Regarding your deposit problem: I had a similar one, also overseas, a few years ago. I've also been a landlord (only in the US) for quite a few years, and have seen the problem from both sides. So, I have a few thoughts...

Would she be less likely to try and rip you off if she didn't know you were leaving the country, and just moving elsewhere in town?

How fast can she evict you for non-payment? If it would take a few weeks, you might be able to unilaterally apply the Sec deposit to the last month's rent.

You might want to insist on making concrete plans, such as when and exactly how the sec, deposit will be returned, and setting up a formal inspection date and procedure well in advance.

If all else fails, you could drop non-subtle hints, such as telling her about a "friend" of yours who had his security deposit unfairly stolen by a landlord, and then go into detail about how he did all sorts of damage as revenge..

How fast can she evict you for non-payment? If it would take a few weeks, you might be able to unilaterally apply the Sec deposit to the last month's rent.

Thanks for the suggestions! Although the above suggestion is plausible, I've always been one to insist on playing by the rules, even if it means I'd end up losing the money in the end. She hasn't been mean or dishonest to me yet, and I've been a good tenant, so there really isn't a reason for me to just skip out and unilaterally take the security deposit out of the last month's rent (the security deposit is two months' rent anyway, so doing that, I wouldn't even get the whole amount). Also, foreigners have a bad enough reputation in Taiwan as it is, and I don't want to add to that.

So, I want to give her plenty of notice, and as a "carrot," I will tell her that I plan on giving her the new air-conditioner that I bought when I first moved in (only the living room had one, so I bought another one for my room). I can't take it with me anyway, and if I make it sound like a gift or gesture of goodwill, that might make her more reluctant to stiff me on the deposit if she'd planned on doing that.

I will also definitely set up a clear time for inspection and return of the deposit, but not so soon, since it's still two months away, but I might bring it up by saying we can discuss details of the inspection and deposit later, like maybe in June. My last landlady (who was literally a crazy woman) gave me back my deposit with no problem, so I'm hoping this one will do it as well.

Wow... I'd never imagined trying to outwit a landlady would require so much effort. I've never been there so I'm afraid I can't offer any good advice. It sounds like doing nice things is your key to getting her to give you the money. If she's a decent person she should give you the money. I think it's interesting you should mention the facade you see and attribute it solely to the Taiwanese. I get that feeling a lot in SoCal. I think the more people are forced to live up to a stereotype or a common goal the more they feel compelled to display such false emotions. Be you bleached, beach, blondes or Taiwanese landlords peer pressure is everywhere

Hmm, about the supermarkets. I think you may have developed a romanticized view of American shopping. Minus the restocking the local Safeway (West Coast Supermarket) is exactly like that every time I go there during the weekend.

Actually, I'd stock up on tech stuff. I was flipping through the "Taipei Walker" (not sure if you're familiar with it, but it's sort of an advertisement for things to do in Taiwan with lots of ads). The phones available there are so much nicer than what we have in the States. I'm jealous... That and the Windows laptops are so much nicer....

And lastly, SOOTB is good. Don't worry about topping it, just think about what you want to write and what you enjoy writing and the rest will come. You don't have to pump stories out, you can take breaks. Remember, you're providing your services for free. You call the shots! If there's a ten year wait we'll just have to suffer. (Though if it's ten years I might hunt you down and make you suffer... )

//shadows

Actually, I'd stock up on tech stuff. I was flipping through the "Taipei Walker" (not sure if you're familiar with it, but it's sort of an advertisement for things to do in Taiwan with lots of ads). The phones available there are so much nicer than what we have in the States. I'm jealous... That and the Windows laptops are so much nicer....

 

And lastly, SOOTB is good. Don't worry about topping it, just think about what you want to write and what you enjoy writing and the rest will come. You don't have to pump stories out, you can take breaks. Remember, you're providing your services for free. You call the shots! If there's a ten year wait we'll just have to suffer. (Though if it's ten years I might hunt you down and make you suffer... )

My current laptop was bought in Taiwan ... and has the Chinese version of Windows installed. So at the very least, it'll give me a nice reminder of Taiwan when I'm back home (even though Windows pisses me off). I'll probably pick up an iPod, too, since they're cheaper here than in the States. I'll have to check into cell phones and find one that'll work in the States. The cell phones here are great, and they're a generation ahead of the ones you can find in the West.

