This fall, I noticed that my air conditioning/heating unit (which in Japan is called an "air con") was very energy inefficient. Even though I used it very little, my electricity bill was twice what some of my neighbors were paying, and they were actually keeping their apartments cool. I was just keeping mine tolerable. Fortunately, I got news from my supervisor that my landlady was considering putting in a new air con. She's a very nice landlady, from what I know of her.
Unfortunately, the subject was dropped for several months. I brought it up again to my supervisor, and she apparently called my landlady, but nothing happened. Until now. Just before the winter break, my supervisor told me that my landlady would be having a new air con installed in January. She made sure I could be at home on the day that was suggested, and I happily agreed. Today is that day.
A little before 10:00, three men came to take away the old air con. They uninstalled it and hauled it off in the span of maybe 10 or 15 minutes. They were very polite, and one of them told me that the people from the electronics store would be coming with my new air con at 11:00. I waited, and the apartment got colder and colder.
As with the previous repairmen, the next set came slightly early. These two are currently installing my new air con. When they came in, they asked if I spoke Japanese, and my answer was, "A little." Since then, they haven't really needed to talk to me, which is fine. I'm sitting quietly in the tatami room while they take over the kitchen. Since the sliding door to the balcony is open, it has gotten even colder. My fingers are getting stiff, but soon I'll have a brand new (and hopefully more effective) air con! I'm looking forward to turning up the heat as soon as it's ready. For now, maybe I should turn on my electric blanket...
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