The German House
Last Sunday was a red letter day for Mike, Derek and I. We moved out of hotels and into our house - home for the next seventy weeks. We called it the German house as the previous tenant, who we met once, was a german lecturer at one of the universities here in Hanoi.
What we didn't realise at the time was that he owned most of the furniture, so it was a pretty empty house we moved into. Three of us and only two beds - Derek is sleeping on a bed settee, his choice as it means he gets aircon and a ceiling fan.
The house has five floors, a small yard and three balconies two of which are covered and have garden furniture. The ground floor has a small lounge, dining kitchen downstairs loo and store room. The first floor has a large and empty lounge, a double bedroom and a bathroom. The second floor has two bedrooms, a small balcony and a bathroom. The third floor has a bathroom with washing machine, a large balcony with plants and what we hope will become our spare bedroom. Currently it is locked and contains a family altar and shrine. The fourth and top floor has a large bedroom which is too hot to use as such and an open balcony terrace with views over the area.
The house also comes with a maid - Thai. She does not speak much english and has looked after the house for four years. I should have realised my expectations were not going to be met when we asked her what budget she needed for cleaning materials. Through an interpreter she replied she did not need any budget for cleaning materials as she had her own duster. She preferred this as it was quicker. Hmmmm.
As the German was on his own only the first two floors had been used for the last four years. No way is a duster going to make any impact in my bathroom. Anyway if she tries to clean the floor in there she will have to use a wet cloth since the toilet is leaking all over the place.
Mike has the bedroom previously used by the German. This has the added advantage of being built into Thai's daily routine, so he regularly gets his wardrobe rearranged whilst Derek and I have to arrange our own. Its also a bit of a lottery as to who gets whose laundry.
My bedroom is ok, the flourescent light has a habit of self igniting in lightening storms which is a bit disconcerting at 3am and I thought I had lace curtains on the windows, but they were just four year old cobwebs. I don't think it will be long before Thai and I are discussing the definition of cleaning!
Mind you, I can see that some of it is not her fault, what I thought was dirt in my bath turned out to be where someone once mixed concrete.
Meal times are fun, we are gradually gathering a collection of cooking implements, got rid of the mouse droppings out of the cupboards and drawers, fixed the cupboard doors back, found the switch for the extract fan, accepted that we are going to be eaten by mosquitos while ever the door is open and got used to not leaning on the table as the top falls off if we do.
All our efforts to make the hot water work above the first floor have failed and the legs have dropped off a settee we found in the store cupboard and moved to the lounge. Appart from that it is fine.
What we didn't realise at the time was that he owned most of the furniture, so it was a pretty empty house we moved into. Three of us and only two beds - Derek is sleeping on a bed settee, his choice as it means he gets aircon and a ceiling fan.
The house has five floors, a small yard and three balconies two of which are covered and have garden furniture. The ground floor has a small lounge, dining kitchen downstairs loo and store room. The first floor has a large and empty lounge, a double bedroom and a bathroom. The second floor has two bedrooms, a small balcony and a bathroom. The third floor has a bathroom with washing machine, a large balcony with plants and what we hope will become our spare bedroom. Currently it is locked and contains a family altar and shrine. The fourth and top floor has a large bedroom which is too hot to use as such and an open balcony terrace with views over the area.
The house also comes with a maid - Thai. She does not speak much english and has looked after the house for four years. I should have realised my expectations were not going to be met when we asked her what budget she needed for cleaning materials. Through an interpreter she replied she did not need any budget for cleaning materials as she had her own duster. She preferred this as it was quicker. Hmmmm.
As the German was on his own only the first two floors had been used for the last four years. No way is a duster going to make any impact in my bathroom. Anyway if she tries to clean the floor in there she will have to use a wet cloth since the toilet is leaking all over the place.
Mike has the bedroom previously used by the German. This has the added advantage of being built into Thai's daily routine, so he regularly gets his wardrobe rearranged whilst Derek and I have to arrange our own. Its also a bit of a lottery as to who gets whose laundry.
My bedroom is ok, the flourescent light has a habit of self igniting in lightening storms which is a bit disconcerting at 3am and I thought I had lace curtains on the windows, but they were just four year old cobwebs. I don't think it will be long before Thai and I are discussing the definition of cleaning!
Mind you, I can see that some of it is not her fault, what I thought was dirt in my bath turned out to be where someone once mixed concrete.
Meal times are fun, we are gradually gathering a collection of cooking implements, got rid of the mouse droppings out of the cupboards and drawers, fixed the cupboard doors back, found the switch for the extract fan, accepted that we are going to be eaten by mosquitos while ever the door is open and got used to not leaning on the table as the top falls off if we do.
All our efforts to make the hot water work above the first floor have failed and the legs have dropped off a settee we found in the store cupboard and moved to the lounge. Appart from that it is fine.
posted by Marvin.. at Thursday, July 06, 2006
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