We have had good fortune in living in a great apartment for the area we live in. We feel really blessed to have ended up in a nice place after an email exchange, a couple of photos and then crossing our fingers and signing a lease before we ever arrived in the country. It has (mostly) everything we need- even a drying line in the backyard, between two trees, to help make up for the single unit washer/kinda pathetic dryer we have. How many apartments in the States come with that amazing amenity, right?! (For some context, we are located on the bottom floor).
With that said- this place is not without its, shall we say, quirks.
Quirk #1:
I know for a fact we have neighbors to the right of us. Even though I have never actually seen them, I know this for two reasons.
A) The dad sings Karaoke EVERY day like his life depends on it. Also, in order to optimize his air intake, or something, he opens every window and door to their apartment while doing said action. He's also not biased in his song choices either. He can sing them in some asian language as well as English. It also appears that his favorites include the best of the 1980's. (Think Patrick Swayze, Olivia Newton John, Michael Jackson, & Madonna). And everyone thinks the parties are at the dorms- they don't know what they are missing out on.
B) The second reason I know we have neighbors there is because their little girl almost ran me over with her bike.
Quirk #2:
I have become protective of my drying line. That's right- laugh all you like. But it's happened.
Technically we are not supposed to have it. But everyone has one, so like most rules around here, the rule is not enforced. I clean the drying line, I make sure it's up tight, etc.
So when new neighbors moved in on the other side, they started using it to put up their laundry. Really, I'm fine sharing it. Especially since there really isn't room for them to put another one up.
There has really only been a couple of times where we have needed to put up laundry at the same time. Here's where my beef really is. When you pull your laundry down- take the clothes line pins with you. Otherwise, I have to pull their pins down, then re-pin them to the edge of the line, which is hopefully space I don't need. I've already asked one of the girls and she was great about it. But I'm pretty sure I will have to ask the others as we go along. Cross your fingers for me. It's NBD, but I feel like I'm not exactly making friends with the new kids on the block either.
Quirk #3:
It's more of an international community here. Overall, I give it an A+. Here are some different things that stand out about it though....
A) We play "What's that smell"-If you leave your door or window open about dinner time, for better or worse, you will always get a whiff of different foods being cooked. (You also get the smoke unfortunately).
B) I assume a lot. It's a habit unfortunately. For instance, two buildings away is the grocery store. There is a man named Asheem that works there and also lives in our apartments. We have become "hello, how's it going" friends with him. He looks middle eastern to me- so I thought he was from the Middle East (I knew he had moved to Ireland from somewhere else). The other day, we see him outside the store, he smiles, waves and tells us how happy he is Osama Bin Landen is dead. After he leaves, I was telling Steven how I was wondering what Asheem's reaction would be. Steven looked at me and was like, "you know he's French right?"
C) You can't always communicate with people- because their English may not be so good. There's a nice family at the end who are always out in the back. I'm pretty sure their Polish. Their son speaks English well enough, but I don't think the Dad, Mom, Grandpa, or uncle understand a word I say. We live by the "smile and wave" way of communication. Steven and I have tried to stop and have a short conversation, but it doesn't really make any sense to them it seems like. So it's smile, wave, and a short hello to which they always respond with a head nod and a smile.
Quirk #4:
Last one for now... Do you ever get that feeling that someone is looking in your window? Well, that actually happens to us.
We live on the bottom floor, which is convenient. However, it's the 4th door from the end so a lot of people pass it to go to the gate (the back door is so much easier than the front door). When people walk past the doors, they feel the need to look in to everyones apartments. I feel like we're in a "Eye Spy" book.
Also, the little girl who used to live next door (she wasn't more than 4 years old) sometimes confused our door with her door when she was done playing. So if it wasn't locked, she sometimes came in.
I'm know we're not the only ones with good stories. We would love to hear yours! We hope that you are all doing well.
