Brussels Fact: It is 242 miles away from home if you drive, that makes it 36 miles closer than driving to Lancaster. So much for a year abroad!
The first house we went to see was amazing. There are no other words for it. It was a newly renovated house (not actually finished yet) all brand new furniture, well decorated. Perfect, we thought. About half way through the viewing the landlord tells us that he doesn't accept students. So we told him that I am a student, he looks a bit taken-aback but continues to show us around and that its not really a problem. We leave the house on a high. This is the one. So, once we're back at the hotel I text and email him to say we definitely want the room and we spend the rest of the evening waiting for his reply whilst planning what we're going to do with the rest of the weekend now we don't need to keep house hunting. By the morning we still haven't heard back so we decide to call.
"Sorry Rebecca, it's not you, you're a lovely girl and I'd love to give you the room but I've got to stick to my rule of not taking students".
He was dumping me before it had even begun, "it's not you, it's me" and he hadn't even had the guts to say it to my face. With this, we were back at square one! Onwards and upwards. Didn't want your silly room with views over the city anyway...Over the course of the weekend we saw a room with no windows and a sofa bed to sleep on, a room where "the plants (including a large palm tree) must stay, the flat is feng shui" and a room that was barely furnished amongst others. Another really good room came along but they already has someone interested that wanted the room for 12 months. We even booked a very last minute viewing just to have him cancel on us.
We left Brussels without having found somewhere for me to stay. Typical.
Once we got back to England I checked my email, "You have a new message from an Appartager* member"
This message was from a lady I have been waiting for a reply from for over a week, I think she's been away, it was always a lovely looking house, big rooms. In short I loved it. She was offering me the chance to go and visit. Now that I was back in England. Great. I emailed her back, on the off chance that she will let me take the room without meeting her which I didn't think was likely. But.....she said yes! She is going to send me some photos this evening and then if that is all ok she will send me a contract to sign. Watch this space but I might not have to borrow a tent or sleep in a cardboard box.
Lesson: No matter how much preparation you do, you still might not find what you're looking for. Good luck to anyone else going out on their year abroad and sorting out accommodation. To those of you who had a room sorted out for you by your school/uni/employer, I hope you appreciate how lucky you are!
Now for my last 11 days in the UK, scary times!
*Appartager is the flat share site I've been using to search for rooms.
