So, basically I've done all the necessary academic stuffs (units enrollment, student card, etc.), but I'm still struggling to find a permanent accomodation. The off campus housing officer was very helpful, when I got there for the first time, he said that it is his job to make me feel comfortable... talkin' 'bout being a professional eh mate.. They gave a good service, they even allocate a car with a driver to take me to three of my choices for one day, all for free.
Well I found the first one to be quite nice, but the landlady asks for a huge amount of bond. Oh yeah, before I continue, I better explain how different it is if you want to find an off-campus accomodation here compared to Jakarta. Here, everything is done through papers, so they are official matters. If you want to rent an accomodation (rooms, apartments, share houses, etc.) you have to pay a bond fee. A bond fee usually 4 times the weekly rent, they are not allowed to ask more than that. The bond money will be put into a separate account, and it will be returned to you at the end of your tenancy contract IF you manage to keep everything intact.
Ok, so the first place that I went to is quite nice, but the landlady asks for $1500 for the bond. The reason was because she's gonna buy me a microwave, a washing machine (she wouldn't let me use hers), and some kitchen utensils (while at the same time, she wouldn't let me to cook... how strange is that..). I consulted it with Kosta (the off-campus housing officer), and he told me to forget it.
Well, I found the second place is better. It is owned by an Australian, but he's working with a well-known international electronics company, and he has to go back and forth to Indonesia all the time. What makes me happy was he is quite familiar with Indonesian culture because all the trip that he had done, plus he had a fiancee in Jakarta. The house was very nice, it's clean and he let me use the washing machine, the kitchen was superb and he allowed me to cook. Plus it's a quiet suburb area and he asks for the normal amount of bond. The rent is quite cheap and reasonable. The thing is, he has to go to Jakarta for two weeks, and that leaves me homeless for the time being. I haven't found another temporary accomodation, I have to check out from the Perth YHA (my current temporary accomodation) on Monday. I already speak with the volunteers about that and they said they'll do something about it. Well I hope they will do something about it, or else I might have to roam the streets at night... that or I can go to a hotel and pay extra money for it. Well, I got 3 days left to worry about that, in the meantime I'll just going to enjoy Perth.
Okay mates, I'll see you later!
posted by fleizenkruz @ 6:48 PM
