Now I’m going to take a moment to describe my living arrangements as well as what I’m learning about the sociability here. I live in an apartment building that is one of four in a complex surrounding a gated courtyard, complete with fountain. The apartment is on the tenth floor and is very small, but tidy. I should also add that the elevators are possessed. There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living/dining room, and a closet-sized laundry/storage room. Putting the explanation into words seems to give it too much credit. It really is a very small living space. This rings especially true for me because we are only allowed in three of the nine rooms. Erin and I share a space that is big enough for two twin-sized beds and a desk with no chair. It’s very cozy, and we’ve both had to adjust a bit to sharing a room as well as sharing a closet. The floor is entirely linoleum, and without much insulation, the apartment gets very chilly—even with 60 degree weather outside. The walls are also very thin, so we hear the neighbors when they are cooking dinner, jamming out to MIA’s “Paper Planes,” and remodeling their bathroom (or building an arc or whatever they’re doing over there). All I know is that they are loud. We also live close to a school, so we hear the announcements and the orchestra music they play during what I assume is recess time. I really enjoy their recess time.
One cultural difference that is very much the opposite of that in the United States is the perception or function of the home as a space. In the US, people are not only allowed, but they are welcomed into each other’s homes. A house or apartment or “home” is a social place where people gather. Here, that is not the case. Here, home is a very private and intimate space where only family and maybe, maaayyyybeee closest friends are welcome. And it is certainly not a place to be social. People go out to be social, which is a little frustrating when being out typically costs money. They are social in cafes, restaurants, and parks—anywhere outside of the home. It is strange being unable to invite a friend or friends over for dinner or to do homework or to watch a movie. I’m sure the situation would change a bit if it had my own place and I wasn’t a guest in someone else’s home. Still, it is a very different and very interesting type of sociability...
