One week later

Wow, lots can happen in a week. The time flew but it feels like a long time ago I was on the hunt for an apartment and still just settling in.

I ended up finding a place through another real estate agency, the first guys weren't interested after the 3 apartments they showed me. It makes sense, I don't know why they get in on this gig to begin with. The place I found is big, 5 mins walk from work, and a very pleasant 20 minute walk to the city center. I'm happy, not much more to say about it, but I did find out that the walls are very thin and now I'm well acquainted with the neighbours...

A funny thing happened at work: An invoice came from the National Radio Center (something like that), the fee was about $30 and the only explanation was something vague that the payment was required by law. Nobody in the office could really explain it, except apparently during the Ceausescu regime a law existed where everyone who owned a radio or TV set had to pay this tax. Fair enough during socialism, but a) we don't have a radio or a TV, and b) wtf?
I called and nobody could help me in English except to suggest I write an email to one of their departments. As expected, there's been no reply. I'm not trying to subvert any laws, but receiving a random bill is at least worth an explanation from the party who sent it. The more I stay here, the more I find things that are really upside down...luckily, these things are mostly really amusing and not ill intentioned, just weird for anybody who's never had to deal with the remnants of a communist bureaucracy.

Here's a common example: You go to a major store like Carrefour, Media Galaxy, or some other large place, and you're you're never allowed to walk in through an exit -where the checkouts are. The reason being that the security guards(s) at the store entrance checks the patrons walking in for their bags...but also for water bottles. You're in trouble if you walk in and a security guard doesn't put a sticker on your outside water bottle. We ended up walking out of a place with a pair of headphones because they weren't tagged, but on walking in, the guard chased had me down to make sure my water had a sticker on it. True Story.

All in all, I'm really enjoying the experience, particularly the interactions with everyday people. Nobody minds telling it like it is and that's a refreshing change.

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