American-Albanian Story

Hello my friends!

In 3 days will be two months since I am in a new country. Local people ask me often how I like the country and the people. For these 2 months I already was in many different situations and dealt with many people,  still operating with only 3 words in local language “Thanks, how much and goodbye”.  However was able to do things and find my ways around. People are very benevolent, helpful and able to understand my needs, even without me saying anything. Seems as they just have a simple desire to help a person in need.
However, America got me here in the nastiest way possible with its values-obsession with money, lying, abusive attitude, status issue and hypocrisy. If the whole story would not be in writing, I would not believe it myself.

Nevertheless, it really happened and after I would describe the story the way I experienced it, I will put our original communication as a proof that it was the real story and speaking the same language does not help for understanding

WHY that RENTING HAPPENED

Before going to Albania I found a place for renting, but a person broke the promise the last moment when a ride was scheduled and everything was packed. I panicked and rented the first place available. It was a real paradise place in Kanine, as well as the owner, if I would drive. But I only walk. When I started to look for a place to buy which I needed to get residency I realized that it is would be hard as property owners do not give keys to real estate agencies and every time complicated arrangements should be made. I needed to be in the city.
 Apartment I saw was not good for living. There was space only for sleeping and eating, but I was said in a couple of weeks a better place would be available and I could move there. I did not know how much it would take to find a place of my own. I told owner the purpose of renting. We agreed for 3-4 months. Then it came out that a real Owner was living in USA and her Relative took care of things
In result I had to deal with both of them. One of the reason for renting was a nice real estate girl, who tried to help me with everything. For a new person without a language it was a paramount….But soon she resigned leaving me alone with 2 owners-American and Albanian .
It happened to be a disaster.

PROBLEM STARTED

From the very beginning, American owner kept asking real estate and me how long I was going to stay, even after I signed a contract for 3 month and pay rent and deposit. She did not want to pay fee to agency. She asked for my contacts and explained me her biography a few times.  I had no answer, as I did not know how long it would take. Once she wrote that some Italians was interested in apartment. By that time unexpectedly I saw a place which could work with my main idea –working with autistic kids. It was hard to handle financially, but I couldn’t miss that opportunity
As soon as we signed pre-contract, I immediately let American know. Her first reaction was
-You signed the contract for 3 months
-But you said there was Italians waiting
-What are you talking about? Which Italians? There are no Italians
I thought maybe I confused something. I apologized
BUT
It came out it were Italians, but they would rent later and American Lady was irritated how I could not consider that
From that incident I made a conclusion that American is completely focused on her issues and expect others get along smoothly with her issues….otherwise…her reaction was negative and very expressive, but I could not imagine how  it’d be developed further
It was upsetting and I tried to communicate with her as little as possible focused on my issues

THE ISSUE WITH THE  DOOR

Some problem happened with the door. Apartment had no window. The only way for fresh air was the terrace door. The house across was a disaster as it was a huge dog with thunderous voice. The owners left him alone on terrace, and t dog he was running along and barking by hours. Maybe he was bored, maybe missed the owners.
Anyway, problem happened with the door. I hoped Albanian owner would handle it.  Usually owners took care of fixing when I rented places. This time I felt bad asking for help as Albanian owner always involved American lady, giving me the phone to listen her endless talking. She got involved talking about how careful I need to be. That she worked all her life and how hard for her was to buy those apartments and ….the rest. He could not fix it and asked for a master. Master fixed. I paid. I developed some fear that something would happen in apartment….and I tried to use things as less as possible. …. I’ve heard million times that I was given a master to fix the door, but I didn’t appreciate help enough

