First Two Weeks in Bay Area

I became fond of Bellevue in three months. However, I forgot the heaviness in heart amidst hectic packing and checking out spree on the day of departure. Little did I know that my first two weeks in Berkeley would be so un-welcoming. I had booked a room in a Hotel room near UC Berkeley before leaving Washington. On reaching the Hotel in Berkeley at 10pm in the night, I was informed that someone had cancelled my reservation. I am still searching for that person did that. Hotel looked quite dazzling from outside but it was such a run down place from inside. The bathtub, broken sink, furniture, spider-web and ambiance all gave me an impression as if I was in 1960. I decided to checkout immediately and call a cab. A cab came and the driver was Nepali. It was already 11pm. All the restaurants were closed. I was dead hungry. How could an area near a university campus be such dead closed so early ? The driver stopped near a Chinese hotel which looked closed. I called the manager from outside the gate and he answered, "I will open the hotel later, go and have coffee and come back at 11:30pm". I told the driver to go to another hotel. I checked in an expensive hotel and after staying there for two nights I felt it was ripping me off by wallet, so I went to another cheaper Motel, the best known Motel in the town.

A new challenge in my life was to find an apartment as soon as possible. I never had to do apartment hunt before in life. Every morning I would get up, sincerely search Craigslist, seek appointments and meet Realtors, property owners and who not. Sometimes I got frustrated, but sometimes I met interesting people. I did this for two weeks, every day without failure. I would visit India grocery stores with the hope of finding some housing ad. I came to know of an Indian realtor and I decided to give it a shot there. On visiting the realtor's office, I found an Indian lady (I think she was wife of the owner) at the office who was from Hyderabad. Following is an excerpt of conversation with her:

Me: I am looking for an apt in Berkeley. Do you have anything available ?

She: When do you want to move in ?

Me: If possible, now.
She: No, we don't have anything now. We will have one available on Oct 19 and one on Oct 9

Me: Do you think any tenant might move out by Oct 1st ?

She: If I FOUND, I'll call (pronounced as kyaall) you. PEOPLES sometime move out before lease ends.
........

She was giving me different options and every sentence she uttered had some grammatical mistake or other, and she was speaking so confidently in typical southy accent. Although I saw two units she suggested, but I didn't opt for either. Both were quite badly maintained and environment was dirty. However, I still remember her punch line, "If I FOUND, I will kyaalll you".

Later that day, I went to Point Richmond area in East Bay area as I was getting an apt for 3-4 months lease. I wasn't even there to meet the realtor, I decided not to rent to an apt in that locality. I was passing through the most crime-proned areas and even during day I could sense that. However, later on the realtor (young American-Asian) guy told me that people in Point Richmond area wanted to keep the area as it was. He told me, Pixar company was started there. Essentially he was trying to entice me.

Next day, I had another appointment with an American landlady and she showed me a lot of her attitude. My first question to her, "So, where do you live ?". She answered, "Do you need to know where I live ?". I immediately decided not to rent her apt, although I stayed and let her show me her two units. The units were nice and furnished. She kept cracking meaningless jokes. I left her units with a sense of failure in finding an apt.

The following day, I had an appointment with another person who I later found out to be a billionaire. On seeing him for the first time, I got an impression that he must be a janitor as he was wearing shabby and dirty clothes. He then showed me an apt which was stacked up with antiques and different collectibles from China and India. He told me about his real estate business and other foundation work. The next day, he came to my Motel since he wanted me to show his other two properties in San Fransisco and East Bay area. He talked about his past and how he made all his property. I was impressed. Then he told me that I could stay in one of his mansions for almost free but in return I would have to develop some software to be sold to Google. Later on I decided not to rent any of his apt. At some point of time, I was wondering if he was like that old man in the movie, "Hostel".

It was almost two weeks I was staying in that Motel. Every morning, I would call frontdesk and extend my stay for another day. Meanwhile I befriended the manager there and his assistant who was Nepali. The assistant was excited as Prashant Tamang became the 3rd Indian Idol. I had not eaten home-cooked food for more than two weeks.

Eventually, I started seeing some light of hope. I visited the most posh area in Berkeley, Emeryville. I increased my budget limit so that I could find something. The real estate agent showed me an apt on 30th floor in a posh complex offering a nice view of San Francisco and Pacific ocean. Pacific Ocean was around 500 meters away from that complex. Strong breeze and sunlight would be there always. It was a high-end luxurious apartment. However, USD 1700 per month was beyond my budget. However, I do dream to stay in such apt someday. After that, I found an apt in a complex very nearto it within an affordable rent. However it was unfurnished. I had to furnish it. The landlady is the best landlady I have ever met. She is a Filipino. Here I am little settled now, going to work regularly and eating home-cooked food.