Ok..I now feel I can share the reality of what was happening at my other apartment. I had feared saying anything to you guys because I thought I'd eventually grow accustom to their ways and be ok. But when shit hit the fan...I couldn't ignore the field of red flags, any longer.
I know what you are thinking, "Whoa, Kendall is moving for a third time in 4 months? Apparently she can't get along with anybody!" Freeze!!!! According to my recent choices of companions I am one of two things: A lesbian or The Devil! And if you know ANYTHING about me, neither of these personas fit.
My first house, filled with Christian teens starting their first year of the University. Mind you these are 19 year old kids who are leaving their parents site for the first time, having their first taste of the real world all while having only seen the interior walls of a church building their whole life. So of course when little miss gringa comes waltzin throught their Jesus shrine..they pass judgement and decide there is something evil within me which I have brought into the house. Instead of actually conversing with me they tear our mutual friend Menfis in half, asking her to choose: "Us or the evil american." They insist their is an "evil" stench coming from our bedroom and evil spirits which I have welcomed into the house. Every meal we eat together their looks could kill and the only question they ask, "are you really a Christian? like really?" After I tired of convincing them that I was a really believer in Jesus Christ. They grew even more irritated with my "partying." If I left the house simply to meet my friends for lunch they'd assume the worst and approach menfis with, "look, shes out partying again. Drowning in sin. How can you be affiliated with this sinner." They began to take advantage of my generosity and would use "but you have a salary kendall, you can afford to buy the things for the house" and they continue to steal my food and break my personal belongings. They refused to let me into their circle of holiness and I just felt any effort I made to befriend them or convince them I wasn't the devil was in vain. So one day I looked on a apartment website and the first email I received I landed the apartment building in Valparaiso, living with 2 chilean women, a japanese girl and a chinese girl.
The first day I was told that the house was very peaceful and they all appreciated their privacy. They were all responsible working individuals who each had their own space in the house (shelves in the fridge, cupboards for each person, etc.) I fell in love with the location and even more so with how impecably clean it was. I respected her word when she said that privacy was respected, my food wouldn't be touched, and it'd be a great escape to relax from my needy students and "party life." She said the first month could just be a "trial month" for me because she understood I was alittle apprehensive about just moving in. She didn't make me pay a security deposit either. I was sure to express how important it was to have my friends over because at my last place I didn't have that ability. The owner of the house said that wouldn't be a problem and I could have anyone over I wanted whenever I want. I was sold and moved in the next day without word to my other roommates and left Menfis in the dust bawling her eyes out that I would just pull the rug out from under her. But I explained a true friend never gives you an altimatum like the one her church-going friends had given so I made the decision for her and moved myself away from her so she could escape their criticism because she had no choice but to stay there with her sister. After all, I was living the end of the year and she'd eventually have to face them alone.
My first night in the house I grew increasingly aware of how aggressive and manipulative my new roommates were to be. The insisted on having a "welcome" party at the house in which I was obligated to buy all the liquor for everyone. When trying to explain about how exhausted I was from moving nad unpacking they wouldn't take no for an answer. So as I counted the heads of everyone drinking I realized we were 5 women living in the house and yet there were only 4 bedrooms. Oh, The two chilean women are sharing a room, oh um they are sharing a bed, uhmmmm they are lesbians. Ok, well that's new. But whatever I can live with that. I think. They reveal their secret to me and immediately ask my opinion. I respond, "Well, as for my religious beliefs I don't agree with that lifestyle. But I have an open mind and definitely accept you women for who you are and the choices you make." Wanting to press this sensitive subject onward they begin to argue with me and complain about the church and the closeminded people. I just tucked my tail between my legs and said, "no really its no problem. Congratulations to the two of you!" They refused to see my glass empty all night and finally at 5am allowed me to retire to my bed. These two burly women control the household and make it very clear to me just exactly how everything is to be done. With their OCD tendencies they enter the bathroom immediately after I shower to make sure I have washed all the hairs down the drain. They inspect the dishes after I wash them to make sure there are no grease spots. They enter my room when I am not home to check to make sure I have unplugged all electronics from the outlet (becuase a lamp could cause a fire?) and shut my curtain so the sun doesn't fade the bedding. Every individual in the house is given one fork, one spoon, and one knife. If you need another for some odd reason (company or dishes you don't want to mix) you must buy your own set.
My second night at the house I invite Menfis over to hang out in my room and most likely spend the night over, seeing as she lives far away. Not 10 minutes into our conversation the couple knocks on my door and drags me into the kitchen, "Kendall, you need to advise us when you are going to have people over. We are the owners of this apartment and we need to ok visitors. And if you think menfis is spending the night. Think again...unless she plans on paying for water and electicity." Distraught by this awkward confrontation done all in spanish with two large hispanic women scolding me, I say goodbye to Menfis and weep in my room realizing I will be seeing very little of my friend Menfis seeing as she is not welcome in my house and I am not welcome in hers. As time went by and I learned it best to just stay in my room and avoid interaction with the couple I begged if Jeanette could come over and I could make everyone a big brunch. As I finished the dishes (they insist I do the dishes before eatting in case someone else needs to use the pots) and the eggs were piping hott on the table. Everyone awaited to dig in, when the brut of the two walks into the kitchen and barks, "KENDALL!" With everyone listening in the dining room she exclaims, "Look what you've done (pointing to a tiny bit of egg splatter on the stove top). We are not slobs in this house. And if you can't learn to clean up after yourself we are going to have problems." Humiliated I vow to myself to use as little dishes as possible and cook only when absolutely necessary. When someone in another apartment building starts pounding a nail in the wall the masculine of the two comes to my room to investigate, "what in the world are you pounding?" I explain.."it wasn't me. it's another apartment building." When the wind tunnel from the hallway slams my door shut, she screams from her bedroom "KENDALL! shut the doors quietly for gods sake" I explain it was the wind and she says "I Know it was the wind! You need to be more aware of that."