PROBLEMS with BUYING my PLACE

The process of buying was not easy, as banks did not want to open the account for non-residents. It was big problems with transferring money. Now everybody is considered a criminal by default when dealing with money. American bank didn’t want to release my money insisting that I had to come in person. It was a problem with dollars-euros. It was a very hard time
Meanwhile one day it was a lot of noise from next door apartment. Linen was drying on the terrace. I realized that a better apartment got free to use, but nobody offered me to move there. I was waiting to result of the process of buying not sure that it would be successful. Then I wanted to bring that issue about staying the rest of the time in another apartment. Mine was strangely made: shower and toilet was put so close together that none could be used comfortably. There were no place to work on computer. It was strange as it considered one of the best areas in the city
The house I was buying was not in a good shape and required a serious repair. Consider that wintertime was coming, so it made sense to stay in warm apartment while house would be prepared for living.
However, “Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.” I did nothing waiting for the end of process

BIG DAY

It was an evening and next day we had to sign an agreement. Big Day!
It depends on many people, one depending on another and I felt a little bit exited and worried which is natural for such situation
I got a message from American owner to meet with Albanian owner the very next morning in order to give him money he paid for water and electricity. It was a few days before my first month was over. I wrote that it was not a good time for me as it is a morning for signing agreement. I will do it different time. She did not like it saying that he was going to the hospital.  I said I would give him money when he returns/ That Lady belongs to people who does not take “NO” for an answer. She kept insisting, writing, at she did not know when he would return, as she was not a Doctor. He had coronary issue-maybe he returns next day, maybe never
WOW
A relative is seriously ill and a person worries about money, which came out 12 euros. Then things went crazier. It came out that he was not good because he did My Job. He paid My Bills staying 2 hours in line, where he fell down and people brought him home. He did it For Me. He tried to help me and I was not able to appreciate it. All that was written in big letters
Big Day of contract signing was poisoned with that stuff.
Next day I told that to a local person. He was laughing about 2 hours in line. Paying bills usually takes 2 minutes. I have learned bills payment rules. I check on my own a few places. Empty places-come and pay. He could give me bills and I would pay my bills myself with no problem if I would have them. They decided to “help” me and now they blamed me for that. . Why they created that entire story with old sick person doing My Work or trying to help me and now blaming me for all that. It seemed as ridiculous situation.
I said how uncomfortable I felt about those people always reproaching and blaming me. In addition, I have to deal with both of them. He said I should NOT deal with such sick situation. Since the Albanian owner didn’t speak English he called him. Albanian owner said if I did not want to stay I should leave, paying rent plus deposit for one month. It seemed as a fair solution. At least I would be free from those blames
We started to arrange for me moving out. A woman who rented the house I bought invited me to stay with her until she would move out according to the law. Sellers invited me to stay with them. Everything was in a human way. Everybody was kind and helpful-not by words, but in actions
I hoped to have the same with my America-Albanian owners. I wrote to Albanian owner that I prepared the bill payment to return to him and ready to move out
BUT
As usual, Albanian owner directed me to American lady and…..craziness began all over….messages…..voice messages. Albanian owner gave the phone number of my helping person to Lady also. It was so bad of him. I thought very nicely of him and thought he also suffered from her endless talking usually giving the phone to me. My helping person called me saying that Lady left him 20 messages. He worked hard the whole day. At home, he had a little baby. I felt terrible, my neck pain that I developed from that stressful situation increased. It was impossible to do packing. I asked that person to help me with a car as earlier as possible, shut the computer and started to pack the stuff. With headache and pain neck, it was extremely difficult. I made many mistakes in packing

