Needless to say, she had to fix the toilet...twice. The second time she had to replace the toilet completely, not kidding. Because we had been using what seemed to her to be a lot of toilet paper (maybe it was for Spanish standards, who knows) she has since been obsessed with the amount of toilet paper we've been using. Now, I have cut down tremendously on the amount I use, but refuse to feel yucky because of this situation.
Wow, I cannot believe I am dedicating an entire post to toilet paper. But this is going somewhere, promise. So now it is nearing the end of the semester (also can't believe that) and I have a choice to make: do I stay or do I go? In order to give readers an idea of the pros and cons of moving, I will make a simple pro and con list:
Pros (of staying with Elena, my señora)
- She is an amazing cook
- She does my laundry and someone comes in weekly to clean the apartment
- Her apartment is beautiful and in a great location
- I can practice my Spanish
- I am exposed to Spanish culture
- Always (well, pretty much always) eat dinner with someone
- All of my things are already here
- Did I mention the food is great
- The evil you know is always better than the evil you don't know (or something like that, right?)
Cons
- She is obsessed with the amount of tp that we use and the last time she freaked out (well maybe not freaked out about it, but got very agitated) when I asked for tp I started to cry...
- It is more expensive than living in an apartment
- I can't eat dinner whenever I want (and we usually eat between 10 and 10:30...)
- I can't eat whatever I want
- The apartment I'm looking into is closer to school
- I would have a different living experience
- It would be more like my own place (but I could have psycho roommates, although I could get a new psycho roommate when Joan leaves after this semester even if I do stay with Elena...)
- I have to cook for myself (both a pro and a con, depending on how you look at it I suppose)
Okay, so I think I've done a pretty good job at laying out the pros and cons...so please please please please give me your opinions! Seriously, I need help deciding. I promise if I get good advice I'll write an awesome blog about Morocco (I'm going this Thursday ah!) with great pictures :)
Thanks in advance!
Your confused friend,
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| Thought I'd add this photo to show the good times I've had with the best roomie ever :) |
Megan
OK Meg here's what I'm thinkin ...
ReplyDeleteif the TP situation is getting you too stressed out, it's not worth staying. Then again, I feel as though it is also something you will get used to -- Spanish women are just very frugal and it probably sent her over the edge to have to pay for a new appliance in a single decade.
I am so so so pro-homestays because I think you get the most culture out of the experience, but you have already stayed a semester with a senora and now you're basically a natural Spaniard. ;) Hence, I think you could do awesome on your own -- you would have to fend for yourself at the market and deal with a foreign landlord, but hey, it will build your Spanish Character!!
As for the roommate situation - either way you're getting another random roommate. The only pro to staying with your senora and a new roommate is that at least you know someone else if the roommate is a psycho (not to scare you or anything).
Ok, another pro for the apartment: it's cheaper. And if I recall correctly, costs are probably stressing you out as it did me without a job, on your own, etc. (then again, you already planned to spend x-amount for a homestay for two semesters so it's no shock if you do stay)
Is there anyone you know staying in Madrid for the next semester you could try to room with?? If so, I would say do apartment all the way.
If not, sounds like you pretty much have it made beside the toilet situation and I'd stay put. I don't want you having any horror stories regarding suspicious Spanish landlords. And hey, you can always be sneaky and buy your own toilet paper!!!!
Good luck, sorry this is so long. Email me/lets skype and talk more! (skype: mky1990)
xx Margarita
Hey Mag! Thanks so much for the advice. All good points. Thanks so much for taking the time to give me such a balanced response. You are very right about the roommate sit. etc. As for the tp sit., it has been going on since the beginning of the semester and it seems like she possibly might be calming down about it, but it's hard to know, ya know? Rrr....wish I didn't have to make this call. Before about a week and a half ago, before the last tp incident when I cried, if you'd have told me I'd be in this position, I would have thought you were crazy! Anyway, yes! let's skype chat about this soon!
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