The Joys of Apartment Life

Living in a big city is always an interesting experience, and looking back on my US and Brazil apartment experiences, I can't decide which is worse.

Eli and I had to move out of our beloved one bedroom in October, which albeit sweltering, was quiet and cozy, in a small building on a nice street overlooking Corcovado Mountain. We then moved into our current apartment, a two bedroom in a huge building with hundreds of people. It's older and more run-down than our other apartment, and something is always broken or not working that we need fixed. First, the gas wasn't working, and it took two entire months for it to get fixed. Our fridge was on the fritz; we got it semi-fixed. Now, something is wrong with the overhead lights in the kitchen, though the lightbulbs aren't dead. My apartments in DC rarely had similar problems, except for the fact that the "sister" apartment to the one I lived in senior year, which was identical to ours and a block away, caught fire due to an internal wiring issue and destroyed one or two entire apartments.

One of the most annoying things we've had to deal with though, is the noise. The traffic sounds are inevitable, 24/7, though we've gotten used to them. But at the moment, our upstairs neighbor is getting construction done on the apartment, presumably installing flooring, which has gone on since the first week in December. Until this week, the unbelievable banging, which sounded like the roof was going to come crashing down on our heads, went on from 8am - 4pm Monday through Friday, with a short lunch break at midday. Considering Eli and I both work at home, this has been quite the test for our sanity. We looked into it, and apparently it's totally legal to make as much noise as you want during those hours, and legally, there's nothing we can do about it. It definitely is more annoying than the constant car alarms I had to live with all three years in Washington, the worst being sophomore year when I lived right next to a parking garage.

Then there's the cable. We've had problems with NET, our TV, phone and Internet provider, ever since we installed it. There's been a problem with the bill every month, and Eli has had many a VERY UPSET conversation with the NET people, but to no avail. They just can't get our bill right, ever. It's stressful at the beginning of every month, but I have to say it's not as bad as my experience with Comcast my senior year of college. Our TV and internet stopped working, and they claimed there was a problem with the underground cable. I called every day (sometimes multiple times a day) for a month when they claimed someone was going to come over to fix it and never did. Finally, I switched providers, which I should have done the first day, considering the stress and annoyance involved. Lesson: DO NOT use Comcast. Fortunately, Comcast has competition in DC, unlike NET in Rio.

Finally, there's the bickering. There always seems to be an old lady in the lobby complaining/arguing/fighting with the doorman, but the best of all are the letters. We get one about once a week, and it is from the building administration or the building's lawyer. Apparently, back in November, there was a meeting for building residents with the building adminstration's lawyer, and words were had and punches were thrown, and the following week we received a two-page letter from the lawyer complete with a photograph of bruises on her arm from the fight. Ever since then, we've received a letter once a week from one side or the other, throwing accusations and demanding retribution. The latest has been a flurry of bullet point one pagers, except for the latest from the lawyer, which was two pages long with lots of parts IN CAPITAL LETTERS, folded into a beautiful blue envelope delivered to every one of the buildings 1000+ residents. Honestly, I find it all very entertaining.

I guess in the end, living in any city is never easy.

Comments

[S.]

Hi, I'm a Brazilian living in London and found out about your blog recently. It's been interesting to see Brazil from a 'griga's' perspective. When we Brazilian immigrants leave Brazil we kind of start putting it into perspective too, but of course our judgement tends to be more biased/affective than those of a gringa. You're a good ethnographer :)

This description of your chaotic apartment experiences in Rio actually made me miss the lively mess of big Brazilian cities. I don't know what it is like to live in NY, but in London you simply don't get much human interaction - be that in the form of an abusively noisy neighbour or an overly dramatised public bickering.

I kind of miss that. I guess chaos can be lovely if you've been too orderly for too long.

[Fabio A. Mazzarino]

I have blogged about your problem with NET (http://consumo.seucaminho.com/index.php/2009/01/30/net-tem-ma-fama-internacional/), and NET have also talket to me. They told me that it can solved.

Please, contact Andressa on this email:
. caa.net@netservicos.com.br

Ask specifically to talk to Andressa. Also mention "Blog Consumo", and your own blog. She is already aware of your problems.

[armidale]

I m living in apartments only. I love it here. The apartments are wonderful, the place is kept up well and the managers are friendly and do their jobs.

[Tony Moura]

hI, GRINGA,

iT WAS GREAT READING about your experience in Rio. I wish I had discribed my living experience in NY and CT, so well.I wish you lots of luck to you and Eli. I saw the movie, yestarday, "The book of Eli". Give my regards to Christopher St. down in the "Village". I´m presently living in Brasilia, the capital of Brasil, as you certainly know. If you´re ever around, get in touch.

Tony Moura
email: tmoura19@yahoo.com.br
Tel.: 55 61 3443 1347
Cel.: 55 61 8212 1694