Construction.

One of the things you don't realize about life in a concrete communist bloc apartment until it happens: when neighbors do construction, it is really loud.

The apartment below our office is undergoing complete renovation -- literally gutting and rebuilding of every single wall.  Thus, since early December the soundtrack to our days has been the ear-splitting rattle of drills and the pounding of hammers.  All day.  Every day.  From 9am to 6pm.  It's... character-building, I guess.

Thankfully, last week when I went down there in desperation, they opened the door to my knocking (I don't know how they heard me knock over the noise) and agreed to take a 45 minute break so I could complete a Skype call with a partner in Haiti.  They're reasonable and friendly, and I know it's not the workers' fault.  But I can't help considering asking if they would take a break for a "Skype call" that lasts for, you know, three days...