housing found
Aug. 27th, 2008 02:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
guslThe housing search sucked! After suffering so many blows to my mental health, I got a little desperate, and created a Housing Challenge for my UBC colleagues. I got sympathy and some good advice, but no actual entries.
This morning, UBC offered me a room in Marine Drive Building 2... which turns out to face the construction (doh!), as I was informed by Front Desk staff. After pleading my case unsuccessfully (this being the only room that opened up in the last 3 weeks), I continued on to explore my other choices.
I went on Craigslist again this morning looking for very fresh postings, and found a pretty promising place. I visited 4 places, but it was very clear which one I wanted.
The room is in a basement suite in Kits (W 8th + Balaclava), and it was originally meant for a couple. It's surprisingly small for a couple's room, and my rent is unsurprisingly large. I'm planning to only stay for about 4 months, so it won't break the bank. By the time I leave (January 1 or later), UBC should be offering me any room I want.
I will share the apartment with two recent college graduates (non-smoking, no pets), who are apparently quiet and clean.
I don't remember paying much attention to the kitchen. Storage is available too.
The good:
* the location
* the people
* has everything I need: furnished, laundry, etc.
The bad:
* 1 bathroom for 3 (sometimes 4 people)
* the ceiling is a bit low.
* my window is really small
My commute to UBC will probably be (in minutes): 3(bike)+10(bus)+10(walk), or 3(bike)+10(bus)+3(bike), or 10(walk)+10(bus)+10(walk), or 25(bike) forward, 15(bike) back.
The buses in Vancouver are very reliable and frequent (rather like Helsinki), so I might continue to be bikeless for a while, for a change.
This morning, UBC offered me a room in Marine Drive Building 2... which turns out to face the construction (doh!), as I was informed by Front Desk staff. After pleading my case unsuccessfully (this being the only room that opened up in the last 3 weeks), I continued on to explore my other choices.
I went on Craigslist again this morning looking for very fresh postings, and found a pretty promising place. I visited 4 places, but it was very clear which one I wanted.
The room is in a basement suite in Kits (W 8th + Balaclava), and it was originally meant for a couple. It's surprisingly small for a couple's room, and my rent is unsurprisingly large. I'm planning to only stay for about 4 months, so it won't break the bank. By the time I leave (January 1 or later), UBC should be offering me any room I want.
I will share the apartment with two recent college graduates (non-smoking, no pets), who are apparently quiet and clean.
I don't remember paying much attention to the kitchen. Storage is available too.
The good:
* the location
* the people
* has everything I need: furnished, laundry, etc.
The bad:
* 1 bathroom for 3 (sometimes 4 people)
* the ceiling is a bit low.
* my window is really small
My commute to UBC will probably be (in minutes): 3(bike)+10(bus)+10(walk), or 3(bike)+10(bus)+3(bike), or 10(walk)+10(bus)+10(walk), or 25(bike) forward, 15(bike) back.
The buses in Vancouver are very reliable and frequent (rather like Helsinki), so I might continue to be bikeless for a while, for a change.