L’appartement

We were lucky to find a 3 bedroom apartment near our school. The building is of the Haussmann style typical of Paris with wrought iron balconies. This style of building started in the late 1800's.  We're not sure of the age of our building, but hope it stands up a at least another year. We live in a nice area and it is fairly quiet in the building and on the street (except for the occasional loud music which makes you feel like you are in college again).  It is hard to get used to apt living. You feel like it is not very private if you have the curtains and windows open.  Right now from where I am sitting I can see 5 floors of windows.  You never know if the kids are being too loud. Our wooden floor is very squeaky which is noticeably loud at night.  But, we really don’t hear much from people above or below us so I guess we are okay.

Overall we seem to have enough space.  Paige actually has a bigger room than at home and the kids have TV’s in their room which Clay loves.  It is strange to have the toilet room separate and down 2 hallways from our room.  I often find myself about ready to get in the shower and then think wait I need to use the toilet.  Then you walk to another room to wash your hands.  The toilet rooms are basically tiny closets.  The bathrooms have been remodeled fairly recently. There is a really wide entrance hallway which runs the length of the apt.  It seems crazy to have this wide, long space that is not part of a bedroom or living room.  This is where we keep kids’ scooters, the drying racks, storage dresser etc.   The ceilings are tall and have decorative moldings.  We have to take the garbage to the dungeon.  It is a locked area in the basement.  It really makes you feel like you are back in medieval times down these curved concrete steps with short ceilings.  I worry about someone shutting the door and getting trapped.

The kitchen is tiny-about the size of an average bathroom.  The appliances are nice but very different from what we are used to.  Duane calls it “man vs machine”.  It took him about 10-15 minutes to figure out how to run the stove.  I have used the oven a couple of times but am still not clear on all the symbols.  And, I tried to set the dial to a temp but it really wasn’t hot.  So, I raised the temp and voila within 8 min fish was cooked.  I guess I won’t be making a turkey for Thanksgiving as it might be like that one episode on Cheers.

Every day I look at the washing machine and decipher a new symbol or change my mind about what I think it means.  For example, there are 12 different settings, some of which state the temp.  I still haven’t figured out if water temp will go below 40 degree C.  There is a spin speed setting and I think a spin time setting which I originally thought was temperature.  (Actually now I think it is the dryer setting.) Yesterday, finally figured out the 2 options for drying but it seems to be a steam heat so everything is damp when you take it out.  Thankfully the apartment came with drying racks.  There are a few symbols I am not sure about such as a picture of a closet.  Not sure if this means clothes are folded and put in closet?  Also, there is a hanger and chair or maybe it is a bed.  Duane thinks it might be the iron.  Not sure yet if Duane’s long pants will fit.

We are lucky to be on the second floor and have windows to the outside street.  Some of our bedrooms and kitchen open to outside areas in the middle of the building.  But even though it is open to the sky, the air is not very fresh.  Sometimes you smell the sewers and mold that comes with this humid city.  It’s definitely an adjustment but we are managing well and like our location.

Our front door

The view across the street

Our kitchen