[cphhell]

> managed to reinforce just about any stereotype of an ignorant, unprepared American

Thanks for the compliment but I'm a fellow European, not American.

> who shouldn't even be trying to live abroad.

Too bad I've tried it successfully three times already, one being in America.

[rickmb]

In that case, you're just trolling and your story lacks all credibility.

For starters, because you should know damn well what you get into if you try to find housing in a major European city outside the normal housing system.

Also, because there's absolutely nothing abnormal in Europe about a century old building or four floors without an elevator.

My guess is you are well aware you screwed up by being unprepared, and now you're just trying to externalize the blame, hoping the readership here won't know any better.

[cipherpunk]

You use American spelling. I call shenanigans. At the very least, your view comes across as definitively US-centric.