Leaky pipes & Face Control
Wow, haven't logged in over a month! I guess it was my annual S.A.D. attack, keeping me from doing anything productive.
Last week my nutcase of a neighbour from downstairs rang my doorbell. As I opened the door he pushed me aside, walked into my apartment, and straight into my kitchen. "What do you think you are doing???", he yelled at me with his frizzy Einstein haircut. Me ... still in my sleeping clothes, "Huh?" He started accusing me of spilling water in my kitchen which he claimed was going down to his studio downstairs (he's a painter.) Long story short, he is a nutcase. In the past 1.5 years I have been living in this apartment I've never spilled water which would have leaked downstairs. But he didn't want to hear what I had to say. He kept yelling and yelling, "What are we going to do about this??? All my paintings have been ruined!!!" Still, I was confused as to why I was being blamed for something I hadn't done.
The same afternoon I was telling this story to a relative of mine, and he told me the same thing had happened to him a year ago, and in the end he found out that it was the drainage pipe under his shower.
Before I bought this apartment my plan was to buy a non-remonded place, renovate it myself, not skimping out on proper electrical wiring, pipes and so on, so that I wouldn't run into problems like this one. But the first time I saw this place, I gave in for a few reasons.
Well, for 2 weeks already I've been waiting for a plumber to come by and tell me what the actual problem is, but it seems like all the plumbers are sick or too lazy to come out in this snowstorm we are having.
Let this be a warning to all, "If you plan on buying an already renovated apartment in Armenia ... be careful."
On a completely different note, I want to say congrats to Sam and Stepan for Square One's continual success. Even in this cold weather, when you don't see many people outside (except for the skating rink area), their place is always packed. They've also got a new "risky" menu now ... with lots of chicken dishes ;-) But I really want to commend them for something else as well ...
The other day a friend of mine and I decided to go to Cube (light food menu, decor a cross between Square One and a Canadian donut shop, with a bar/disco hangout downstairs). There were only a couple of non-occupied tables, but we were told we couldn't sit there since they could accommodate up to 4 people and they would rather give the tables to more than 2 people. So we decided to go downstairs to the bar/disco instead. Again refused. This time cause we were 2 males. We went to Cactus instead, and 2 other people were to join us. Again refused cause the football player with us was wearing sweats and sneakers. We decided to go back to Cube, to sit at the 4-people table, again refused cause of the guy wearing sportayin shorer.
So this is how things work in Yerevan. Cactus, Cube, Jazzve ... cross them off your list if you plan on going out with sneakers. No real face control at Square One, and I have a feeling even our much much more higher class restaurants don't even have face control.
Last week my nutcase of a neighbour from downstairs rang my doorbell. As I opened the door he pushed me aside, walked into my apartment, and straight into my kitchen. "What do you think you are doing???", he yelled at me with his frizzy Einstein haircut. Me ... still in my sleeping clothes, "Huh?" He started accusing me of spilling water in my kitchen which he claimed was going down to his studio downstairs (he's a painter.) Long story short, he is a nutcase. In the past 1.5 years I have been living in this apartment I've never spilled water which would have leaked downstairs. But he didn't want to hear what I had to say. He kept yelling and yelling, "What are we going to do about this??? All my paintings have been ruined!!!" Still, I was confused as to why I was being blamed for something I hadn't done.
The same afternoon I was telling this story to a relative of mine, and he told me the same thing had happened to him a year ago, and in the end he found out that it was the drainage pipe under his shower.
Before I bought this apartment my plan was to buy a non-remonded place, renovate it myself, not skimping out on proper electrical wiring, pipes and so on, so that I wouldn't run into problems like this one. But the first time I saw this place, I gave in for a few reasons.
Well, for 2 weeks already I've been waiting for a plumber to come by and tell me what the actual problem is, but it seems like all the plumbers are sick or too lazy to come out in this snowstorm we are having.
Let this be a warning to all, "If you plan on buying an already renovated apartment in Armenia ... be careful."
On a completely different note, I want to say congrats to Sam and Stepan for Square One's continual success. Even in this cold weather, when you don't see many people outside (except for the skating rink area), their place is always packed. They've also got a new "risky" menu now ... with lots of chicken dishes ;-) But I really want to commend them for something else as well ...
The other day a friend of mine and I decided to go to Cube (light food menu, decor a cross between Square One and a Canadian donut shop, with a bar/disco hangout downstairs). There were only a couple of non-occupied tables, but we were told we couldn't sit there since they could accommodate up to 4 people and they would rather give the tables to more than 2 people. So we decided to go downstairs to the bar/disco instead. Again refused. This time cause we were 2 males. We went to Cactus instead, and 2 other people were to join us. Again refused cause the football player with us was wearing sweats and sneakers. We decided to go back to Cube, to sit at the 4-people table, again refused cause of the guy wearing sportayin shorer.
So this is how things work in Yerevan. Cactus, Cube, Jazzve ... cross them off your list if you plan on going out with sneakers. No real face control at Square One, and I have a feeling even our much much more higher class restaurants don't even have face control.
posted by Der Hova at 2:41 AM
16 Comments:
Yeah it happens ( re pipes) it can be your pipe somewhere in the walls that leaks or a pipe belonging to another person. Better to check with all the neightbours and locate the problem area.
the fault is due to the low quality items that are used (persian, turkish etc made).
