Thursday, November 13, 2008

Next step in my quest to make new friends: become attached to the hip to the 27 year old directrice at V School. She must have cool, motivated, intelligent friends, right?

To the three other people who live on the couloir des profs in my chateau (ie the professors' hallway at the lycee where I live): I know I use the kitchen and the trash. I also know that you use the kitchen and the trash. I also know that I am the only one who cleans the kitchen, shower, and toilet (both of which I also know that you use). There is no magical trash removal fairy. You can get off your lazy ass and take out the damn trash. Yes, you.

Is it time to move? Furnished studios are being rented out in the centre ville, in a location about as ideal as where I live right now. The problem is that it would be a lot more money, €300 - 500, versus the €70 that I pay right now, and I'm not sure that it would be charges compris (if the price would include electric, etc) or if they have an elevator, because I am a wimp and I really like being able to use the elevator for heavy suitcases, groceries, etc. I'm also not sure that I want to make myself more settled here, to make any moves towards permanency and establishment. I've never even had my own apartment in the US, I've lived either in my parents' house or in university dorms. But at the same time, I am here until at least the end of June, which is seven long months, and I would be more comfortable in my own place. They are open tomorrow until 5 PM, I guess there's no harm in checking it out...

5 comments:

Monique Geisler said...

wow thanks for the food ideas, you're awesome!! And the farci veggies... I totally should have thought of that seeing as how it was a specialty of my former French region and served everywhere :)

Also, let me tell you, as someone who lived with a French PIG (for lack of a better term): Move as soon as possible. Even if it's more expensive, it's not worth your compromised happiness in such a wonderful country to not be 100% happy with your living situation!!!!

That's all the advice I can offer. I ended up being without home and had to leave early because I was looking at the wrong time.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Anonymous said...

I think I'd move to my own place if I were you. In winter, it's good to have a little chez soi, plus it's a great experience. ;)

au soleil levant said...

Thanks for the input guys. I'm not that sure that moving will increase my happiness as much as it will increase my expenditures. I'm not that unhappy here; sure, I have frustrations and such, but I don't know that moving out would make me €350 more a month happy. I still haven't gone to look at the apartments though, so we'll see!

Leah said...

Don't forget about the CAF. You'd probably get a good amount working on an assistant salary. I'd guess you'd actually end up paying between 100-200. I know what you mean, though, about making a move to really settle in when you're not sure if you'll even be staying next year or not. Have a good think and I'm sure you'll make the best decision for yourself for now. Bon courage!

au soleil levant said...

Good point about the CAF. I hadn't forgotten about it, I guess I just wasn't actively thinking about it. I probably won't be moving this year, mostly out of laziness, but it's still marinating in the back of my mind.