La seconda chiamata / The Second Phone Call

We've found our apartment ... and we are moving in the first of July.

And it isn't the first one we saw that I wrote about.

It's all because of a second phone call. But let's go back to December 2006 for a second (pun intended).

Basically, I was looking for work -- and I snagged a total of 2 interviews (work is hard to come by here, no matter how well qualified you are). One of the interviews was for the company I am working for now: Dark Rome Limited.

I had a bad feeling from that first interview interview. The position was as a tour guide and the man who interviewed me, now my boss, Simone, -- told me that I shouldn't expect to make more than 600 euro a month. I didn't expect that I got the job. However, he called me a few days later to ask me if I wanted it.

I said "I don't know" and told him I was waiting on a second interview with another tour company "Through Eternity". He said ok and told me he'd need to know within a few days if my mind was made up. I understood at that point that in reality, I had lost that job opportunity.

When I bombed the interview with Through Eternity -- which has promised much, much more money -- I didn't know what to do. My sister was getting frustrated with me and started to demand I call Simone back and ask him if the job is still available. I postponed, procrastinated and just about every other p-word in the book until finally I cracked, embarassed and called Simone back.

But the tour guide position had been filled.

However, he said, come meet up with me tonight at San Andrea della Valle -- you can take one of our tours and we can talk about another job opportunity.

I didn't understand but I said ok, and went.

We sat in McDonalds for this second interview. He needed an Admin. Also 600 a month, 4 hours a day. I said screw it, I need the money and took the job.

When I arrived at the office it was just me, Simone, and a dream for a formidable tour operator in Rome.

Today I am a full time manager for a sister company of Dark Rome -- doing creative work in a fun and growing field, with a highly competitive salary for my age and for Rome, with a blackberry (I know its stupid, but it makes me happy) and a powerful laptop I can bring wherever I like. I have tons of autonomy and we have now grown to an office with over 10 full time staff, almost 20 guides and even more coordinators and other staff working on the field. And I had a hand in hiring most of the people I work with today.

All because of a second phone call that my sister made me make.

So, this lesson learned -- when a landlord stood us up for an appointment to see what was a seemingly impossible apartment -- and we were pissed off and didn't even want to bother with a second appointment -- I made Jacopo make a second phone call.

And that second phone call led to a second appointment today.

And that led to us falling in love with house #2.

It's perfect in many ways, with minor defects -- but its got a gorgeous panoramic terrace with views of the mountains off in the distance --it's quite cosy-- bathroom done in new tiling -- clean with a new shower -- all already furnished -- new washing machine -- condiminium fees (which include heat and hot water) included in the rent. The bedroom is bright and airy -- the place is filled with light.

The downsides? The living room is small and is a combination living room and "kitchen corner". The apartment is also inside a larger apartment which gives it a strange comunal feel. Our terrace is attached to the one next to it by a flimsy wall ... but that can be fixed.

And.. really .. who the heck cares? The rent is 650 euro. In Rome -- thats IMPOSSIBLE for a place like this.

Did I mention it's about two blocks away from my current apartment? And that I can still walk to work? And that i'll have quick access by Piazza Bologna metro to the city center?

This place cannot be more perfect.

The walls are flawless. There is a small flatscreen TV included. The landlord is a nice guy who doesn't want to overcharge. He knows perfectly well how much he can snatch for this apartment. But he isn't in the business of ripping people off. He appreciates finding the right person(s), quickly, who will stay a long time.

That would be us.

Tomorrow we call him to confirm our interest, and then, calmly we set up an appointment to make a 4 year contract.

Just to think, tonight we had an appointment to discuss the terms of the contract for that first apartment we fell in love with in Montesacro -- to close the deal -- which we were fully prepared to and expected to do -- all if it hadn't been for the appointment this afternoon!

I feel like i'm dreaming.

Imagine if that second call was never made...