Our home-hunting at the end of July was rushed and frenetic. We had two different appartments (our budget doesn't allow for house rental) rented out from under us! When we lost the second one, we were desperate because it seemed as though everything was being taken up and if we waited any longer there just wouldn't be anything available come September. Thankfully, the real estate agency that had shown us a few places had a flat open up that met our needs the very same day we were given the negative on that second apartment. Sight unseen (if you don't count photos), we agreed to rent it and paid the 400 euro reservation fee.
Tuesday we drove to Granada to sign the contract and get the keys. We had originally wanted to wait until September, but the owner of this particular place said we had to sign by August 15th at the latest or look for somewhere else to rent because he didn't want to have the place empty a whole month especially with the high demand for swimming pools (it has a pool) during these hot summer days.
We grudgingly agreed...and so now we're paying half a month's rent without much chance to even be in the place. It's not, however, all bad news. I asked to take vacation the last week of August since I was anticipating this move and now, there won't be any need to ask favors of the landlord to let us in a few days early in order to get settled before my work begins September 3rd.
Anyway, as I said, we drove to Granada after "quiet time" Tuesday to sign the papers, taking advantage of the fact that Wednesday was a national holiday (no work for me) and therefore planning to stay the night. Our seven o'clock appointment to sign the papers ended up lasting over an hour! Then we hurriedly followed the owner to the apartment, where he gave us a quick tour, after which point we dashed off to the school to meet the director and her girls (one of whom will be in Emily's group) and also actually see the school.
I had originally arranged to meet the director and her family at the school around eight o'clock...but it was about quarter to nine by the time we got there (!). Thank goodness this is Spain! They very graciously had waited for us and then proceeded to give us a tour of the school--no rush.
Norte, meanwhile had been a mess at the real estate agent's (we couldn't leave him in the car with the temperatures above 90º), and I am quite certain he caused a very bad impression on our landlord, who was iffy about the dog in the first place. The last thing the man said to us before driving away was to be careful with the dog and the furniture. :( Being the persnickety dog that he is, he also hadn't gone to the bathroom at all since around 5:30 when we loaded him in the car. He will ONLY go in the empty lot next to our house. Only very recently has he begun doing his business just over the RR tracks when we take him out on his walks, but even then, he has a specific place (now covered in dog turds) and he refuses to go anywhere else!
We let him run a bit around the school grounds, but Angelines wasn't comfortable with that because she was worried he'd break some of the things they had out for the children to play with. She ended up taking him for a walk while Emily and I were given a tour of the classrooms, etc.
At the school, things calmed down a bit. Emily and the director's daughters warmed up to each other and began playing. They fed the rabbits kept in the playground (a BIG hit with Emily!) and watered the flower pots. Emily kicked off her shoes, seeming quite comfortable and just enjoyed exploring about. I was especially pleased by all that because several times now she has unexpectedly broken into tears at bedtime crying that she doesn't want to "go to school". Seeing the building and meeting some friends I think will help a lot toward changing her mind, although I'm sure there will still be many tearful nights (and mornings/days) when the day actually comes.
It was exciting to see where I'll be working. It was also, honestly, a bit daunting to think about because suddenly it was all so real: thrilling and scary all at once. I am really looking forward to beginning and I think that it will be perfect for me that my actual job description is as a teaching assistant. I'm looking at this as a very well-paid apprenticeship. :) I cannot wait to start!
Finally, around ten, we climbed back in the car to head "home". In our hurry to leave the house I had been quickly throwing food and dishes into the car, but despite planning to make omelettes for dinner, I realized only once we'd got everything unpacked, that the frying pan had been left behind! Luckily, I had thought to throw in some leftover rice and so Emily ate that, but neither Angelines or I even felt very hungry. With the stress of the evening, we'd both completely lost our appetites. We snacked on some chips I'd quickly bought at a corner store, chinese-firedrill-style, as we idled at a red light when Angelines had suddenly decided she needed ice to put on a nasty bee sting she'd got earlier that afternoon before leaving the house--her whole wrist was getting quite swollen.
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| My little hikers :) |
And just to top things off, Norte STILL hadn't gone to the bathroom. For fear of him barking and/or doing his business on the small balcony, we opted to leave him in his kennel overnight. He whined and yipped some, but quieted down after not too long. I was woken up around 2 am by his crying and took him out for half an hour...to no avail. Then again at 6 am...same story. Only when Angelines left him out on the little balcony at around 7am did he finally let loose. ...I only hope this doesn't become a habbit. We cannot have him peeing and pooping out on the terrace!
Wednesday morning after breakfast, we all took a hike in the natural park area at the top of town (about 3 min. drive). It's a lovely pine-covered area with wonderful views of the entire vega granadina and the capital city of Granada. The town we're living in is just at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains and the whole town is therefore built on an incline. It really is a beautiful area...I wish we could have found a piso a bit closer to that natural park. In any case, it's fun to think of getting to really explore and know the area. And the vegitation is a welcome change from the monotonous beauty of the olive groves in La Roda.
After our walk, we did a bit of shopping for the piso (bathmat, stool for Emily, silverware, etc.) and then decided it was best to just head back to La Roda for lunch. Emily and I took a very quick dip in the pool, which is nice, and then we packed our things and wearily headed home.
I had originally thought we'd spend the day in Granada...but the apartment doesn't have AC and Angelines had had it up to here with just about everything. Staying there certainly would have been a terrible way to spend the holiday. Coming back was a wise decision--there's no place like home.
...I just hope we can make that little place in Granada feel like home away from home in not too much time.
