That's the difference between third world countries and "first class mankind", I guess.
Remember I told you there's been a misunderstanding about my aplication to a homestay service? They took me for a certain Roberta and placed me with a Phillipine family in a Latin neighborhood. All I didn't order for.
Well, I complained and they apologized, than fixed it! I'll stay in 100% American townhouse in Valley Village. Cool! Is this a happy ending? I hope so!
By the way, I'm officially unemployed since yesterday.
April 02, 2010
March 28, 2010
Counting the days to quit my job
Besides the homestay issue, I haven't been able to study for my trip. I'm worried about that. I've just started to read "The Five C's of Cinematography". It's great. Really helpful.
I hope I'll have more time when I quit my job. I'll work until this Thursday (Apr2). After that, I'll be completely devoted to my studies. That's a deal.
I hope I'll have more time when I quit my job. I'll work until this Thursday (Apr2). After that, I'll be completely devoted to my studies. That's a deal.
Homestay soap opera - Episode 3
That friend of a friend has a vacant room in Van Nuys. That's a good possibility although this city isn't in my list. At least I would be living with people familiar to where I come from.
Let's wait and see what the homestay company's got to me. I guess they'll send me news till the end of this week.
Let's wait and see what the homestay company's got to me. I guess they'll send me news till the end of this week.
March 25, 2010
Homestay soap opera - Episode 2
(or Are aliens all the same?)
If an ordinary citizen treats all aliens as the same, ok. I can understand that but I disagree, of course. But what about a company tailored to welcome foreigners?
As I told you in my last post, there's been a huge misunderstanding about my stay in US. They've put me with a Phillipine family with a roomate called Roberta. (Who the heck is Roberta?) Now the mistery is solved. "It seems your application was confused with another Brazilian student who requested a roommate", they said. All right. One Brazilian, two Brazilians... What's the difference? Put them together and colect the money!
Of course that's nothing I asked for. My special requests were completely neglected. Still, I insist with USH.
Let's give them another chance. Why not? I'm fair enough to do that. But I won't give up on my cities list! Or my private room! Neither make a fool of myself if my host family starts to speak Tagalog among them in my face knowing that I can't understand a word of that. And then USH replied:
Why do I have the feeling they're really saying "stop complaining and be happy with what we get you, alien"? Maybe because those are the standard excuses from Brazilian companies on any subject. They always say they'll do everything possible -- and then offer the only thing they actually want to provide (preferably with no effort and great profits). Humpf...
Let me tell you a naked truth about Brazilian culture: Brazilian means survivor. We never ever give up. We always find a way -- with or without the system.
I've got the contact of a friend's friend that is living in L.A. for years. I guess he's "majored" in American way of life. I'll start with that. Maybe he has some good tips. I'll find the best place to stay. That's a promisse.
If an ordinary citizen treats all aliens as the same, ok. I can understand that but I disagree, of course. But what about a company tailored to welcome foreigners?
As I told you in my last post, there's been a huge misunderstanding about my stay in US. They've put me with a Phillipine family with a roomate called Roberta. (Who the heck is Roberta?) Now the mistery is solved. "It seems your application was confused with another Brazilian student who requested a roommate", they said. All right. One Brazilian, two Brazilians... What's the difference? Put them together and colect the money!
Of course that's nothing I asked for. My special requests were completely neglected. Still, I insist with USH.
Let's give them another chance. Why not? I'm fair enough to do that. But I won't give up on my cities list! Or my private room! Neither make a fool of myself if my host family starts to speak Tagalog among them in my face knowing that I can't understand a word of that. And then USH replied:
Please be aware that homestay is based on availability which means that hosts must be able to accommodate you in their schedule and based on your profile information, agree to host you. So the locations that you indicated in your file will be based on availability. Regarding your preference for an "American family," we'll be happy to place you with one of our many diverse, American hosts. Since we do not indicate host's ethnicity in their file, we can only ensure you that they are American, have been visited and interviewed by the Director of USH, have undergone a criminal background check and thus, determined as quality homestay hosts for our students.
Why do I have the feeling they're really saying "stop complaining and be happy with what we get you, alien"? Maybe because those are the standard excuses from Brazilian companies on any subject. They always say they'll do everything possible -- and then offer the only thing they actually want to provide (preferably with no effort and great profits). Humpf...
Let me tell you a naked truth about Brazilian culture: Brazilian means survivor. We never ever give up. We always find a way -- with or without the system.
I've got the contact of a friend's friend that is living in L.A. for years. I guess he's "majored" in American way of life. I'll start with that. Maybe he has some good tips. I'll find the best place to stay. That's a promisse.
March 24, 2010
Homestay soap opera - Episode 1
(Or who the heck is Roberta?)
My Goodness! I thought that kind of thing only happened in 3rd world countries. I was deadly wrong. I've signed for a homestay by USH. They've sent me six messages at once confirming the applying. And you know, I must confess I'm kind of lazy to read all that.
But when I finally read them I found that was the smallest of my problems. I wrote on my application that I would stay until July 6th. They've sent me a nice confirmation:
Are they kidding me? I'll stay for almost three months! So I've sent them a message warning about the slightly little mistake. They replied just to be sure:
I beg your pardon, but who the f... is Roberta?
After that, I decided to read all the information really really carefully. And I notice that my family speaks Tagalog. What's that? Never heard of it! Thanks to Google now I know they speak it in Phillipines. And thanks to Wikipedia I know Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia.
As if it wasn't already too much for me, they live in North Hollywood, and this city wasn't in my list of special requests. (Read here)
What do I do? Couldn't help myself. Had a serious talk to them. Now I'm really worried about where I'll sleep when I arrive in LA.