As for you hunting me down and making me suffer ... you can do that to me anytime you want! lol

Actually, I'd stock up on tech stuff. I was flipping through the "Taipei Walker" (not sure if you're familiar with it, but it's sort of an advertisement for things to do in Taiwan with lots of ads). The phones available there are so much nicer than what we have in the States. I'm jealous... That and the Windows laptops are so much nicer....

 

And lastly, SOOTB is good. Don't worry about topping it, just think about what you want to write and what you enjoy writing and the rest will come. You don't have to pump stories out, you can take breaks. Remember, you're providing your services for free. You call the shots! If there's a ten year wait we'll just have to suffer. (Though if it's ten years I might hunt you down and make you suffer... )

 

My current laptop was bought in Taiwan ... and has the Chinese version of Windows installed. So at the very least, it'll give me a nice reminder of Taiwan when I'm back home (even though Windows pisses me off). I'll probably pick up an iPod, too, since they're cheaper here than in the States. I'll have to check into cell phones and find one that'll work in the States. The cell phones here are great, and they're a generation ahead of the ones you can find in the West.

 

As for you hunting me down and making me suffer ... you can do that to me anytime you want! lol

*grin* iPods are cheaper in TW? No WAY! *grrr* it's an American product, wtf is it cheaper in Taiwan? *grumble grumble* A note on the cell phones; make sure you can use them in the States by swapping out the chip, there's different standards and if you get the wrong kind then you may as well be talking into a tin can

And sorry, that kind of suffering is given only to those within a two year age range. Sorry I'm sure you can find someone else to play with though.

//shadows

Thanks for the suggestions! Although the above suggestion is plausible, I've always been one to insist on playing by the rules, even if it means I'd end up losing the money in the end. She hasn't been mean or dishonest to me yet, and I've been a good tenant, so there really isn't a reason for me to just skip out and unilaterally take the security deposit out of the last month's rent (the security deposit is two months' rent anyway, so doing that, I wouldn't even get the whole amount). Also, foreigners have a bad enough reputation in Taiwan as it is, and I don't want to add to that.

***pats David on the back*** I'm so proud!

So, I want to give her plenty of notice, and as a "carrot," I will tell her that I plan on giving her the new air-conditioner that I bought when I first moved in (only the living room had one, so I bought another one for my room). I can't take it with me anyway, and if I make it sound like a gift or gesture of goodwill, that might make her more reluctant to stiff me on the deposit if she'd planned on doing that.

Clever!

I think it's interesting you should mention the facade you see and attribute it solely to the Taiwanese. I get that feeling a lot in SoCal. I think the more people are forced to live up to a stereotype or a common goal the more they feel compelled to display such false emotions. Be you bleached, beach, blondes or Taiwanese landlords peer pressure is everywhere

Well then I suppose we're all expected to be friendly, mannerly southerners around here. I'm told in other parts of the country people don't have brief conversations with wrong numbers!? (this is actually something I've done on several occasions). I think all over the world people have one stereotype or another to live up to. It's almost a good thing though. If the stereotypical people annoy you, you can take heart in the fact that once you get to know them you may discover they're much different (in a good way) and simply playing their "parts".

Hmm, about the supermarkets. I think you may have developed a romanticized view of American shopping. Minus the restocking the local Safeway (West Coast Supermarket) is exactly like that every time I go there during the weekend.

I'd have to agree with that. Only I'd add the restocking back in, seems like I can never get down an isle WITH my shopping cart, the best I can do is leave it at the end and carry the item back...and of course since everyone else is doing that too there's the problem of unattended shopping carts to contend with. :wacko:

And lastly, SOOTB is good. Don't worry about topping it, just think about what you want to write and what you enjoy writing and the rest will come. You don't have to pump stories out, you can take breaks. Remember, you're providing your services for free. You call the shots! If there's a ten year wait we'll just have to suffer. (Though if it's ten years I might hunt you down and make you suffer... )

I agree. Not that I don't think your next stories will be awesome, but even if they aren't it's better to be a "has been" than a "never was". So just take comfort in the fact that you wrote something excellent that everyone loved and if you've got another masterpiece in you, AWESOME!