2016
Jan 21, 2016
Paul Boupha
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Been living in misery

I don’t know why I’ve delayed so long in writing this. Maybe I just got too swept up in the maelstrom. Since last I wrote, I ended up moving into a new apartment at 3333 Broadway. At first I thought it would be a dream. I was promised all new appliances, a high-rise view over the Hudson, and a studio all to myself. My naivety placed my expectations on a pedestal set too high. It should have known it would inevitably come crashing down in every imaginable direction.

The problems began before I even moved in. I had put in an application for the building I’m currently living but got rejected due to incompetence. I heard no response from the rental office until my lease had already ended at my last apartment. They called me back a few weeks later, however, proclaiming their apologies and offered me another unit with a beautiful view. I should have known and heeded the red flag so apparent in front of me. Sadly, I ignored it and decided to give this building a second chance.

Let me now begin to list all the things that have gone wrong since then. It’s almost laughable and surreal how many things have gone wrong in my life since I signed myself into misery.

  • I paid nearly $500 in moving costs for temporary storage.
  • The building management got my move-in date wrong.
  • I got into a UHAUL accident while moving and paid $150 in damages.
  • Almost got my shipped belongings stolen from my doorstep.
  • I had no hot water in my kitchen.
  • I had a clogged bath drain.
  • I had handicap support railings all over my bathroom walls.
  • I had an infestation of spiders, roaches, and drain flies.
  • I had worn out electrical outlets I replaced myself.
  • I discovered the previous tenant died in the unit.
  • I discovered the previous tenant was elderly and left the unit in disarray.
  • I had to buy a deadbolt lock for my door and paid $250.
  • Paid over $1,500 in new furniture and installations.
  • Important documents get lost in the mail.
  • The elevators in the building stopped working. Had to walk down over 20 floors.
  • The water in the building randomly fails. Forcing me to buy and keep back-up water.
  • The water that does come out is murky. Have to boil and filter every glass I drink.
  • Bathroom wall got torn down to replace pipes. 2 months later, and I still have no wall.
  • Because the wall got torn down, new roaches and bed bugs infested the apartment.
  • Doorknob stopped working and forced me to hire a locksmith to replace it. $650.
  • Management refuses to reimburse my $650 even though it was their responsibility.
  • Unresponsive management. I go down nearly every day to schedule repairs.
  • Countless times waiting all day for repairmen who don’t show up.
  • Bed bugs. Fuck.

    I wonder what else could possibly go wrong. Imagine the possibilities: hurricane, muggings, rats, murders, elevators crashing, flooding, explosions, fires. Should I start taking bets and make a game of it?

    Overall, I’m so disappointed at myself for wanting to live here so intently at first. I pay more than my neighbors; I put down an extremely steep deposit; and I bent over backwards to make this all work. And for what? Nothing. Everything blew up in my face. I feel like such a failure. So destroyed emotionally. New York housing is truly the worst. I don’t know how I always find myself in terrible situations. Is it the city? Is it rotten luck? Whatever it is. It needs to stop. I’m just not sure how much more I could stand to bear.

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    PAUL BOUPHA ｜王志明 ｜ อัศวิน

    001. hometown: las vegas, nevada
    002. current: new york city, new york
    003. univ. of washington: business degree 2009
    004. career: senior ad exec turned copywriter

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