In order to be considered for renting a flat here, you need to fill in a long application, agree to all the rules and make a deposit by check. Since we do not have checks yet (takes 3-6 weeks from order to delivery – apparently the makers are really busy) and electronic transfer takes time (by then someone else might already present the check), I had to go and take out the deposit in cash. Now, the ATM’s here give out only $500 at a time, so I had to take out cash many times and use many different cards (the machine would stop me after 2 takes by one card). I was prepared to get a security guy behind me asking what I am doing there and where have I got all the cards from. Fortunately no-one was looking and I got to take out the cash and march on to my husband’s office where we counted the money and signed the papers needed. Then I took the papers and money to the realtor’s where they asked for some more info and made copies of our passports and counted the money. Very old fashioned indeed!

But apparently our application and the documents impressed the landlord, since I just got the news from the realtor that we have been approved as tenants, so my efforts for the past 10 days have paid off and we will have a place to live from Feb 1st.

Now to the next step – the flat is not furnished. I get to familiarise myself with the furniture rental companies and furniture stores soon…