Is that just because I'm Latin American? Is this the way I'll be treated during all my stay in US? Do they think I'm stupid? Can't they care about offering a good service? Do they think I'll accept anything just because I'm a foreigner? Nobody's doing me a favor, I'm paying for all and it's a lot. Really expensive. I'll take nothing but what I asked for. Period.
PS: When I started this blog I thought of telling my adventures. Should've remembered: be careful what you wish for!
My Goodness! I thought that kind of thing only happened in 3rd world countries. I was deadly wrong. I've signed for a homestay by USH. They've sent me six messages at once confirming the applying. And you know, I must confess I'm kind of lazy to read all that.
But when I finally read them I found that was the smallest of my problems. I wrote on my application that I would stay until July 6th. They've sent me a nice confirmation:
Welcome to the US and to sunny California! We are pleased to have chosen a homestay for you while attending New York Film Academy. Your 4 Weeks 5 Days stay will be from 04/25/2010 to 05/27/2010.
Are they kidding me? I'll stay for almost three months! So I've sent them a message warning about the slightly little mistake. They replied just to be sure:
Thank you for your email. So I understand that you will be staying until July 6th, not May 27th. Will Roberta, your roommate, also be staying until July 6th and sharing the bedroom with you? If she is moving out May 27th, then you will be charged for private room from May 28th until July 6th. Please confirm if that is correct. Thank you!
I beg your pardon, but who the f... is Roberta?
After that, I decided to read all the information really really carefully. And I notice that my family speaks Tagalog. What's that? Never heard of it! Thanks to Google now I know they speak it in Phillipines. And thanks to Wikipedia I know Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia.
As if it wasn't already too much for me, they live in North Hollywood, and this city wasn't in my list of special requests. (Read here)
What do I do? Couldn't help myself. Had a serious talk to them. Now I'm really worried about where I'll sleep when I arrive in LA.
Is that just because I'm Latin American? Is this the way I'll be treated during all my stay in US? Do they think I'm stupid? Can't they care about offering a good service? Do they think I'll accept anything just because I'm a foreigner? Nobody's doing me a favor, I'm paying for all and it's a lot. Really expensive. I'll take nothing but what I asked for. Period.
PS: When I started this blog I thought of telling my adventures. Should've remembered: be careful what you wish for!
March 11, 2010
Finding a place to stay
Although I've signed for roomates.com, I've decided to go for a home-stay. Costs are almost the same and a company will help me to find a place. It's better than just search one-on-one. And safer!
Suprisingly, I've been contacted through the site, but potential roomates asked me to come by and see the place, wich I won't be able to do 'cause I'll arrive just a week from the classes start. So I guess it wouldn't be wise if I let that to solve in just seven days. I'm eliminating problems before they even begin.
NYFA's LA Housing provided me a huge list of apartments, condos - even motels - and home-stay services. I've chosen Universal Student Housing. Seems good and it's the cheapest among companies alike. I'll tell you later if it meets my standards.
There's a special requests item on the application form. I thought of what would really bother me: the family mustn't be military neither have strong religious beliefs, preferably Democrats and I'll accept dogs only if it's a house. I don't oppose to kids except if they're spoiled little brats.
I've chosen some cities as well, according to a little research I did. I guess it's always wise to do that. When I moved to Sao Paulo (Brazil) I've done the same. Looked for researches mainly about ethnicity (avoiding places with a low percentage of white people 'cause I want to live in America not just in L.A. territory); income (above $50,000 median household at least) and education (almost always attached to income). You can find that information by neighborhood in Mapping L.A., a Los Angeles Times project. Those data are closely linked to violence statistics. The higher they are the lower's the violence. Haven't you ever consider that when choosing a place to live? You'd better!
So I came to this list of suitable cities within 5 miles from NYFA: Burbank, West Hollywood, Studio City (and Universal City), Toluca Lake (and West Toluka Lake), Sherman Oaks, Valley Village. I don't know if I guessed right. Maybe's pure bullshit. But doing that makes me feel secure in a hostile environment.
Suprisingly, I've been contacted through the site, but potential roomates asked me to come by and see the place, wich I won't be able to do 'cause I'll arrive just a week from the classes start. So I guess it wouldn't be wise if I let that to solve in just seven days. I'm eliminating problems before they even begin.
NYFA's LA Housing provided me a huge list of apartments, condos - even motels - and home-stay services. I've chosen Universal Student Housing. Seems good and it's the cheapest among companies alike. I'll tell you later if it meets my standards.
There's a special requests item on the application form. I thought of what would really bother me: the family mustn't be military neither have strong religious beliefs, preferably Democrats and I'll accept dogs only if it's a house. I don't oppose to kids except if they're spoiled little brats.
I've chosen some cities as well, according to a little research I did. I guess it's always wise to do that. When I moved to Sao Paulo (Brazil) I've done the same. Looked for researches mainly about ethnicity (avoiding places with a low percentage of white people 'cause I want to live in America not just in L.A. territory); income (above $50,000 median household at least) and education (almost always attached to income). You can find that information by neighborhood in Mapping L.A., a Los Angeles Times project. Those data are closely linked to violence statistics. The higher they are the lower's the violence. Haven't you ever consider that when choosing a place to live? You'd better!
So I came to this list of suitable cities within 5 miles from NYFA: Burbank, West Hollywood, Studio City (and Universal City), Toluca Lake (and West Toluka Lake), Sherman Oaks, Valley Village. I don't know if I guessed right. Maybe's pure bullshit. But doing that makes me feel secure in a hostile environment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)