This is my blog about experience in Finland and about Helsinki Finland lifestyle.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
How to Say "Hei Hei" to 30�
Do you ever have one of those days you think, "It can't possibly get any worse....but maybe it will?"
Yep - one of those - right here.
I was un-usually crabby today and was internally wanting to beat myself in the face with my little Finnish-English dictionary during what felt like a long day in class and was super happy when I got to the day-care that V�in� was napping in the double stroller.
Fantastic!
Ahti (youngest) was able to enjoy his snacks and a different movie other than Teletubbies in Finnish, while I started laundry, a load in the dish washer and did some tidying up.
Unfortunately, due to all this noise and the inner door of the flat being closed as well - I didn't hear V�in� scream when he woke up downstairs in the building's lobby.
Thankfully a neighbour from below came up and rang my bell and I rushed out - clumsily closing the inner door and hoping the outer door would stay open a bit so I could get back in (my neighbour looked pretty mad) quickly with V�in�.
No of course it couldn't be that smooth.
The outer door slammed quickly with the rush of air between the doors (Ahti opened the inner one) and I was locked out with an Autistic, screaming 3 year old...in my shorts and long-sleeved shirt - no socks and no shoes...no phone or keys.
Hubby wasn't due back for at least another hour or so...and I actually was calm about my 1.5 year old alone in a flat with the two dogs....the kitchen door was shut (=no knives, dishes or stove access) and the balcony door was closed (=reduces chance of a cold and eating dirt blown onto the balcony)...and a movie was playing....the dog's water bowl was the only thing I worried about actually!
I grab V�in� and start ringing doorbells of my neighbours - hoping SOMEONE would answer and speak English or understand my horrible Finnglish.
The neighbour beneath us did and kindly lent me her phone - so I tried calling my husband twice - no luck. He wouldn't answer because it was a strange number and thought I was a telemarketer...I even called him once after another. I didn't want to send a message and abuse the courtesy of my neighbour so she called the maintenance people and they came within 15 minutes to un-lock my door.
The flat lay-out is the same, however it was not home and V�in� was hungry and angry.
I thanked my neighbour profusely for her patience and help and believe it or not - her daughter got upset that we were LEAVING....shocker I know. So I'll be leaving her some cookies tomorrow for her help. She looks like the jogging/exercising type...hopefully she likes cookies though!
Signs I am possibly learning Finnish (in English):
Then the maintenance guy opened the door, I thanked him and thought he would leave. He ended up walking into my flat - which was a total mess (I was working on that while V�in� was asleep!) and stood there. Finally he said the one word in English he knew after I asked him if he could speak English..."MONEY."
Well, how much because I don't carry cash and there was none to be found in my husband's desk...
30� (I'd be even happier if I mis-heard and it really was 13� - guess I'll find out later)...Okay well I don't have that amount and can't you send me the invoice? (I'm making square gestures by this point) and apparently that was a no-go.
So I told him flat out I don't have cash, I just have my bank card and he just stands there and stare at me waiting for me to pull the money out of my arse I suppose.
I figured out how to ask him if he could come tomorrow morning for the money and that I would have the cash then.
He understood and I double-checked everything and he finally left me in the peace and squalling of a 3-year old and a 1-year old retaliating against him with screams of his own.
It really depends who you rent from and the organization that provides the building maintenance because others in the Foreigners in JKL group have mentioned different prices and their companies DO provide an invoice...
I mean once you're in, would they actually ask you to leave since you can't pay in cash???
This is a FIRST since moving here that I've been 100% locked out...an experience not worth repeating or paying for - in case you were wondering.
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