This saturday was a United States World Cup game versus Ghana and I asked if I could have two of my american friends over to watch the game in our living room on cable t.v. The couple says they'd be gone for the day and actually prefer I wasn't in the house at all because they didn't trust me with their animals (dog and cat). This was the last straw for me as I wandered the streets on Saturday unable to enter my OWN house for fear their mother whom they had asked to check in on the animals would see me and tell them I had been inside the house. Sunday I begged to have Menfis come over considering I hadn't seen her in days and they said, "No, Kendall. We need to work tomorrow. not tonight." So I laid my head imagining a slow and painful death for them both. When I woke in the morning I quickly brushed my teeth only to slam right into the snarling maria jose (the masculine role of the two) who says, "Kendall, shut the bathroom door tight when you are brushing your teeth. It grosses la Maca (the feminine partner) out to hear you brushing your teeth." OH my god they hate me. I can't even brush my teeth right here. So monday I had about enough of their balogna and invited menfis over without permission. Menfis understood my frustration and we walked right into my bedroom when entering the house. .25 seconds later Maria Jose entered my room, "It is incredibly rude not to greet the owners of the apartment when walking into this house. Its terrible edicate and I am offended." As she continues to raise her voice and explain how lucky I am to be living under their authority and then I deliberately disrespect them by not saying HI when walking into the house.....I apologize and try to smooth over the conflict when Menfis opens her mouth, "Really? Really is not saying HI worth the big Show. A little bit dramatic don't you think?" And at that moment I knew I had to move or these women were going to make my life a living hell!!
Tuesday morning as the sun peeked its head over the hill I packed in complete silence. My body was trembling in fear for the confrontation that awaiting me as I had to explain I was leaving the apartment without notice seeing as tomorrow is the end of the month and I didn't want to have to pay for the month of July to stay in this hell hole. My whole room was packed as I dreaded going to the kitchen to pack up the food I had stored. My heart nearly pounded out of my chest as I was cleaning out the refrigerator fearing one of them would see me in the kitchen and explode. And then I had a revelation, "Why in the world am I so afraid of these two punks? I fear nothing but the Lord." So I puffed out my chest and I marched to their bedroom. I began to explain I was leaving today because it wasn't working out. When I begin to explain that I misunderstood how the house was going to funcion. they Muster up all of the pride in their being and reply, "Good. We didn't want you here either." Refusing to fight with them or lists all the reasons why I was annoyed with the living situation, I plea, "Can we just agree that it's not working out. without hard feelings or bad attitudes?" And the feminine of the two remarks, "Sure. But it's just a shame you can't get along with anybody Kendall. The thing is you have such a close mind." Wow, with a huge blow to my character she continues, "And we both knew all along that you and Menfis are in love and that's why you can't bare to live without her. That's the real problem here that you just have yet to admit." OK WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?! They are going to question my character, claim that I am close minded THEN state as fact that I am a lesbian. I laugh at there accusation and realize there is no way they will possibly take responsibility for their part in the conflict. I swallow my pride and kiss them both on the cheek (the appropriate method in saying goodbye in chile) and I say, "I am very sorry for the problems. Thank you for everything. Take Care." I drop my keys at the door and say CHAO.
With my suitcases chilling at a friends house. I search for two days straight with Menfis for an apartment that will do. We walk every hill of Valparaiso searching for rent signs, scanning newspaper adds, emailing and phone calling. All of our options end in dissapointment: either too expensive, not available till august, or do not come fully furnished. At the end of my rope last night around 10pm we have reached the outskirts of valparaiso where a new apartment building has just been resurected. I see the inside and am in awe. It is fully equipped with furniture still in its plastic, cookware for a chef, and a refrigerator and oven with seals unbroken. It's beautiful with a wonderful sight of the ocean and hillside!! At the price of only 140 dollars per person (I was paying $240 at my last apartment) we can move in tomorrow they say. I am overwhelmed by its elegance and I begin to question if its a little too luxurious for me seeing as I came to live in a foreign country not expecting to be in a highrise ocean side. Then my future flashes before me and I realize this is not an opportunity I will see again in my lifetime. So I changed my frame of mind and realized If I can live Hoytie-toytie in Chile for the price of living in the projects of the United States..I am going to live in a BRAND SPANKIN NEW apartment if only to claim it happened once in my life. And so we signed on the dotted line!
I know everything is going to be alright. Life here is one big adventure and I am sure it'd make one heck of a good novel. Something I've learned through all my transitions is that a house is not dependent on its walls or the location but rather on the people in which you just to live with. I know that Menfis and I could have been happy as pie living in a box on the street but we were blessed enough to have found this beauty!!! And I can hardly wait to be the first to break it in.
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