Friday, August 22--Move In, Part I

Japanese movers are models of efficiency. Granted, they were only bringing us limited quantities of loaner furniture, but they were in and out within 45 minutes. Queen-size bed (frame assembled, mattress and box spring in place), dresser, 2 nightstands, couch, 2 chairs, 2 end tables, coffee table, lamps, kitchen table with 4 chairs, washer and dryer. They would have even had the washer and dryer hooked up and ready to use if the drain in the laundry room hadn’t been running slow (yes, they tested that before hooking up the washer). All this while sidestepping the men who were running all over the inside and outside of the house hooking up the phone and the internet. Also keep in mind that every time they entered the house they took off their shoes, and every time they went back out to the truck, they put their shoes back on. It will be interesting to see how they do when they deliver and unpack our stuff. I am sure the wads of paper and rolls of tape that were used during the packing will slow them down a bit, but I expect it to be a totally organized and fairly speedy process.

There wasn’t much for us to do after the movers left except rearrange some of the stuff we’d brought over from the hotel earlier in the week. We waited around for the housing agent to come over with the plumber to fix the drain in the laundry room (have to order a part), then went on a grocery run. Once the fridge was stocked, and the dry goods were stored in the floor (another ingenious use of space—storage lockers in the floor, where it is cool), it was back to the hotel to finish packing up our stuff—moving out tomorrow!!