I got up as usual, 830ish to check the new apartment postings (pap.fr, leboncoin.fr, Craigslist, Appartager, Sciences Po, real state agencies...) and made my daily addition to The List, the sacred paper I carry around that has all the listings and phone numbers.
I had an appointment to see this place on the 14th, Denfert Rochereau at 10am. Did that, and though the area was cool, the building was a dump. The room, or dungeon I should say was in the basement, dark with a tiny window in the corner, and pipes all over the walls that looked like they hadn't been cleaned since the place was built. I politely said merci beaucoup but I'll find closer to my school, because it's the only excuse I can say in French and moved along.
There was another place announced that had an open visit at 11am, so I headed directly there. In the heart of Saint Germain, in rue de Seine, very close to the river and all the fancy stores in the cute little streets around the area. Most people would die for that location, but I always thought I'm gonna be around Saint Germain all day, everyday, surrounded by Saint Germanites and Science Poers and that may be enough. Living somewhere else would be nice, but whatever I don't have many standards these days. Plus its not like this is even an alternative cause I get there and there are about 15 other students and young professionals in line. After seeing the tiny room which the only thing that provides you is the "06" postal code status (for 6th arrondisement), I was getting a little preoccupied with my prospects for the day... A t least I made a friend in the line, a French guy studying at the architecture school, and he was really nice and told me everything I was doing wrong while trying to look for an apartment. Something was essential: NEVER TELL THEM YOU'RE STAYING FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.
Oh, how naive of me! The little Costa Rican girl was being so stupid that she was introducing herself as an "exchange" student rather than a "masters" student, and also saying (when asked) that I needed an apartment until June, instead of saying my masters program lasts two years. That was quite enlightening moment, I thought of all the possibilities I had lost because of this detail, not lying, like the amazinf perfect place I saw in Le Marais yesterday (got kicked out of the visit as soon as I said "huit mois"). At least now I understood something important...Thank you, Michel, you may have just saved my ass! I'll tell you why in a second. I'll continue my story.
So that was it, nothing would work, not even my "business look" makeup, responsible and reliable charmant girl smile, Sciences Po folder... not even the blazer, unless I lied and said I would stay here for two years. Once the bail is signed, you're in, and if you just let them know 3 months in advance French law protects you. But still, I felt so bad lying when they specifically ask you, but whatever, the way I see this situation they can just put an ad one day and have someone move in the next. I don't feel bad for you anymore Mister, I'm gonna make up such a good lie you're gonna love me, and then when I move out (or maybe everything couple of weeks while I still live there under contract), I'm gonna write a fake offer on all the possible lodging websites so you get 4356637475 calls a minute and you go crazy!! Just to take revenge on the Parisian housing system. Sorry, future landlord. Oh wait, I wasn't sorry... Then no sorry, future landlord, you deserve it, you're getting served ha!
Ok so after that piece of advise, my day went on. I had seen another open visit on a place in the 10th. I got out of the metro station and was harassed by some random dudes who wanted me to buy Eiffel Tower key chains. What the fuck guys, we're not even close to the tower here... Not a good first impression. After a couple of loud, filthy, jam-packed blocks, and some more harassers later, I arrived at the door. There were some people in line and a girl told me the landlord had just been out, said 50 people had already seen the place, and that if we wanted we could come back at 3:30 (it was around 1:00) because she was tired. Great, I just left because I was just not feeling the vibe of the place as to live on my own there and return home alone in the night.
Ok I was out of visits. I did some more calls, but as usual the numbers didn't reply and I left messages in all of them. Bad thing is for most I had already done that and I had said "Hello, I would like to know if the appt is still available, I'm a Sciences Po exchange student, looking for a place from October to June and I'm very interested in your appt. Don't hesistate to call me, my number is XXXXX". I know this line by hear, I think I even hear it in the radio in my dreams. I called this crazy guy that advertised a room on Craigslist, please take a look at it:
Welcome to Bohemia, Earthlings!
