Many of you may already know that if you live in Israel you are often told you have to filter your water. So when we moved in, we had a water filter attached to the water pipe that brings all of the water into our apartment. We are so smart.
And a couple of times a year, for a minimal fee of three million shekel or so (not including tax), a man comes to our apartment, tells me he is going to change the filter, and goes to the lower level where the pipes and stuff are - to do that. I assume he does it. That is, I have never followed him to see him actually do it.
Last year we gave ourselves a treat and bought a water bar. You are wondering what that is. It is a countertop contraption that is connected to our water supply and has hot and cold water always ready.
Now, we are not just pampering ourselves, no sirree. Drinking water is extreeeeeeeeemely important here, especially during the 10 month summer. And I do love me some cold water. So this way we always have fresh, cold water to drink. We are so smart.
Now. Here we go. The other day we get a call. This is the water-filter-changer people. Don't we want a contract on the water bar like we have on the water filter? Why, of course we do! We have many millions of shekel just sitting in piles on our floor waiting to be spent on service contracts. After many phone calls, we finally explain that we do want the contract, we negotiate down the originally-inflated-and-ridiculous-price to the price which-is-still-more-than-they-thought-they'd-get ("Ha! These Americans! Give them one discount and they love you! We are so glad they move here!"), and we are good to go.
Now comes the test of everyone's brainpower. Setting the appointment. After another few calls, I speak to someone in English who sets the appointment for Thursday, December 11, when the technai will come and change both filters. Excellent! We are so smart.
This morning (Wednesday, December 10) we receive an SMS - "Hi! The technai is coming today!"
Huh. OK, so he is coming today instead of tomorrow. I can deal with that.
At some point he calls and says he's 1/2 hour away. Sure enough, 1/2 hour later he shows up. This is going so well!!!
He comes to the door with a big smile. This is how the conversation goes:
Technai: "I'm here to change the filter downstairs."
Me: "And the filter on the water bar too!"
Technai: "What water bar?"
Me: "You were supposed to be changing two things."
Technai: "No, look, here on this sheet, it has only one item. But I'll call them and check."
After he changes the one filter, he returns to tell me that someone will come to do the water bar tomorrow.
An hour later I get a call from the company. It goes like this:
Co.: "I'm calling to set up a time to change the filter on your water bar."
Me: "I thought you were coming tomorrow."
Co: "Tomorrow? Well, maybe in the morning..."
Me: "But I already had an appointment for the afternoon. I won't be here in the morning"
Co.: "But you have to be there because that is when the technai can come."
Me: "But I won't be here."
Co.: "Really?"
Me: "Yes, but how about next week?"
Co.: "NEXT WEEK???? YOU WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG????"
Me: "Yes, it's fine. Please make it for Tuesday."
Co.: "Tuesday? You really want to wait that long?"
Me: "Yes, it'll be fine."
Co.: "OK......"
So I'll let you know if we come down with dengue fever from drinking water that has been cleaned by a filter that should have been changed today but won't be changed until NEXT TUESDAY.
In the meantime, I have a headache. I'll take my aspirin with juice.
And a couple of times a year, for a minimal fee of three million shekel or so (not including tax), a man comes to our apartment, tells me he is going to change the filter, and goes to the lower level where the pipes and stuff are - to do that. I assume he does it. That is, I have never followed him to see him actually do it.
Last year we gave ourselves a treat and bought a water bar. You are wondering what that is. It is a countertop contraption that is connected to our water supply and has hot and cold water always ready.
Now, we are not just pampering ourselves, no sirree. Drinking water is extreeeeeeeeemely important here, especially during the 10 month summer. And I do love me some cold water. So this way we always have fresh, cold water to drink. We are so smart.
Now. Here we go. The other day we get a call. This is the water-filter-changer people. Don't we want a contract on the water bar like we have on the water filter? Why, of course we do! We have many millions of shekel just sitting in piles on our floor waiting to be spent on service contracts. After many phone calls, we finally explain that we do want the contract, we negotiate down the originally-inflated-and-ridiculous-price to the price which-is-still-more-than-they-thought-they'd-get ("Ha! These Americans! Give them one discount and they love you! We are so glad they move here!"), and we are good to go.
Now comes the test of everyone's brainpower. Setting the appointment. After another few calls, I speak to someone in English who sets the appointment for Thursday, December 11, when the technai will come and change both filters. Excellent! We are so smart.
This morning (Wednesday, December 10) we receive an SMS - "Hi! The technai is coming today!"
Huh. OK, so he is coming today instead of tomorrow. I can deal with that.
At some point he calls and says he's 1/2 hour away. Sure enough, 1/2 hour later he shows up. This is going so well!!!
He comes to the door with a big smile. This is how the conversation goes:
Technai: "I'm here to change the filter downstairs."
Me: "And the filter on the water bar too!"
Technai: "What water bar?"
Me: "You were supposed to be changing two things."
Technai: "No, look, here on this sheet, it has only one item. But I'll call them and check."
After he changes the one filter, he returns to tell me that someone will come to do the water bar tomorrow.
An hour later I get a call from the company. It goes like this:
Co.: "I'm calling to set up a time to change the filter on your water bar."
Me: "I thought you were coming tomorrow."
Co: "Tomorrow? Well, maybe in the morning..."
Me: "But I already had an appointment for the afternoon. I won't be here in the morning"
Co.: "But you have to be there because that is when the technai can come."
Me: "But I won't be here."
Co.: "Really?"
Me: "Yes, but how about next week?"
Co.: "NEXT WEEK???? YOU WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG????"
Me: "Yes, it's fine. Please make it for Tuesday."
Co.: "Tuesday? You really want to wait that long?"
Me: "Yes, it'll be fine."
Co.: "OK......"
So I'll let you know if we come down with dengue fever from drinking water that has been cleaned by a filter that should have been changed today but won't be changed until NEXT TUESDAY.
In the meantime, I have a headache. I'll take my aspirin with juice.
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