Monday, November 24, 2008

Washing Machines and Microwaves

I am so grateful to have a washing machine. When I moved to Galati I thought I’d have to do all my laundry by hand, but my host-mom had a machine and when I moved into this apartment with Rachel a one had been left behind by the previous tenants.
A couple weeks ago I needed to do a load, so I put my clothes in, added some soap, turned the appropriate dials, pressed start, and took a nap. A few hours later I woke with a start and in a panic because I didn’t remember putting the hose into the kitchen sink. As you can see by the picture, water from the washing machine has to drain into the kitchen sink which means the hose must be aimed into the sink or we will have water everywhere.
I’d forgotten to put the hose in its proper place. Instead, it was leaned against the microwave which sits on top of the washing machine (see second picture). We had water all over the kitchen floor (probably almost 2 inches deep) and moved fast to mop it up so that it wouldn’t leak into our neighbor’s kitchen. Thankfully no leaks have been reported and nothing seems to be the worst for the wear due to my BIG blunder. Except…
A word about microwaves. They are great. Of course, most of the world doesn’t use them and they are a luxury item. Still, it’s handy to be able to warm up a cup of coffee or last night’s dinner for today’s lunch. The microwave we have in our possession belongs to Rachel’s old roommate Ana and her family. She brought it with her when she moved in because her family had an extra one. A few days after the washing machine fiasco we went to use the microwave and it wouldn’t work. Well, the timer worked but the heating element would not work.
As you can see from the photo, the hose by which water is expelled from the washing machine was aimed right against and at the microwave. I think that water got into the microwave and ruined it. Big bummer as now I will be responsible to replace said microwave should Ana’s family desire me to do so.
Then, this week, while at the center, I was trying to make coffee for everyone, when I dropped the hotpot (the kind of thing that plugs into the wall and boils water quickly). I’ve decided that I’ve broken enough appliances for one month and am even a little wary of using my computer at this point.


2 comments:

Jenny M said...

Ohhh! I'm so sorry this happened! Just want to share that I have a kinship with you in these two posts... We also drain our laundry into the sink...and hang it to dry on our balcony! :D ...and in SoCal! (I've always said it's like living in another country here ;)) t-hee.

Mel (AKA Dad, Papa Mel, Grampa) said...

I once had a borrowed samovar go defunct on me in Asia and had to buy them another. Same with a voltage step-down transformer. About 15 years ago in Russia we had use of a clothes dryer. Essentially it was a small centrifuge, about 14 inch in cube, that would spin the clothes dry after we washed them by hand. No matter how carefully I loaded it eventually this crude appliance would get off balance and start dancing/vibrating around the room while making a lot of racket. In jest the Russians said I brought them the "demon of centrifuge" All that to say... perhaps t'is the appliance demon come to roost in your apartment. ;-)

Take heart. Perhaps the microwave will dry out and start to work again. You can always have Bela take the top or back off and see if there is moisture in there or something visible wrong. (Just unplug it first LOL).

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