My dorm. The place where I lived for the past 3.5 years as a student in Iaşi.
It even had a cow in front of it two years ago.
This morning, at work, I get a phone call from one of my room mates. He told me a girl walked into the room and told him that I’ll be evicted from the dorm because I didn’t pay December’s rent.
Hmm.. I say.. I know I didn’t pay, because I didn’t have the time.
You see, every morning I start work at 9 a.m. I leave the dorm at about 8 and I go to the cashier to try to pay the rent. Ok, not every day, but at least once every three days. The thing is, I’ve never found the cashier. She works from 8 a.m. to 13 p.m. Whatever, that’s another story.
So, after I received the phone call, I excused myself from work, I jumped into a taxi and went “home”.
I manage to find the dorm’s administrator to talk to her. She raised her shoulders telling me that there’s nothing I can do. I must pack my bags and move, because I’ve been evicted. I was starting to get angry, remembering that the contract I signed when I moved in was saying that I must pay the rent for the month ahead, before the 15th of the month, and after the 1st of the month I have to pay, I will pay extra. For example. For December, I have to pay before the 15th of November, and after the 1st of December I will be fined with 0.1% per day. The administrator didn’t care. She told me I’ve lost my right to stay in the dorm. I started getting angrier telling her that this is the fourth year I’ve stayed there and I’ve never heard of anything like that. I had the money, but the cashier wasn’t there. She didn’t care. The cashier was sitting next to her and kept repeating that she was either there, or in the administrator’s office.
Ok, I was really mad right now (almost close to complete madness) and went to my room thinking about how I could move my things to my girlfriend’s place. At the same time, a thread in my head was searching for solutions like: the chief of Student Affairs, a trip to the pro-rector’s office, etc.
In my room, there was a girl.
She was telling me she’s the student’s representative in the University Senate and she wants to talk to me about the situation. Ok, I said.
Then, she starts telling me that I’m irresponsible and that I should of looked for the cashier on campus to pay the rent. Then, I lost it. I started showing her the contract. She was contradicting me, saying that the Senate decision overrides the contract. How could that be? I wasn’t announced. WTF? I asked for her name, I yelled at her saying that I respect the contract, and the one thing I ask for is that the cashier should do her job, etc.. I was angry and I she was frightened. I kept asking “Where is the notice of eviction? You have to tell me at least ten days before the eviction! Why isn’t there an official document with my name on it delivered to me about this? Why don’t you play by the rules? Obey the law!”.My room mates where backing me up all this time. The fight took about 15 minutes in which I was right, she was wrong and I was yelling.
Finally, she said “You know, I paid your rent. I’ll bring you the receipt right now.”. I was stunned. I didn’t know her and she didn’t know me. She brings me the receipt and I give her the money for the rent. Then, she tells me “that’s the way things are done here. The fact is, that no matter what the contract specifies, they gave an announcement. Yes, they are liable for a lawsuit, but before you win it, you’ll be off finishing college. So, I thought I’d save your ass”.
I don’t know what to say. Although I’m still angry at the administrator for pulling a joke like this on me.
This post is in English for personal reasons, although only Romanians can better understand the situation.
8 Comments
Such a sweet girl, the student’s representative in the Senate….
Did you give her flowers afterwards?
The funny thing is that after a few hours, a student came and asked if you moved your things already because he was eager to move in and replace you.I don’t know who told him that you have been evicted,but as you said, this is the fascinating Romania.
Beat this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alxb/2084383484/
What, no blood spilled? No making out? No Chuck Norris? Here’s the deal: we add any two of the previous and we call it a blockbuster!
PS. Yeah, we all, Romanians, feel your pain. Today E-On cut my cables and I’m having a black night. I went over and paid the same day, but I still had to pay about 90 RON for the “reconnection”. There was no warning whatsoever, on top of not receiving my bill for the past 4 months. It’s true, I have been irresponsible for not going and paying anyways… but come on!
I understand how you feel. I had a “problem” with the administrator too. Almost had to pay for a window that I did not break.
Whole thing just blew off, though.
I guess you can’t say you’ve stayed in the dorm until you have a one-on-one with the admin.
Remember, what does not kill you only makes you stronger.
@Mihai
Not yet, but I’ll track her down in the near future.
@John
This is how it works. People can’t wait for someone to get evicted so that the next students on the waiting lists can come. This dorm (as you know, being my room mate and all) is very very desired by people.
@Alex
Dude, the picture with the cow was very popular when I posted It on “my other other blog” a while ago. Nothing can beat a cow eating grass on campus. Stay tuned. Every day when I go to work, I see about 5 horses on the banks of Bahlui river. Pics coming soon.
@Misu
In a country where e-payment generally means waiting in line to pay with a credit card, what do you expect?
@Cretz
Yes.. the life in the dorm. The same administrator, two years ago, made me stay in a room with a broken window. I went over her head to the University management, but it was all in vain. Quote from March 25, 2006 (from one of my past blogs):
– Yes, it’s censored here and there..
Finally, the conclusion is: Kids, go west. There’s nothing to see here, except for waiting in line to pay bills and taxes, corruption, injustice and lack of common sense.
I bet that girl, like any other person trying to make a difference will get sick and tired and leave the country.
and they lived Happily Ever After. oh and i have some v1@gr@ for s@le, and some other meds… anyway, you should take her out to dinner sometimes.
My girlfriend will kill me. I think a box of chocolates will do.
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