I went to Ruifang this afternoon because I saw a spacious apartment online. I contacted the broker and she told me that I could pretty much schedule anytime I liked. She agreed to pick me up at the local train station at 2pm today. I took a train from Taipei Main Station. It only took 37 min for me to get to Ruifang Train Station. After I arrived, I saw so many tourists walking around and it was quite busy. I couldn't tell if my broker was there and I called. She answered and told me that she would be late. I told her not to worry and bought myself a soda from OK Mart.
我為了一間網路上看到的大公寓跑去瑞芳, 事先聯絡網頁上的仲介, 她跟我說時間隨我選. 於是我們說好今天下午兩點要在瑞芳火車站前見面. 我從台北火車站搭車, 三十七分鐘後就到達瑞芳火車站. 到了之後, 發現觀光客到處都是, 車水馬龍. 由於不曉得仲介會在哪等我, 於是我打電話給她, 結果她說有事耽擱會晚到, 我很善良地跟她說不用擔心, 接著走進OK便利商店買了瓶沙士解熱.
I chose to sit right next to the bus stop because there were more people but with some shade. For some reason, there was a man who couldn't stop swearing around. He tried to get on every arriving bus but most of the bus drivers refused to take him until this Mohawk-hairdo bust driver showed up. It was so sunny which meant it was damn hot. I called my broker every half an hour. She finally showed up, a full hour after our previous scheduled time.
我選了公車站牌旁人多但有樹蔭的地方坐下. 不知道為什麼, 有位老伯不停地對大家大聲髒字不絕地嚷嚷. 他試圖搭乘每一台停在車站的公車, 幾乎所有司機都趕他下車, 直到這個龐克頭司機出現, 老伯終於得逞. 太陽高照, 我熱得半死. 每半小時打電話給仲介, 等了整個小時之後她終於出現了.
It took us about 5 min to ride the scooter to the apartment. All the buildings looked extremely old but the air was really refreshing. She told me the tenants in this neighborhood could take free buses back and forth between where they live and Ruifang Train Station. There was a 7-11 in the walking distance to the apartment. Something like that is all I need to survive.
騎摩托車五分鐘左右就到公寓了, 那社區的建築物看來都相當老舊, 不過空氣清新. 她跟我說那裡有免費的社區巴士會載居民到火車站. 在不遠處有間7-11, 其實有間便利商店對我來說就足夠了.
We went into the apartment. It was very bright. After we opened the windows, the natural breeze just made its way in so easily. The apartment has a high ceiling of 460 cm. The owner made it into a duplex. It didn't look new but unused. There are two bedrooms and two restrooms(one of them is in one bedroom and the other one is right next to the kitchen). The view was amazing but unfortunately part of the "later modification of the apartment" looked undone.
進了公寓, 裡面非常明亮. 開窗之後, 自然風舒服地吹進來. 它是挑高公寓, 總高460公分, 房東把屋子改成樓中樓. 內部看來不新, 不過看來的確像沒人用過. 公寓內有兩個臥房, 兩間浴室(其中一間在主臥室內, 另一間在廚房旁邊). 看出去的外景挺迷人的, 不過很不幸地是公寓內部分"後來改裝"看起來尚未完成.
Of course we had to talk about more details of numbers. I made almost a cut in half of the original price. She wasn't thrilled about it and raised that number a thousand NTD higher(1 USD is about 30 NTD) I explained to her that this apartment was completely unfurnished which means I'll have to purchase quite a lot of furniture later. I also told her about another location which has twice of the space, all furnished, and cheaper if I calculate the rent per square foot. I told her not to stress too much. We'll both get back home and decide later. Before she took me back to the train station, she suggested me to give her some "negotiating fee"(100USD/3000NTD) If you know me well enough, you would know that I never rush into any contract. I would never give anyone any negotiating fee when the apartment still looks undone. So, I thanked her for the offer and said bye.
接著我們當然得聊數字, 房租被我砍成原價一半, 她聽了當然不會爽, 於是提議加一千元. 我說, 這房子裡面完全沒有家具, 要是真搬來, 我得多花一筆錢. 同時我也提到另外一間兩倍空間的房子, 不但家具應有盡有, 計算過後每坪價錢比這還便宜. 於是我跟她說不要給自己太多壓力, 我們可以回家好好想想再說. 在她載我回車站前, 提議我先給她"斡旋費"來幫我向房東爭取我要的價碼. 要是你認識我, 就會知道我從不馬上簽任何一種合約, 更別說還要在房子看起來還沒有裝修完成的狀況之下給錢. 我感謝她的好意, 說無論如何我都得想想再說.
When I went to the ticket office, I picked a later train to have some extra time walking around in Ruifang. It was wonderful because I felt surrounded by fresh air and endless greens wherever I walked.
當我買車票時, 刻意選了晚點的車, 這樣還能順便在當地晃晃. 無論走到哪都有新鮮空氣, 又到處都被山環繞的感覺真的很棒.
And of course, wherever I go, there must be a McDonald's!
果然, 走到哪裡都看得到麥當勞的存在!
Something happened after I passed McDonald's. I went to the riverside walkway and a guy started to follow me behind. At some point, he asked me if he could be my friend. After I loudly said "No", he asked me if he could have my number. Later he said he didn't mean any harm and I replied "likewise". After repeating "No" loudly repeatedly, I walked in a lane which was occupied by a ton of old people. I started to feel very uncomfortable and decided to walk back to the station. When I backtracked, I saw the guy getting into his car. He asked me if he could give me a ride and of course another "No" came out of my mouth. "We can find a place to talk!" he shouted and I replied with another "No, thanks!" I made sure that I was walking on the wrong side of road that he couldn't easily run me over with his white little car.
當我經過麥當當後, 發生怪事. 我轉進河邊小徑, 結果有個傢伙跟蹤我. 不久後, 他問我要不要當他朋友, 我大聲說"不要"之後, 他向我要電話, 接著又說他沒有惡意, 我回他"我也沒有". 大聲重複"不要"許多次之後, 我決定往被老人盤踞的小巷轉進. 我開始覺得噁心發麻, 於是決定回去車站那邊. 當我踏上歸途時, 正好碰到那傢伙進入自己車內. 他很熱心想載我, 但我又大喊"不用". 他又說"我們可以找地方聊天!" 接著又是另一聲"不, 謝謝!" 我故意逆他的車向走, 免得被他撞死在路上.
Same video with titles and translation
When I walked through the bridge, he drove slowly and yelled, "are you sure you don't want to talk?" and "can't you even give me your number" I replied with "Nope" and "I don't have one". And then he asked me where I live. For some reason, "America" broke the seal of my lips and he finally got lost!
當我過橋時, 他放慢速度邊開車邊大喊 "你真的不想跟我聊聊嗎?" 以及 "你連電話號碼都不給我嗎?" 我用 "不想" 與 "我沒有電話". 然後他還不死心大喊 "你住哪?" 非常莫名其妙地, "美國" 就自然地讓我脫口而出了. 也很神奇地, 他終於消失了!
Am I gonna rent that place? I have mixed feelings...
我會租嗎? 感覺很複雜...
