It’s all so bizarre, a good bizarre, but bizarre nonetheless. This business of finding a place to live has made me realize just how much my life has changed over the last 2 years. Every time I turn around I’m doing something I never imagined doing. It’s a bit like eating salad all the time — you know it’s good for you but all you really want is a medium rare steak, greasy fries and a big-ass chocolate cake for dessert.
Certainly the process of dealing with bureaucrazy and apartment hunting has offered me the wonderful opportunity to do battle with my worst character trait: impatience. So far, it’s a losing one I’m afraid. I’ve never been so impatient in my life. The other day we saw an apartment that was acceptable as long as we were granted the profound privilege of putting my beloved washer and dryer in the kitchen. (Sidebar: the Swiss rarely have their own machines and rely on common laundry rooms with a strict schedule. I’m a free spirit baby and restricting myself to Tuesday mornings for washing is not on, nor is getting rid of my swanky machines less than a year old).
So. We went to the agency to ask if this would be possible. We couldn’t get past the receptionist (as usual) to ask anyone this simple question. You apply first, ask questions later. Then she told us she would mail us an application, we’d have to mail it back and then we’d begin the long, drawn out mess of being considered. That was it for me. Last straw, meet camel’s back. We walked out deflated yet again but this time I was annoyed. Up came my ego, I mean sweet Jaysus, we’ve bought and sold like a million houses. I cannot take this foolishness a moment longer.
But it’s not all bad news. If you’re going to be frustrated you might as well do it where they have vineyards that look like this…
And benches that look like this…
There may also be more good news. I don’t want to say too much in case I jinx it (clearly the transformation from psychiatrist to psychic is almost complete), but an agency has decided to actually put us in front of the owner of an apartment we applied for a while back. This is a big step but no guarantee of acceptance. Frankly, I’m running out of steam.
Here I am, a full grown (freakishly grown) woman fretting over what I should wear to beg a guy to bestow upon me a tiny, expensive apartment that 2 years ago I wouldn’t have even remotely considered as a home for us. One toilet, which means the risk of divorce is high. Almost no closets, unless you count the kitchen, and yet I feel like if we don’t get it, it will be a tragedy of epic proportions.
I cannot for the life of me explain my thoughts and actions of late. Moving to Switzerland is complicated, it’s driving me bananas, it may even be ill-advised, but it’s a sticky notion that will not be unstuck. I must rise above my petulance and sense of entitlement and go through all the motions with a calm and peaceful mind. I must be gentle and polite and speak in hushed tones.
Alors, I’m off to the meeting. If you read news about some poor Swiss man beaten to a bloody pulp by a sweaty woman with a giant nylon bag full of immigration paperwork, you’ll know how it went.
LIVE UPDATE FROM IMMIGRATION HELL HEADQUARTERS: BREAKING NEWS
This just in: Swiss landlord offers lease to giraffe-woman and a man called Rusty. The agreement in principle includes the promise of a fully renovated kitchen with space for a washer and dryer. All details to be finalized at document signing on Monday morning. Giraffe and Rusty were too busy dancing and high-fiving to comment. Full story in Monday’s edition.
Doing the laundry once a week frees up lots of time to go looking at the vineyards and doing some wine tasting…:)
Somehow I am not surprised that there’s a building-wide laundry schedule in Switzerland…
Good luck with the interview!!! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you!
This all sounds profoundly annoying and astonishingly difficult. I’d probably give up — hope this interview is THE ONE.
Congratulations on your new home! Heather
Yay!!!!! Congratulations!!! You have not only done battle with the demons of impatience, you have a new home in a new paradise!
SO happy for you.
XO
Way you go – never doubted for a minute that you two would pull it off – Mom
Wooooohoo!
I hear you on the impatience. I am flat-hunting in the UK and every other time I’ve hunted for an apartment or house it has gone very smoothly and this isn’t quite going so well and thus it’s essentially like my first time really having to look for a place to live and it makes me feel dejected crushed indignant furious and they have nice parks here so at this point maybe I’ll just live in a park and shower in the rain and please please make it stop soon.
Fingers crossed for no additional hurdles through and past Monday!
Woohoo! Congratulations-it is meant to be. So what will the name of your blog be now?
Diary of a Madwoman
Good luck on Monday – sounds like this might just work out :)
By the way, the Friendly Giant reference is delightful for those of us who were raised watching it!
Someone who finally gets it! Guess who’s the friendly giant in this scenario?
I’m a bit puzzled – you’ve referred to yourself as both a giraffe and a giant. The only thing I’m sure of is Rusty!
Well, there was a Giant, a rooster named Rusty and a giraffe named Jerome. I’m taking on dual roles of Giant and the giraffe. I’m that talented.
Okay, now the most important question: Does my guest room have a view?
If we had a guest room, it would have a view. The views form the hotel down the road are amazing ;)
Full story with… pictures?
Congratulations on this lovely development!
Domiciled! Wonderful news about the new semi-permanent address — you’ve put Vevey on the map!
Walk Softly and Carry A Big Schtick more like.
Fingers crossed for Monday!
Oh D, you make me laugh.
Congratulations!
Halleluiah, sending good positive vibes from across the world for a great result on Monday.
Great news!
With views like that, I can see why you’d be willing to put up with the nonsense. That photo of the moon over the lake? Whoa.
Finally! Now you can start writing ‘Finding me in Fondue’! Yesssssss!!!!
PS. Did you have a glass of wine when you took the shot of the vineyard? Just wondering…
Congratulations! Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Lovely shots, especially that amazing bench with the trellis. It seems like you are getting closer and closer. Glad you didn’t clobber the guy.