June 29th, 2010

Little Girls and Inert Parents

We live in a really beautiful, historic building with some really friendly, interesting neighbors. The woman that used to live below us (before we moved into the new apartment) is very sweet. The girl that used to live next door to us (who now lives directly below us) is a bit quacky but still pleasant enough, and the man that now lives next door to us is awesome - although I’ve only met him once, he seemed super cool from that one short encounter (and, he works late and is never home, which means that we’re never disturbing him - another plus!).

Unfortunately, we also have some really, really shit neighbors. The mother of the family that lives across the hall from the old place is a total grouch and told me off for moving our belonging from one apartment to the other, at 11AM on a Saturday. It was not during Ruhezeit (the mandatory quiet hours in Germany - or at least our building- are from 12h - 14h and 22h - 07h Monday - Saturday, and all day Sunday), nor was it loud. But regardless, since that incident, she hasn’t been an issue. Instead, the problem is the family that lives above us.

They have two young daughters (3 or 4 years old) and live in a fifth floor walk up. The girls scream like nothing else when they have to climb the stairs, and as we haven’t heard any of the screaming lately, it has become apparent that the kids aren’t really leaving the apartment, and instead are running around the apartment at all hours. And it’s not just that they’re running around - they’re screaming and shrieking and stomping and jumping. It wouldn’t be a problem if they were being little girls, but the sound amplifies so loudly into our apartment that we can’t be on the phone or do any work while they do so. It began this morning at 07h30. It typically goes on all day, until they go to bed.

My boyfriend talked to the father, who effectively did nothing. He apologized for the situation, but made it known that he can’t do anything to control him. The landlord has been emailed, but we have yet to get a reply, so the frustration of the situation continues. I don’t understand how the parents can allow this to go on. Although I grew up in the suburbs in a single family house, but had we lived in an apartment my parents would have put a stop to such behavior immediately - before it had the chance to disrupt the neighbors. In fact, whenever I was behaving inappropriately for the house, they made sure to bring me outside and let me get out the energy in a space where I couldn’t destroy things.

Ugh. I need earplugs, you guys.