If you are familiar with the backstory of my trip, you know that all my problems were solved only as they arose (read: at the last minute). The housing problem came up in June, just a few days before departure. We tried to consult with guys who had been to this city before us, tried to search for apartments via Facebook or Google, but it was all in vain. Apartments are rented for at least 6 months and are empty (a feature of America), and there were simply no listings for houses. We had no choice but to book an inexpensive room for the first few days. I still remember how, while still in Russia, I called hotels, my voice trembling as I asked about prices and booking conditions (I will write more about the language barrier and language development later). By the way, this is a tip for everyone: call the hotel before booking it on the website or through third-party sites; you might accidentally find out about special offers, discounts, etc. One of the hotels actually met us halfway and gave us a discount because the tourist season hadn't started yet, the rooms were empty, and we were looking for a room for a whole week.
Rent a room for the first time to decide on housing once you are there. What are the pros and cons of this approach?
+the opportunity to ask colleagues and new acquaintances about possible housing options (maybe they or their friends are renting out a room, maybe they will suggest a local website or newspaper)
+the opportunity to understand which area of the city you want to live in (close to work, supermarket, bank, or maybe the beach; safe; closer to other students or, conversely, further away from them)
+the opportunity to rent shared housing with other students (find it together or just join in)
–the risk of being left without decent housing at all, as students in popular cities snap it up as early as spring
–you will have to move with all your stuff
By the way, in 2017, we found a room in advance for the whole summer that met all our criteria, and it was wonderful. No problems or hassle with moving. In my opinion, it is still better to be prudent and spend time at home looking for housing (and then just arrive to a ready-made place and enjoy life).
What actually happened in 2016? Days flew by one after another, and the day was approaching when we had to move out or pay for the motel for longer. This was what we wanted to avoid most of all, as living there all summer would have been torture. First of all, we were getting tired of each other. Constantly being together at work, then in this tiny dark room (the lack of lighting in rooms is a general problem with American hotels; they need Elena Letuchaya with a light meter). Naturally, there were no conditions for laundry or cooking, and it was expensive for a small Texas town. And finally, the location was quite questionable: the view of the main highway, gas stations, McDonald's, and Wendy's got old, the supermarket was very far away, and so was the bank (and these two places, future program participants, will top your list of the 3 most visited places).
We went to nearby apartment complexes and continued searching on the internet, but to no avail. One day, the manager offered to drive us around the city to see interesting places and sights. That day, 80% of my stereotypes about Texas were shattered, but more on that later.
An entry from my personal diary:
«June 17
...I am still in shock at what this city is actually like. It turns out we live on the very outskirts and don't see the light of day. This is an unrealistically beautiful city with stunning nature, parks, and rivers. Life is bustling here, while we just have work and home...»
This same manager helped us with housing. That's how we moved. We moved exactly to where life is bustling, a park 5 minutes away, deer, squirrels, a river, and most importantly – a supermarket and a bank ;)
