me for the sheet so I thought that she wanted to copy something or anything like that. But no, she actually RIPPED OFF the part where she wrote things on and gave me back the part with my notes. Now I really don’t know what to think about this. I really think that she is very rude and I am really pissed of this. It’s not about the internet anymore but I can really not accept this kind of treatment. Or am I now unfair? Am I just being very picky on small things or am I kind of right? What should I do? What would you do in my place?

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Choices

The last few days I spent looking for a flat. I was imagining something like the flat in Auberge Espagnole, few people from different countries, always something going on etc. I mean something really cool. Unfortunately most of the students here looking for a flat must have seen this film as well. So whenever I went to visit one of these cool places, I was maybe number 25. That came to visit this same flat on this day. The weird thing is, that the people renting the flats do not even take note or ask you anything special. They just show you the rooms, tell you what the price is and then that they will call me tomorrow if I was selected. Now I really don't get how they will select the best person if they do not have any measurable etc. (Which can only be the appearance of the person, as they don't ask anything). Anyways, they are probably waiting for the person that gives them this "feeling".
Obviously I was not really motivated anymore going to this kind of flat. I mean I can spend my time better than travelling for 45 minutes to a place that I visit for 5 minutes and where I am told that they'll call me.

Yesterday evening I went to this flat just 2 Minutes away from the MC flat and in a quite good area, I mean one of those where you can still walk back after going out and where the next Metro is just some minutes away. Anyways, I went there and was received by a woman of maybe 35 years in a very small but neat place. The room is ok, small but has everything you need. Same for the flat. There is Internet (maybe the most important thing of all) a kitchen, small salon and a bathroom.

Now came the difficult part of it. Do I take it? I mean this was one of the flats that you can actually get. But then all these thoughts of this really cool place with loads of fun people to hang around. Should I keep searching for a flat? Will I maybe find the thing I am looking for? Or should I just take this one and be glad that I don't have to search anymore....
This morning I went there and paid the caution. Even though I just fund out that I have to wait another week until I can move in. This means I have to ask the MC people if it is ok if I stay here in their place for another week. Anyways, I paid it. The money is gone, and I could still change if I found something incredible (just have to tell her like 10 days before or so) and anyways, as I know me I will be either in my room doing stuff on the computer or anywhere in the city. But, the doubts remain... Should I ... Could I... Would it be better if...?

When it comes to choices I am usually quite bad. Actually I make my decisions very quickly but then I am one of the people that want to "keep the door open" for any other opportunity that might appear. Who know MBTI knows that this is typically "P".
But now I closed the door as I paid the money. Or.... (As I was walking back from paying I was already thinking about the excuse I could use to get my money back in case I would find something else, better, cooler whatever) Really, I will probably never change.

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Friday, September 21, 2007

first days in spain and the hassle to find a nice room

i finally arrived in Madrid, where I was recieved very nicely by the spanish MC people. So now I can stay in their place for the first few days, be in their office and try to speak spanish with them. This is really nice, as I need Internet all the times to organize all these very anoying things such as a flat, spanish classes, my university classes and so on. This actually means that I did not have that much time so far to have a look around the city and enjoy the nice weather.
Anyways, tonight we are going out with some of the interns and other AIESEC people. But before I still need to go and have a look at the next flat. Actually I never thought that it's so anoying to look for a flat. So let me tell you some things about my experiences with flats.
1. They are all very expensive.
2. Even if you check online and contact the ad that just went online 10 minutes ago, you can be sure that there were already 30 other persons that had a look at this offer before you.
3. If you call them or send a mail you can be sure that they don't pick up the phone.
4. Even if you visit a room for 450 Euros, it might be very small, not having windows etc.
So the thing we learn from this is. Quantity is more important than quality in that case as you can not check quality anyways.
So I keep on checking all these nice websites as segundamano, loquo, idealista and all the others.
So I need to leave. don't want to be late for the next visit in a flat. And I will keep you updated on what is happening here.

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