New Neighbors

Yesterday was a big day.  After over two years of planning, frustration, waiting, more waiting, and more planning Gila and Donny (and kids, they didn't forget them) moved in one floor below us.  It was quite a moment - for them and for us.

To celebrate, Ariella ran upstairs at about 7:30 pm in her PJs to kiss me goodnight.  Awesome.  In addition to the humans, my refrigerator also arrived, as did my new washing machine. 

Here's the washing machine story.  Called the delivery company in the morning to make them promise that they would take the old machine away when they brought the new one.  They said yes. Hmmmmmmmmm.   The delivery was going to be around 3:00 pm. Hmmmmmmmmmm.  So of course all day I was nervous.

At 2:45 the delivery man called and said he was on his way. Yay!  He came upstairs to take the old machine away and ask me to sign some paper in Hebrew - I have no idea what it said or what I promised.  Probably something like, "You will pay US 10 million shekel tomorrow, and we will take it directly from your bank account. If you don't have it, we will move into your apartment and you can live in our truck."

So he looks at the damaged washing machine door and tries to fix it.  Now I"m wondering - is he planning to tell me it isn't really damaged?  I mean this thing has a huge crack in it and the door does not stay shut.  He keeps trying.  It doesn't work.  Whew.  Now he can't figure out how to get it down the two flights of steps if the door keeps swinging open.  Eventually he gives up and begins to drag it from the back.  As he drags it the top of the machine comes loose.  We look at each other and laugh.  Then he gives me this sly smile and rips the thing completely off the top of the washer.  He says, "Now it's REALLY broken."  Ooooooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay.

As he drags it downstairs a huge piece of the styrofoam protective wrapping falls off in the hallway.  Remember that for later.  He brings the new machine up and I ask if I can inspect it to make sure it's not broken. "NO NO!"  he says, "when the installer comes, he'll find out if it's broken and then you will call back and get another one delivered."  Ah, ok, well then.

So he leaves and sees the styrofoam in the hallway.  He kicks it out of his way and keeps walking.  Wow, amazing. 

Also yesterday, in Ulpan news, we had an exercise in which we were paired up to make sentences with certain words.  I was paired up with a Russian woman who has been here about a year.  She came here knowing no Hebrew other than the letters - it was great sharing stories (in Hebrew) about our aliyah and noting how similar we were.  We also have several Australians and a South African.  I love the fact that we are all gathered for one purpose and that we all came home and are now living together.  It's very cool.

So Shabbat Shalom and Good Shabbos to everyone.  Stay tuned for the tale of the carpenter, the mirror guy (who is also the shower door guy) and our one last shower head which is still not installed because it "hasn't arrived yet."