Today was meant to be day two of The Flat Hunt. Significantly less productive than yesterday. Yesterday I went to two different estate agents and looked at probably around 7 flats (I can’t be sure, they all merge together into one mess of a flat in my mind). And it was really great. I saw that there are quite a few okay flats available right now, and that I have a bit of time to decide which one I’d like to live in, and a bit more time to make sure I’m picking the right area to live in. So I ended the day on a positive note; not stressed out at all and fairly hopeful at being able to find a place.
Today, I have no idea why I felt like that. None of the places I looked at turned out to be available for a 6 months lease, which is how long I plan to be in Shanghai. One of the estate agents said that I could sign a contract for a year, and they can find someone to sublet the apartment to for the remaining 6 months. But if that doesn’t work out, if I want to cancel the let then I’ll lose the two months deposit, or I can stay alone in a 2 month flat when in all honesty I do want to move elsewhere.
On top of that I got over 10 calls today pushing me for an answer. I mean granted I probably got that many because I didn’t answer a lot of them (okay, I only answered two). But all the pressure to make a decision and sign a contract (that doesn’t even suit me!) is stressing me out. On top of that I can’t even speak the language. I mean how am I supposed to say “The reason I don’t want to sign a 12-month contract is because I don’t trust that you will definitely be able to find someone to take over the contract. I don’t want to be restricted by the contract”. I managed “我不要签十二个月。我二月象搬去北京。如果我们找不到别人，我不要留在上海。我只要签六月。” Essentially, “I don’t want to sign for 12 months. In February I want to move to Beijing. If we don’t find someone else, I don’t want to stay in Shanghai. I only want to sign for six months“. I think a lot of what I was trying to say didn’t end up making sense, but I probably came across as being both resolute and incredibly exasperated (that’s what I tell myself anyways). Anyways, she’s going to try and see if the landlord is willing to let the place out for six months and then she’ll get back to me. So I guess we’ll have to see how that goes.
I didn’t see any flats today, I was too busy dodging calls (and then feeling guilty about it) and also trying to avoid the storm and the rain. Perhaps the most interesting thing I did today was buy an umbrella from an old woman on the street. The least interesting thing was that I had lunch at Pizza Hut. I don’t think I’m quite ready to be adventurous when it comes to food. I’m too scared it will come at odds with my vegetarianism. Also I’m worried I won’t be able to read the menu and will get laughed at by the locals.
Increasingly I feel like I spend 80% of my time trying to fit into which ever culture I’m present in.
