Checking out the other side

September 7, 2011 - 9:23 PM by David

Our poor kitchen loses its floor

The last time we did any extensive home improvements was… never.
So, finally deciding that whether we decide to move elsewhere or stay where we are for another 10 years, it was time to make it look a little nicer, we undertook the task of replacing the flooring with some modern ceramic tiles.

Then, since we were already spending lots of money we don’t have, we decided to also replace the piping in our bathrooms, which had caused us many problems in recent years with leaks. That meant more tiles for the bathroom floors as well as fixtures.

Like most Israeli contractors, ours named Meir employs Arab workers and foremen. So for the last three days, we’ve been sharing our home with Ahmed, Masri and a handful of other laborers from the nearby town of Azariya.

The last time we were in Azariya was before the Second Intifada broke out, when we used to frequent the plant nursery. But after the spate of suicide bombings and terror attacks took place, a roadblock was set up and Israelis were barred from entering the town for their own safety.

At some point in recent years, the roadblock was apparently taken down. And when it was time to pick out bathroom tiles and fixtures, Masri, the foreman, suggested we buy them from a store in Azariya. At first, my wife and I were skeptical and said, ‘no way, we haven’t gone there in years.’ However, Meir the contractor, also chimed in and said he goes there all the time, as well as half of Ma’ale Adumim, where we live.

So this morning, with only a little trepidation, we drove into Azariya with Masri, got a great deal at the tile and fixture store from a very mannered and dapper proprietor, and broke down our personal barrier.

The main street was bustling with activity, the roads and stores were full of Jewish Israelis, and it seemed almost like a picture of, dare we say it, coexistence. I may not head back there on my own volition any time soon, but the next time someone suggests going to Azariya, I’ll have a different picture in my head.

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