The House

Yesterday Kelly had to work in the morning so Lance and I set out to find an apartment. I just want to preface this by saying that neither Lance nor I speak Portuguese, and generally you don’t find people who speak English. Occasionally there will be someone who has studied a little English. It’s like finding someone who speaks Spanish in Pittsburgh, many people have taken some Spanish classes in high school, but you can’t just walk into a store and expect to speak English with someone. So, we were really struggling. I called a bunch of different property managers and I had my questions all prepared. “Queria um apartamento com mobiles,” (I would like a furnished apartment) and “Voces podem fazer um contracto com estrangeiros?” (Do you have contracts with foreigners?) The problem was that I couldn’t understand the response. I mean, they never answer yes or no (sim o não), it’s always some long question…I think they are probably asking follow up questions like, how many rooms, for how many years, what is your price range? And I can get some of those, but not all of them, and on the phone gesturing doesn’t exactly work. Long story short we figured it out and then went to meet with one of the property managers in Asa Norte. She first showed us a really beautiful completely furnished apartment, down to forks and knifes and towels. It was great, but about R$1000 out of our price range. We then went to a different area to look at another apartment. We took the bus to meet her at the first place and then she drove us to the second place. I have never been so scared in my life. She was always doing three things at once. She was talking on her cell phone and talking to me (please, I am having a hard enough time communicating in Portuguese and now I have to guess whether that question was directed to me or the guy on the phone?!) and she was reaching in the back to get different papers or forms for me to look at, she was writing things down and making notes and driving…somewhere that she had apparently never been because we drove in circles a few times and doubled back and then went the wrong way down a one way street. At one point I asked her about the busses to this area, because I wanted to make sure that Kelly and I can get to work, so she stopped the car in the middle of a three lane highway and put it in reverse…meanwhile there was a huge truck behind her, who honked and flipped her off then drove around. She backed up (in the middle of the road) to a bus station then leaned out the window and asked the people waiting which bus goes to Brasíla. The whole experience was quite terrifying, but Lance and I agreed at the end that we liked her, she was a likable person, just totally crazy. And she was nice because she drove us right back to our hotel at the end.
We picked up Kelly and then all headed to Guara to look at some more apartments. It would be nice to live in Asa Norte because it is close to Kelly’s work, but it is part of Brasília (the north wing) and therefore pretty expensive. Guara is a nice suburb of Brasília and a lot of people who we know live there. Plus there is a good metro system that goes from Guara to Brasília. So we looked at some apartments…and by this time we are all just tired of looking. We have seen over 10 places and we just want to get settled. Kelly and I have both been sort of living out of suitcases for almost two months now, and we just want to get somewhere and stay. The property manager that we met in Guara is a really nice young man. In the end, there is no such thing as a furnished apartment…accept that one that fell through…perhaps it was imaginary anyway…so we decided that unfurnished would have to do, and the day before Lance and I looked at the cost of used stoves and refrigerators (foagos e geladrias) and they weren’t too expensive. Anyway, this guy Alexandre showed us a few apartments and then a small house that is around the same price. Turns out it is two full houses on the same lot. They are fenced in together but completely separate. The house is right in front of a little park in a quiet neighborhood…but still close to the main street where the busses pass and the stores are. The house in the front has two pretty large bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and a kitchen. Outside there is a little patio for doing laundry and hanging it, then the house in the back had a living room, one bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen. It’s perfect. Lance wants to use one of the bedrooms in the front as a chapel for services, and then I get the whole house in the back to myself. It has a nice area in the front also…like a front porch…If my camera wasn’t stolen I would put up pictures…I will have to see what I can find…
Anyway, we went right then to sign, and we will be moving in tomorrow. Kelly explained how the other apartment fell through at the last minute and Alexandre said that wouldn’t happen…still Kelly and I have our doubts, but Lance is sure this is the real deal.
It is however completely unfurnished, so today we are working on getting mattresses, chairs, tables, a stove and a fridge… and sheets…you know, everything.
But I am just really excited about getting settled somewhere…even if it is only for three months.
The next thing is the job.