I moved into the apartment I'll actually be living in for the year. It's a nice place in a good location--near a metro stop and several bus lines pass by regularly and a large mega-store a 15 min walk or 5 min bus ride away. The person who lived there before me was a smoker, so I'm spending time trying to air out the apartment and get the smoker film off the surfaces. He apparently left in a hurry, as there were several pairs of socks, a couple pairs of shoes, dishes (which I'm grateful for other than the dirty ones in the sink), a large cup full of lighters and batteries, a change cup full of won and random coins from other Asian countries, cleaning products and bedspreads.
I hear from other teacher that the guy was generous, but it's difficult not to dislike someone who "spent his last two weeks drunk because he knew he was leaving" and then "was cleaning for four hours the day before he left." I'm remembering to breath and felt better after the floor was no longer sticky. I threw out so many things because I don't know anything about second hand shops here and doubt any of the teachers would need bedspreads, a crutch or shoes in this guy's size. I need to clean the kitchen and bathroom still as well as scrub the walls to try and get the smoke smell out.
I'm just taking it a day at a time right now and looking forward to the day everything levels out and I can start doing more.
Off to teach a class!
Pictures as soon as I get internet in the house.
~Sarah
Sarah... In doing the kind of extensive cleaning you are talking about doing, I find that you develop a certain intimacy and connection with your living space, it becomes more yours. Not sure if that will play out for you but I have found it from my own experience.
ReplyDeleteAnd sounds good you are close to metro and buses with stores within an easy walk. How's the neighborhood? Are there trees and nice streets, parks or other ways to have nice walks? What's the view like out your windows?
The neighborhood is really conveniently located, right down the street from a metro stop and loads of buses cruise by pretty regularly. There's no need to drive here. Though, it would make shopping easier.
ReplyDeleteI do feel more attached to the place after cleaning it, but I'd have still liked it if it had been cleaner when I got in.