New Digs

The View from my Apartment
Originally uploaded by StormyPetrel

Happy 4th of July everyone! To be honest, I didn't even realize the significance of today's date until one of my sitemates called me to make independence day dinner plans.

This weekend I moved into my own apartment. It's a spacious 1 bedroom about a block and a half from where I lived with a host family. It's on the top of a hill, and has a great view from the roof to the Northeast.

Trying to furnish my apartment revealed an unexpected quirk with Honduran cost of living. While it's normally very inexpensive to live in Honduras, the cost of furnishing an apartment is far greater than in the States.

First off, apartments generally do not come with stoves or refrigerators, things that are pretty standard in most rental apartments back home. On top of that, there is almost no second hand market in Honduras. And when things are sold second hand, they're nearly as expensive as new goods.

Our moving in allowance is about $225. That would be more than enough for me to get the basics for an apartment in SF because I could get most stuff for free or next to nothing off of craigslist. But here in Honduras, a stove cost me $175 and a refrigerator $80 and wait, I've already used up my moving in allowance. Admittedly, the stove is a luxury item, but I am going to go crazy (not to mention have a heart attack) if I can't take control of my diet. It's been nothing but fried, fried, fried, boiled, fried, fried, fried...you get the picture.

So, I've spend a bit of my own savings on some other apartment necessities, but the place is still practically bare. Next month, I'll use some of my monthly living allowance to buy lumber and I'll build some furniture. I'm looking forward to the project...