Yesterday morning we finally heard back from the owners of the apartment about the wifi and it still wouldn't work. The owner stopped by, we had met Helen but no her husband Daniel. They are a couple in their 60s who own or manage the entire floor of our building. Daniel stopped by to help with wifi but he speaks zero English. He asked for my computer, pulled out his reading glasses and proceeded to type in the password I had already tried and then scratch his head, chin etc when it didn't work. He tried again, no luck, then he began to mumble and gripe to himself. He tried again, then he pulled out an old cell phone, tried to call several people (I think his kids?) who didn't answer. Then he asked me to follow him to another apt where he tried to connect again, it looked so promising we both made hopeful exclamations, but then alas it errored out and we both groaned. He kept looking at my little Apple Air and saying 'miniature!' and making a disappointed face that there was no place to lug in a cat5 internet cable. Then a light bulb went off, he said 'adapter!' and disappeared. We didn't expect to see him again.
Twenty minutes later he was back with the adapter! He was so proud of it and emphatically indicated that we should leave it in the apartment. Then upon leaving he noticed that I had left the keys hanging on the inside of our door. 'No!' he said, 'risque, dangerax' and placed the keys on the counter and and said they should stay there. Then he took me to the door and showed me how to slide over a second lock, he made little clicking sound effects as he did it a said 'regarde, pas hommes, filles securite!' - look, no men, safe girls - :)
He was awesome! Now we have internet, are even safer and are impressed with our ability to use our minimal French and body language to accomplish these two things with Daniel. :)
Now off to explore Paris with Lauren.
Apple products are impressive everywhere!
ReplyDelete