AT HOME

American Lady spoiled so many important Vlora’s events for me, but she would never agree with anything. She only focus on two things during the whole story. Contract and Money. Not all other things existed for her.
 I tried unpacking stuff in order to find necessary things in order to go outside to buy some food as stress always increase appetite. I had to return the apartment key and money for water-electric bills. Packing was a mess. American Lady bombarded my helping friend with her usual endless messages. I felt terrible, as he was a busy person, but nothing I could do without Internet. Headache was excruciating and neck pain increased. Finally, I was ready to go outside, meet Albanian owner, returned those 12 euros and a key. I wanted to meet with him in the office where I signed the contract, so, it would be a translator and a witness. 
My friend called and brought news. American Lady would leave me alone if I would give her 75 euro. If I agree, he could come, get money and the key and put the end to that story. Besides, he was driving and I even did not know that way to my home. Of course, I agreed. At that moment, I was ready to give much more only those people would disappear from my life. I thought that finally I was free
However, “Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.”
At evening, the helping friend called and said that American Lady called him and said that somebody saw me on the terrace of her apartment (maybe that barking dog?). She said I made a copy of the key and continued living in her apartment. I begged him to block her somehow. At that time I had problem with the water, did something wrong as after hard night my mind did not work properly.
As I worked in psychiatry field for many years it was a sign of not healthy condition of that Lady and I could have an attitude as to a troubled person, but that Albania owner-professor. What about him. They seemed played together harassing now both of us.
I paid for that place for one month 375 euros to owners + 75 euro to agency. Internet cost me 50 euros.
Still there was no peace. Harassment continued.
WHY?
New surprise awaited me when Internet finally was set up.

INSIDIOUS TREACHEROUS PLAN

American Lady wrote that I had a special plan from the very beginning to lie to everybody including agency.
It was already too much even for the sick paranoiac person. I thought about sharing that abusive information with agency to prevent future tenants from similar experience. I went to agency and learned that there was completely new staff. I talked to a manager and then I wrote to American Lady that if she would not apologize for Harassment and return some money as an action to support her understanding I would do some certain actions.
Of course, Lady was sure that nothing wrong was done on their part and kept reminding me how many good things they did to me and how unappreciative I was to them
Suddenly Albanian Owner, which did not know English, started to write to me in perfect English. and the new accusations came based on knowing all the laws. He joined the American Lady version and I was described as kind of criminal, who created a Plan to bring troubles to honest respectful people, who tried to do the best for me. I paid them back with severe ungratefulness. I didn’t have respect for their health in spite of the fact that they did paid my bills even being in a sick conditions and helped me with Internet in order I could have a pleasure
It was strange to hear that for a person in a new country without language who tried to get apartment Internet served that purpose of Pleasure. It seems as me and those people lived in different realities. I tried to explain Albanian owner things from my side letting him know that I exist not only in their minds, but also independently of them and have responsibility for all my actions
He preferred to let American Lady to deal with that and she send me numerous messages to repeating previous stuff with old and new accusations mentioning that Albanian Owner is a former mayor and a professor and more
Now my mind was better, I had more time to read those endless messages, I wrote to American Lady  that people of Status can say and do whatever they want about others and no point to negotiate with them
I would try to forget them, and that terrible experience as it never happened…I hope to put it to END

NEW TURN

However, it was not the end yet. Lady blew up with indignation why I send her SMS at 2 am. I explained her that we have morning that I just sent her silent message. That people from different countries send me messages or emails any time they want. Then it was a long story why it was not good for her and again for her. More complaining why I treat her so badly although she did everything to help me. In addition, when I asked to pay 75 euros she agreed…making me a favor. She was twisting facts around so easy and elegantly! It was again long messages about what great people they are and soon she will come and meet with me…..so I could see their greatness myself
Meanwhile, neck pain and arm numbness did not let me sleep and since the story with renting still could not have no end other than leaving me with blaming and accusation. I send her a message that her seeing me is not a good idea as I already developed a pinch nerve from all that stress from both of them.
She again blew up with claim why I am calling at nighttime; even the night was by me. I said that pain did not let me sleep. She started to tell me that it was because of the weather and ended up with me bringing them all that stress and she have no idea why it all happened. They are great people and never lie to anybody and tried to help as with everything, but I has sent Albanian owner thousand messages bringing him a great stress.

FORMER MAYOR and PROFESSOR

In the beginning when I have learned that Albanian Owner was a former university professor, I felt sorry for him thinking that because of economy he had to deal with that American Lady. I felt sorry for him and wanted to avoid troubles for him. However, it came out that he was playing together with her and his Status was one of their means to press a person and get what they needed. It would show again that speaking the same language is not helpful, when mentality is different