900 Reais Later
December 03, 2003

I probably just spent the wisest money of my life thus far. After living in this apartment for over a year now I finally bought and air conditioner. I took advantage of the very common Brazilian custom of paying "parcelada" ... in payments. 10 payments of 66 Reais ... no interest. So, in almost a year this puppy will be paid off! ;-). If my memory serves me correctly, this is the first place I've lived in in over 2 and a half years here that has had A/C.

It took me forever (including a ridiculously hot summer last year) to decide to buy something as domestic as an A/C unit. Of course there has to be some humor to this story, right? Of course.

I asked around to find a competent guy to install the damn thing. I did it myself in NYC, but the hole was already there as well as the electrical outlet. But here there wasn't an opening in the wall, nor the right kind of outlet. So, I call a guy, he doesn't call back (now there's a surprise here!) and then he finally comes over to look at the job. He seems ok and even honest. Then I ask him for a quote and he say, "I'll call you tomorrow to give it to you". Does he call? Of course not! I'm thinking, man this guy must not like to work. Finally, a week later I get a quote out of him. I decided to get a second.

So I schedule with an actual A/C specialist company to give a free quote. Of course, no one shows up and I wait around for nothing. I call back and give them one more chance. The guy comes by, gives a lower quote (240 reais) and I say ok.I go out and buy the damn thing and they guarantee me delivery the next day while the guy will be breaking the damn hole in the wall. Does it show up ... of course not! I wait around all day and into the next ... finally it arrives. When does it arrive? In the middle of a nasty cold front which brought tons of rain and cool temps... literally, the temps dropped from probably mid-90s down into the 70s. I had to wait through the weekend for the guy to come back and install the thing ... all the while with a nice view of the rain through the hole in my wall!

Anyway, it's really hot and really humid outside (as well as outside my bedroom) ... but in here it's an oasis. I'm not leaving until winter!!

Posted by Scott at 12:40 AM