The Move

We started moving Friday night, and as of Monday morning we have moved about 95% of our stuff into our apartment. Of the things that have been moved in, about half has a place. We still have boxes and bags sitting around the apartment, brimming with unknown items. Therefore, we still can't find everything we need yet (i.e., tape measure, soap, phone charger, etc.).

This move has been a bit different than those I've experienced in the past. It's probably because my items here in Ecuador could fit in two suitcases and a backpack. My last big move involved dozens of boxes that were all precisely labeled with not only the contents, but the date, who packed it, the relative weight, and special instructions. Like this...

Books K-S
9/26/09
JJ
heavy

sheets and towels
9/30/06
JJ
light
Wash Me!

During the last move I knew that it would be at least a year and a half until I saw the boxes again, so I was so proud of my specificity. As wonderful as I thought that system was, the last time I was home (two and a half years since the boxes were packed) I could not find Kafka in “Books K-S”. Nor in “Books F-K” either. So my system was not quite as successful as I had hoped.

Back to Cuenca. Over the course of three days, Carlos, myself, and various nephews moved multiple truckloads of items the mile and a half from his parents house to our new apartment. I didn't really help with the packing or moving of his stuff. I'm too weak to carry the furniture, and really had no idea how much of his thirty years at home that he wanted to bring to our apartment. He was a bit annoyed that I didn't help him pack his stuff, but I would have probably thrown away old papers that have sentimental value to him. So I tried to manage and organize the new apartment instead.

I know that I shouldn't be using the terms “mine” and “his”, but rather ours. But really, those books in English, they are mine. The dead bugs pinned to cork board that hangs on the wall, that's his.

Putting the bed back together was an ordeal. While it took about five minutes to take apart, it took about three hours to put back together. The four corners of the frame had L-brackets that just didn't line up. If three screws fit, the fourth one did not. At every corner. While the headboard and footboard were different, the two sides were identical and unlabeled, so we switched those about three times, hoping that they would fit better on the other side. After one nephew had to leave, Carlos called his brother-in-law, who is a mechanic and very adept, to help us put the bed together. He was able to do it and we didn't need to spend the first night in our new apartment on the floor.

However, it will take a few more weeks until everything here is in order. We have most of the essentials, but are still missing some useful additions. For example, we don't have any bookshelves. In Carlos's room they were built in. Here I have piles of books. We don't have a dining room table either. We have been picnicing, when we've eaten here at all. We couldn't even cook until last night when Carlos finally attached the gas tank to the oven. When I say finally, it was not because he hadn't gotten around to it, but because it's not quite as simple as it is in the states.

Carlos had to drill holes through two concrete walls so we could put the gas tank in the courtyard. We didn't have a drill, so we needed to borrow one. After one hole was drilled, Carlos realized that the drill didn't reach the other wall, so at 8PM on a Sunday night we needed to find an extension cord. But nothing is open here at 8PM Sunday night. We were able to borrow one from his aunt that lives across the street, but had to wait a little while, since she was just ironing the curtains that she had made for us. But it got done. And the curtains are lovely.

So last night I was able to have a cup of tea and Carlos had some hot chocolate. Fortunately, milk is shelf stable here, since our refrigerator has yet to be plugged in. It was delivered on Saturday morning, but it wasn't until after the delivery men had left, did we notice a huge chip in the paint of the door. We called the store and they said that they would send a replacement Monday evening. Thus we will be eating with Mami and Papi for another day or two.

With that said, it's time for lunch.