

I’m having somewhat of a terrible time in Chennai.
So far, I love my work, and the people in my office are young, energetic, fun, funny, and passionate about public health. I love coming into the office. I feel safe and happy here.
It’s when I leave the office that things go wrong.
I’ve been here less than three weeks, and I’ve already lived in four places.
The crowding of the newest apartment is not even the real problem.
The real problem is the Landlord. He actually owns a number of properties around the city - including the first apartment I stayed in, which had a break in on my first night, AND the new, crowded apartment.
Since the break-in, man-crawling-under-my-bed incident from my first week, the Landlord has denied that there is a security problem at any of his properties.
Last week, at the new, crowded apartment, some contractors came in to fix a broken air conditioner, and a lot of stuff went missing, including food, clothing, small electronics, and a bottle of whiskey.
When we brought it up with the Landlord, he again denied that there was any security issue at his properties. He insisted that the missing items were not taken by his contractors. When we pressed him for an explaination, he replied “there is no explaination.” Then he reminded us that the name of his company, when translated into English, means “Trustworthy.”
So NOTHING has been resolved after the two security incidents. Even worse, the Landlord - henceforth refered to as “Evil Landlord” - has begun a silent campaign to make our apartment completely unlivable.
Our lease is with the Evil Landlord is supposed to cover a fully furnished apartment, including a working kitchen and a supply of fresh drinking water. Also built in to the cost of the lease is a “caretaker” who, according to the contract we have with Evil Landlord, stays at the apartment every day. This caretaker is supposed to clean the apartment daily. For an extra charge, the caretaker is supposted to be available to cook food for the residents.
The company I work for has been paying what is, for local standards, a large amount of money for these services.
However, at the direction of the fucking THEIVERY of our Evil Landlord, in the past week and a half:
We’ve talked to a lot of people at our company about the issues, but no one is taking it seriously.
Last night, after the caretaker came over at night to take away our kitchen supplies, we decided we’d had enough.
Because no one in our office seems to listen to what you have to say unless you put it on a powerpoint slide, we actually made a powerpoint presentation.
It includes photos of the piles of trash on our porch, the cabinents crawling with cockroaches, the empty water jug that hasn’t been filled in a week, the items that have gone missing.
We’re presenting it this afternoon to our bosses.
If it doesn’t convince them that something needs to be done, that they’re getting TOTALLY ripped off AND we’re being targeted by the Evil Landlord…
Well, I don’t know what will happen.
Most of us want to come home.
We sure as hell can’t continue living here.

(via funeralface: closertotheocean)
I have so many of these saved at home.
I’ve just been using them to store tampons and hair ties. I can’t believe I never thought of this.

Do they speak for you, too?
If you agree that “contraception and cancer screenings must be priorities and essential parts of our health care system,” click through to sign the petition and tell lawmakers “Planned Parenthood Speaks for Me.”

(via booktumbling: booklover: sweethomestyle: sundaybrunch)
I have to admit, this reading nook is way better than mine.

(via suicideblonde: uppereastside: joodiff)
As a young girl, I STRONGLY identified with Rainbow Brite.
I always loved the sensibilites of their color-coded outfits.
Okay, not gonna lie, I STILL love them.