Like Taking Food out of a Hungry Dog’s Mouth

That is what they say getting money back from a Chinese person is like. I spent the last month in my apartment with major noise and water problems, and, given the amount I was paying for the place, it just wasn’t acceptable. I allowed the owner several attempts to solve the problem, but it always remained the same. Several times, he said he would try one more thing and if it didn’t work he would let me out of the contract. So, I spent a sleepless month with cold showers, missing many classes and a couple days of work. Finally, he agreed to let me out of the contract last week, only to change his mind the next morning. I was frustrated and upset because I was paying a lot and was very uncomfortable, and most importantly, everything was on hold until I could get the problem solved. I didnt want to have internet installed or buy items if I was going to be leaving anyway. Finally, between my agent and another friend, we were able to pursuade him to terminate the contract and refund most of my money. Nobody I know here thought it could be done. The society is so relationship-based that if you dont have the right ones it can be difficult to get anything done around here. I have run a marathon before, I graduated college after having dropped out of high-school, etc. and, from what others have told me, getting that money back was harder than either.

This last month has been a crash course for me, it has been difficult, but I have learned a lot and made some great friends. First of all, anytime I can violate a prejudicial “truism” it makes me happy, and this man did honor his agreement and he didn’t have to. I also learned something about getting things done in China. The process is slower here and patience is necessary. It is always better to solve the problem with the source. There are some pretty effective tools I’ve also discovered; there is a consumer protection number (#12315 on your phone in Qingdao) and they are supposed to be pretty effective, but I think that property complaints are out of their purview. There are other options that involve paying people to get it taken care of, but, that of course creates other potential problems.

Once a decision was made it seemed that the Universe began to conspire with me to get everything worked out. I was able to get several friends to offer advice and help directly with the owner. May holiday begins here today. This means that the hotels are booked and most offices closed over the next 8 days. This meant it was going to be very difficult to get a new place with such little time, and very difficult to get a hotel as well. Well, as luck would have it, early last week I got a call from some guy I didnt even know, he said he heard I was looking for a place (not sure how he knew that, either.) Apparently, his girlfriend was moving in with him and she needed to get her half of the rent taken care of. So, I got a place that is month to month for 1/3rd of what I was paying before. It is much more comfortable and the other roommate isn’t going to be back for another couple weeks, so I have the place all to myself. It is quiet, in a great location, has internet and, most importantly, the shower is piping hot!!!