LOL face control.... In America, you can only be refused if the establishment has those "No shoes, No shirt-etc. No service" signs. Imagine what a $$$$$$$ lawsuit "face control" would be here!!!! lol
im surprised at how well you were able to put up with those idiots.. this is the sad part about some of those avazaks still left in that country.. i feel no sorrow for those type of people leaving armenia... and hopefully in the near future diaspora armenians get more influence in yerevan and that process starts with owning business and property. In fact i think square one and other diaspora owned business should ban any of those backward thugs who wear all black or pointy shoes from entering their establishments.
yeah, good one pedro--really progressive. be as ignorant as they are and you'll change the world. is that what you're saying...and who says there's no face control in the west. has anyone tried to enter a bar or club in London, Paris or LA, not to mention NYC? yeah, that's called face control. We just accept it there, because we've got the inferiority complex, not superiority, like we do in Armenia--we diasporans, that is.
andranik, NO restaurant in the world has ever denied me service for any reason.. and i've come across face control at clubs but never had a problem getting in any club/bar across the world by being a little savvy.. however to say a table is reserved for 4 and turn down a 2 person paying party is backward, or denying someone for wearing sports clothing at a very average restaurant is also idiotic.. just face the facts that there are many armenians in armenia that need to wake up to realities of the world and how to behave in a civilized society. and my last comment was sort of a joke but nevertheless it wont hurt to teach some of those backward citizens of armenia a taste of their own medicine. Verchabes Eshere bidi mard darnanan if that is even possible!
basta
First, that term 'face control' sucks! And we suck for allowing that stupid Russian term into our culture.
http://www.economist.com/cities/displayobject.cfm?obj_id=2551641&city_id=MCW
Dress Code is what it's usually called abroad, yes it does exist in the west, but I doubt in places that look like donut shops (Cube), Starbucks rip-offs (Jazzve) and casual Mexican Restraunts (Cactus). I actually don't mind any of those places, but reallllllllly ... is it necessary?
I wonder if the owners of such establishments have ever really wondered why they have such rules.
Sort of reminds me of taking the risk of photographing inside the metro. More soviet left-over garbage habits if you ask me.
By the way Pedro, I have black clothes and pointy shoes ... I don't think I'm a backward thug though. ;-)
Those are their establishments and they can set up any rules they want to.
It exists anywhere in teh world. The difference is that in Armenia going to a restaurant or a cafe is a big deal because not many people can afford it. It is like joing to a high notch golf club in west.
I wouldnt like people like Pedro to reallocate in Armenia - since it is one of the worst examples of Diasporan arrogance and the fake perception of supiriority.
When living in a country one needs to adopt to many of its norms - isn't that what Aremnians done after 1915?
Isn't that what the new Armenian emigrants do ( slowly but they do it)?
Dear anonymous, your ignorant type of reasoning for Armenia to remain a primitive state with backward mentalities is bad for our country and people. Im advocating normal civilized society for armenia, not superiority, after all we're striving for EU. If you like to stay premitive then i belive the likes of you have no place in Armenia, get out of the way and let those of us who want positive change to help fix the place. FYI, i have a home in armenia and live part time there.
Monte Melkonian had a great saying "yete metsbabad yev babad eshe yeghel, da chi neshanagoom doonal bidi esh lines"
BTW, Derhova, since you have pointy shoes and all black clothes, i suggest keeping it by your side at all times so next time so you can quickly change when you're denied services at yerevan restaurants!
These are private establishments and they can reserve the right to deny service to anyone as long as it's not against the law (such as based on ethnicity, religion, etc - as defined in the article 15 of the Constitution of Armenia).
Such measures are definitely elitist but that's what the freedom of private enterprise can be. One has a chois: - either take his/her business somewhere else, or comply with these rules.
Correction - it was article 15 in the old constitution. It's article 14.1 in the new one.
Nazarian you are right sadly since variety lacks in this city I suppose that is what makes people angry for face control to be practised. You know what I mean?
Pedro
It is very hard to define that what is primitive and what is not. Armenia is an Asian Christian country. The religion is the reason that Armenia is different from other Eastern countries maybe also the soviet atheism.
If you would like to read about late 19 -early 20 Century Armenia read Gurdjieff (especially "Meetings With Remarkable Men").
mor eprecisly Russian Armenian. Gurdjieff effectlifly presents the Eastern values in Russian Empire where many different nations lived together - especially in Caucasus.
As a person who lived in West he also compares East with West.
the West vs East, modern vs primitive ideas are not new. Japan can be very modern in technologies but they successfully preserve their identity, customs & norms.
Anonymous.. i don’t give a shit where armenia is located geographically east or west makes no difference.. japan and china are both in the east but visit both countries and you'll see the dramatic difference between economies, cultures, life styles, civilized behavior and organization. These days geography doesn't determine whether your country should stay a backward or a modern society. Armenia needs to dramatically improve and compete with best world standards in all aspects including, economy, education, civilized behavior, justice, fairness, democracy, organization, and so on... To argue otherwise is tantamount to preventing Armenia from moving forward.. stop the bullshit excuses and admit armenia's faults and work towards improving it. We don’t have time to remain a backward peasant society, everyone must do their job in helping push the country forward and those that get in the way should be pushed out of the way.
alright, really, nobody is going to change their minds here, so enough...
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