You've heard about it, you've read about it and now you can experience it! The question is, are you ready for it? Are you tired of those well-kept lawns in Massachusetts? Is California just way over the top for you? Have you had it with the efficiency of those German trains? Is the punctuality of the Japanese just driving you batty? Is that smiling old English woman who sells you your muffins in the morning about to make you puke? Are the wide open spaces of Australia starting to feel a bit boring? Is Ireland just a wee bit too small? And how about the engineering of the Swedes? Are you sick of sterile? Have you just about fucking had it? Are you ready for a bit of, well, bohemia?
Are you a law student? Did you study economics? Math? Do you like order and everything to be, uh, well, "tidy?" Then take your mouse and click that little button on the top left of your screen that will take you back to the main page of Craigslist. This ad is not for you. Stay in London or New York or if you absolutely MUST come to Paris then please find something in a double-digit arrondissement like the 16th or the 15th, that would be more your speed.Available 1 October 2010, but only to the right earthling. No uptight New Yorkers or Mid-West whiners. New Englanders better watch out!
Come and check it out, baby, and Welcome to Bohemia!
HAHAHA!! Yes this guy Shane, quite a character. Exactly what I imagined when I read that. He told me the two rooms had just been rented, but that the girls hadn't given him the deposit, so that I should call tomorrow. He thought it was really cool I was Costa Rican (must've though I could be an exotic addition to his wacko entourage) and also offered me another important piece of advise: "Listen sweetheart if you're trying to find a place in Paris, just go to you bank and get a lot of cash out. The moment you see something slightly like what you want, just give them the money and tie it up. No tomorrows or later, here and now!"
Thanks, Shane, all advise appreciated. Maybe, if the thing (I'm getting there) doesn't work, I'll give you a call. So then I had nothing left, I went to an agency I had payed a small fee to get access to their database and they gave me the offers posted today. 99% outside Paris in the suburbs and the another couple that I had already called and the owners had told me they were already rented. I was so pissed I wanted to scream "Fuck you, you don't even know when the apartments you have are rented, you're the worst fucking agency in the world!!!" But I just left, and sat in the park in front and wanted to cry.
There was an antique sale going on in the park, and I decided shopping might lift my spirits. I saw an amaaazing coat, Penny Lane from Almost Famous (2000), but it was E120 euros and then I though maybe shopping was not the answer to my problems. So I just sat there, and then I realized it was Fall already. It was windy and cool, and everyone was wearing jackets and scarfs. I love Fall, and I'm glad summer is over. Fall is so much more relaxed, less arrogant, just a weird little transition until Winter hits hard. I can't be depressed, I have everything and I can crash with someone until I find a place... The I look at the homeless guy in the corner, and I just felt little a stupid little rich girl. Must go on, and leave this behind. Or must go eat something cause between metro stations and visits I forgot food existed, I thought.
So I went into a supermarket to get a yogurt, salad, cheese and a 2 euro bottle of wine when my phone rings... it's a landlord and I'm fucking paying!! I was able to think in the moment and say "Can I call you in 5 minutes?". And so I did, and turns out he was the guy from this amazing 21 square meter apartment in the 5th, around the Jardin du Luxembourg. SCORE! Except he wants me to see the place on Wednesday afternoon, the day I have to move out. I tried fixing a meeting before but he's out of town. Ok at least one possibility!!
But I felt like I had to be more proactive, otherwise this place would slip away, and by this time it was already 4pm. So I made a panic call to Camille <3.
And then... I had another moment of enlightenment! An even more enlightened one!
I had called this place yesterday that was just perfect. I t was just amazing and I had seen pictures and it was beautiful, but the guy said he needed one year minimum to sign a contrac. So I asked Camille for her to call, and to tell the guy she was calling for a friend blabla... Of course I would she would not mention it was for the same girl that had already called, I was a diffeetn person: Milena Salazar the very responsible Master student who would stay in Paris for two years. The guy was skeptical and asked if I had called before and of course we said no... He seemed to let it go and said I can come see the place Monday! I feel so sneaky...
But a gurl gotta do what a gurl gotta do.
I hope I can write in big letters Monday night that I got it. Please send me the good vibes :)
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