Olim Chadashim

Today was the day of being called Olim Chadashim (new immigrants),  but all in a good way.  First  we go to get some pizza.  We are not in our permanent house yet so cooking has been a challenge.  So,  we might have had a lot of pizza already.  I mean,  40 shekels (about $10) for two pies , so can you blame us?  Anyway,  we go to the same pizza place where we went the day we landed.  On the day we landed,  we were still wearing stickers that said,  Oleh/Olah Chadash/Chadasha (new immigrants).  So at the pizza place,  the guy remembers us and asks us where the Oleh chadash is(he was specifically referring to one child who always came with us to buy said pizza) ??? So maybe we have eaten too much pizza if the pizza guy already knows us.  Or maybe it is just Israel.

Next,  Jon is at our new rental while they install appliances.  Rentals in Israel for not come with any appliances at all.   I'm not exactly sure what happened,  but apparently someone purchased a lot of warranties,  so many so,  that as a free gift,  we received a fancy coffee pot and detergent for a full year.  Ummm,  yay????

Then we had two new air conditioning units installed because the previous tenant took them with him.  The one main air conditioning unit that was already there for us had a broken remote control.  So I told Jon to ask the installers where we can buy a new one.  So he asks,  and the installer has a used one in his truck that he will sell us. But as soon as he heard that we are olim chadashim,  he just gives it to us.

And finally, the car rental.  I have heard lots of complaints about renting cars in Israel.  So far,  we have had the opposite experience.  We were using a very expensive seven seater rental.  It's high season in Israel and larger cars are hard to come by in any season,  so I won't even tell you how much this was costing.

So we went to return it and rent a smaller sedan.  (all of this required us to go to the airport,  where by the way,  we went to the food court just because we can).  Anyway,  we see the price of renting just a sedan (i.e. it still isn't cheap)  and the super sweet car rental person gives us a nicer newer car (still a sedan)  and waives the second driver fee,  and gives us the shabbat discount.  You read that correctly.  In Israel,  if you rent a car but are religious and will not drive it on shabbat,  they do not charge you for that day.  This I tell you  is  a land of miracles!

My new fancy coffee pot :-)