Imagine coming to a new strange city and you don't know anybody, you don't have a permanent place to stay and everything feels really fucked up. If that ever happens to you, don't worry, it's all gonna work out in the end.
This is what happened to me...
I arrived in Dundee on Tuesday, 6th of Sept, been here for 4 days now. They have been the craziest 4 days ever. I had a place checked out from Gumtree, so I went there straight away. It was a 2-bedroom flat and I was sharing with a Zambian guy. Everything looked fine at first, a bit dirty, but nothing that can't be cleaned. Then the next morning I went to have a shower, but guess what, the shower wasn't working. YAY! Only got water from the tap in the bath. Ok, no big deal, I thought. I'll just find a new place.
So I went back on Gumtree and started browsing from rooms. Found a couple, didn't really like them or I'd have to wait a week to move in, which wasn't an option, cause the Zambian guy wanted me out as soon as possible. My mistake really, shouldn't have told him that too soon. So on Wednesday I found this flat in city center, really close to Uni. It's owned by this old Nigerian lady, so I thought it would fine and all. I was ready to move in, but then she asked me to wait and I thought maybe I'll find something sooner than that. The next day came and I still didn't have anything and the Zambian guy said that a friend of his is coming and wants the room right away. Ok, so that was around 6 PM on Thursday evening.
Earlier that day I'd gotten a taxi from downtown and asked the taxi driver if he would help me move later. He said yes and I got his number. All fine and good. So I called the taxi driver, said I need to take my things to the Nigerian lady's flat today and he came to pick me up. Everything still good, he helped me move my stuff up to the third floor and everything. :)
So there I was, in my horrendous pink room in the Nigerian lady's flat (she was still a "lady" at that point). I thought that now would be a good time to take a real shower, so... I went to the bathroom and guess what (AGAIN) - there was NO shower. Like, at that last place the shower was just broken. But she actually didn't have one. There was a bath with a cold tap and a hot tap. So she was using a bucket to wash herself. Oh man, that was some crazy ass "luck" I had with the showers. So I got upset, maybe overreacted just a little (but I was already on the edge from all the other crap I'd gone through) and told her I can't stay here. Damn, she got soooo upset with me. I asked if I could stay until Sunday and she wanted me to pay like 100 or more pounds for that. Fuck that, so I asked how much for just one night. 40 pounds, YAY (that's sarcasm, btw). So I started calling people, I was so nervous. Called these 2 guys whose flat I'd looked at before, they still said I couldn't move in cause the had to give everybody a fair chance. And another one as well. They both offered to put me up for the night, but I couldn't carry all my stuff there.
So I called the hotels and hostels, EVERYTHING was booked (except Hiltons, but c'mon). Then I called M, but he couldn't really help me either, except with money. And that's when I remembered the taxi driver! I called, he picked up straight away, I told him I can't stay here and I need him to pick me up and he was there in 2 minutes. He said he'd thought that something dodgy was going on with the Nigerian woman so he wasn't really that surprised when I called.
So once again, he helped me carry all my stuff down, back into the taxi and off we went. Just driving around the city, I had no idea what was happen to me. Then he said that his "lunch" break (he's working nights, I think it was 10 PM already or smth) is coming up and let's go drink some coffee at his place and discuss my situation. So we did. And then something happened that made me think that maybe not all people in Dundee are assholes. He offered me his spare bedroom for a few nights, just out of the goodness of his heart. Of course I took it, I didn't have anyplace else to go. So that's where I was on Thursday night, sleeping at A's house. Man, was I glad that I didn't have to spend the night out on the streets with all my 5 bags (why do I have so much shit anyway???). Thank u soo much :)
The next morning I went to check out the student accommodation, 93 pounds a week!!! WTF. And then as I was sitting in McDonalds, drinking my coke and eating a cheeseburger, I remembered that one of the adds said that there's a viewing for a flat on Friday. So I called, the guy said he's at the flat right now and I went to see it. I was waiting in front of the house with two other people, a girl and a guy and they also said they're here to see the flat. They were really friendly and I liked them from the start :). So basically, long story short, we decided to get the flat together. It's a really nice flat, big living area that is separated from the kitchen by glass doors. 2 bedrooms, one for me, one for them. Everything is so clean, the shower is working!!! And the landlord is really nice as well.
So here I am now, sitting behind my kitchen table, drinking coffee and writing about my horrible 4 days in Dundee, which just seem like a really bad memory right now.
Everybody can come and visit me anytime, just let me know. Like I said, biiig living room ;)
Take care guys, and if you ever find yourself in a similar situation - don't worry too much, it's all gonna work out in the end :)
I'll post some pictures later today.
Cheers!
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