June 10, 2004 Bangkok, Thailand
Yes, Thai grammar is easy. That means I have an apartment! Finally, after a month of agony and uncertainty, I have a place to call home!
I snuck out yesterday afternoon and checked out the mansions near work. One was OK, and for 7,000 baht, was exactly what I wanted to pay. I could live there, but I didn’t love it. The 10 minute walk to work would be nice, but the commanding view of the surrounding slums was not.
Down the street was an even cheaper place. When they said the room was 5,000 baht, I knew I wouldn’t want it, but I looked anyways, out of morbid curiosity. For this price, the sink isn’t even in the tiny bathroom, and dingy doesn’t even begin to describe it. Definitely a “suicide mansion.”
After work I went back to Victory Monument to check out a mansion there. 9,500 baht, they said. That was 2,500 baht more than I wanted to pay, but I figured, what the heck. As soon as I saw it, it clicked. Sixth floor, corner room with window overlooking the park and balcony, big bathroom (Thai-style, but that’s OK), and decent size (34 square meters). But they were firm on the price, and even showed me a book with all the prices. It’s such a popular area, they know they can be firm.
Since it was so much, I decided to sleep on it, and the lady told me “you think too much.” I figured the 2500 baht difference, which is $75, isn’t going to break the bank, and is worth it to be in a nice place. I decided I wanted it, but I would have to act fast, since I already missed out on one room around there. So this morning I headed back over and put in a deposit. Saturday I will sign the six-month contract (there’s no savings for signing a 12-month contract).
Now I’ll have to move again. I told my landlord I would leave on Sunday, so they have already given me an extra week for free. That means I only have tonight (Thursday), Saturday, and Sunday (Friday is for fun) to pack, move, and unpack. I hope I can do it!
It will be good to be back in the old neighborhood. And you won’t have to read any more boring apartment-hunting stories for awhile.
Thank god for that! Now you can entertain us with some stories about the denizens of the dark. Off to Soi Cowboy this Friday eh?
Posted by: Chuck Wow on June 10, 2004 07:45 PMCongrats Terry. And good job on not "thinking too much" hehe. I'm sure you'll enjoy living around Victory Monument.
So when is the hong-warming party?
Posted by: Stuart on June 10, 2004 10:35 PMThis is good news, Terry. You made the right decision to fork out a little more for a nicer place. It will be good to have a swank place to entertain friends.
By the way, are there rules against dating your students? Do many teachers do so? How about an entry on this topic?
Posted by: mike on June 14, 2004 12:44 PMMike,
I've never received a copy of the rules, but I assume dating students is verboten. Plus, I wouldn't be comforable with it. Luckily, this shouldn't be a problem, since I am teaching a "boring" subject (math), so I am perceived as boring.