Have you ever experienced the feeling of complete and total defeat? I have.

Brittany and I, as previously stated, have lived through a bit of a nightmare trying to find an apartment. I’ll not rehash the details obviously, but it was quite a process. Well, as you know, we did find a place. Furnished, two bedrooms, close to the Metro, close to our friends… had to haggle to get the washing machine included and felt pretty accomplished about succeeding, not gonna lie. It is everything we asked for. 

Wait, did I say “furnished”? Yes, yes I did… Did the landlady say “furnished”? Yes, yes she did… By “furnished” did she mean “furnished”? No… no she didn’t. To this lady, “furnished” means, “You get a couch and a mattress. I don’t provide the stove, the refrigerator, the dining table or the coffee table that I showed you. I guess [yes… I ‘guess’] that was the previous tenant’s. Buuuuuut…. I’m not going to tell you this until after you’ve signed a contract, and you come to get your keys. Oh and btw, there’s not hot water in the kitchen. Thanks for your money! I’m gonna go now.”

Defeat. What do we do now? The contract is signed. The deposit, first month’s rent and agency commission has been paid. Thankfully, we have a friend who knows where we can get a refrigerator and stove and such fairly cheap. However, this will still cost us about 2,000 RMB, which is money we just don’t have. Like I said: Defeat. It doesn’t feel good.

When I received the news from Brittany, I was at dinner with my coworkers. Do you know what a physically and emotionally exhausted female does when she gets news like that? She cries. Doesn’t matter that there’s eight people sitting around a table watching her in awkward silence. She still cries. However, I have the best coworkers in the whole wide world!! When I told them what happened, they were furious. Janice, the head teacher, came around the table to give me a hug and assure me that they would do everything in their power to help me. I was informed that Cookie, another instructor, is great at complaints and negotiating! 🙂 When Julie told me this, Cookie looked at me with a devious smile, nodded and said, “Trust me.”

So now, let’s focus on the positives. 1) This apartment is awesome! Two bedrooms, cute tile work in the bathroom and kitchen, very modern set-up and decor, new washing machine, a rather spacious living room, and decent view of the beautiful Sofitel Hotel and some other buildings! We will have plenty of room for a table and chairs and having company over!! 2) Location, location, location! We walk a mere three minutes to the Metro station! That Metro station is three stops from Britt’s office, two stops from my office, and one stop from our friends!!

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Ok, I’m finishing this post a few days late and thankfully so. A lot has happened since I started this one. So our real estate agent felt so bad about hiding all of this from us that he bought a refrigerator for is!! At no charge to us! He is going to keep it or sell it or whatever after we leave. Most costly crisis: averted. Next comes the stove….. we’ve seen them around in the stores for 1200 rmb…. not cool. Good thing I know people who know how to find deals online! 400 rmb later… we will have a stove by Tuesday! Table is still up in the air. Our friend might have one for us but we might have to buy one… not sure yet. 

We have a beautiful apartment! It’s been so fun and exhausting to get it all set up like we want and cleaned like we want. They said they cleaned it…. HA. That’s cute that you think this is “clean.” But we’ve purchased a pot and a pan, some kitchen utensils and some water and Vanilla Coke. 🙂 It’s starting to look and feel like a home! We both have mattresses now and have been able to sleep comfortably. 😀 

What an AMAZING turn of events!!!! Did you know that prayer works??? If I didn’t fully believe that before, I certainly do now!! Thank you, Lord!

PEACE!