whenever I think about my parents' old apartment, it gets me so angry.
Two years ago, my parents moved to an apartment located on Bridgeport Way, close to 76 gas station, in Lakewook, Washington state. It's a nice and quite place with swimming pool and etc. The story began last November (2007), when my parents must to move to other place for their jobs. My parents don't know any English, just like many other first generations of the immigrates. Because my bro & I can't be there with them, when they need to talk to the apt managers about moving. To protect their rights, they took other people's and my advise -- bring a translator with them to the apt manager. During the conversation, the apt manager told my parents that "due to the reason that they break the lease, they will not get any deposit money back. However, if they move out in the middle of the month and someone else moved in, they will get the half of the month rent back (~$400)." The translator explained and translated to my parents exactly what the manager told him. Guess what. My parents didn't get any money back, even we found someone to move in before the half of the month. The reason... it's because my parents break the contract. Since my parents are the one breaking the contract, I completely understand that we shouldn't get any deposit money back. However, I think it's the manager's false to inform my parents incorrect information. I called the manager and told her that she should be responsible for the mistake she made. Then, she hang up my phone. I tried to call back again, she hang up the 2nd time, 3 rd time, and so on. Finally, she decided to talk to me. During the phone conservation, this is what she said "everything is wrote on the contract, and your parents signed it. whatever I said it doesn't count, everything else is wrote black and white. If you have recorded anything on the paper (and she signed), then we can talk. I really don't want to hang up your call, but I am going to....." (the conservation is not exactly word by word, but having close meaning) Then, she hang up on me again.
Does that even make sense? My parents don't know English, so they brought a translator with them. The manager went over the contract and told them what might happen if they broke the contract, and that was not what she told my parents. My parents signed the paper, because whatever she told the translator. If the contract didn't state that, then why she told the translator so. In this situation, I consider my parents as a non-English speaker victim, and just because they don't know English. If the manager is so certain that she did nothing wrong, why she even hang up my phone many times. At the end, my parents decided to let it go. Why..because they couldn't argue with the manager in English; because they can't write in English statement to file a complain; because they wouldn't understand anything, if they go to court; because they have no money to hire that many translators<<<
I really want to say the world is peaceful, but it's truly not. People often don't understand that they really need to stand up for their rights. Today, the manger can do this to my parents. How you know she wouldn't do it to the next non-English speakers? Everyone deserves the right to speak up, even they don't speak English. This is America, a melting pot. How can it be a melting pot, when non-English speakers can't even express themselves!!!!
I respect my parents' decision - let it go. However, my decision is posting this 'weblog entry' to express my feelings and thoughts about this. I can't force my parents to argue with that manager, but I can write it on my weblog and warn people about it. Even non-English speakers have the right to speak up, the right to argue, the rights just like any English speakers! Sorry, I am too pissed about it.
Whenever I heard this song, it just makes me wanna go to corner and cry. The song brings so many feeling and emotion, not just to the lover, but everyone that you love. It's my favor heartbreak song.
