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Dagobah Resident
A few days ago, the land line phone rang. I never answer that phone, but I keep it just in case cell phone service goes down. I usually let the home phone ring. All the people with whom I want to speak know to call my cell phone.
Whoever was calling me this time was very persistent, but I still didn't pick up. After awhile the phone finally stopped ringing. However, after a few minutes, I heard knocking on my door. This was very unusual, and after a moment of thought, I went to the door and asked who it was. I was totally not expecting the person who responded. I hadn't seen him for about six or seven years.
I live in an apartment building, in which he used to work. He had come to New York fleeing Kosovo, and had gotten a job as the handyman, or as we say in NYC, the "super" of the building. He had been a student of architecture in Kosovo, but the situation there made it impossible for him to get certified. He came to New York to start a better life for his family and himself.
We became friends. HIs niece and my daughter became close friends. We helped each other; I helped him with English and found a job for his sister-in-law in a nursery school which was the profession she had trained for Everyone really appreciated him. But for me, he was really special and kind. There was a time when I was unable to walk - I had shattered my ankle in a bad fall, and I was too scared to use crutches. He helped me do errands by pushing my wheelchair when he had finished his work. He helped my daughter with an art project.
I had received money from my health insurance policy and decided to do some work on my apartment, I hired him. His work was amazing. He removed non supporting walls and the apartment suddenly became so much lighter and beautiful than it had been before. He installed a new kitchen for me. We would always talk usually about politics. I always knew that he missed his country and I was not surprised when he told me one day that he was going home. I was happy for him. His wife was not happy here, and his little children were not being raised in the way he wanted them to be.
After he left, we hired another "super" this time also someone from Kososvo. He too became my friend; He is a very smart man with a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. I am preparing to help his wife pass the U.S. Citizenship Test. He supports, in addition to his wife, two little boys and his mom who is recovering from a stroke.
He is not, however, as skilled as the previous super, and not as fastidious about keeping the building as clean as it had been. The coop board, of which I am a member and the only woman, is made of businessmen mostly mangers of some company or other. The dissatisfaction has reached a level that worries me - they are still always comparing him to previous super who had returned home. I keep defending him, so the guys on the board asked me if I would take responsibility for upgrading the level of his work I said yes, and then I spoke to him. I never understood why they didn't speak to him themselves or why the management company for which he works is not supervising him ad holding him to a higher standard.
I told him to keep a diary of everything he does, and to make sure that the floors were clean throughout the building. That's the part that seems to be of most concern. As of now, the floors are gleaming.. I set up a meeting in which I asked everyone to list their concerns and suggestions. That's the best I can do.
So getting back to the knocking on my door - it went on and on until I finally answered it. I could not believe that it was the first super, the one we had before, who had come to visit me. Something must be really wrong, if he came to me. And while I was worrying about the present super I was worried about the other.
I have work that I'd like done in my house; and I would hire the former architect/super in a heartbeat, but
a few scenarios run through my mind - one being his return would perhaps lead to the board firing the present super. Seeing that he was available just might lead to that scenario,
I want to help both of them, but I don't know what to do. The former super needs a job. I didn't ask, but it was obvious to me that that must have been why he came to me. I can not forget how tired he looked, and how disappointed. I was really sick that day, was not thinking clearly, and did not invite him in.I feel bad about that. I am not a spontaneous person. I have to have time to think things through. I was not at my best.
One of my friends suggested that he might drive a cab. He probably, though, would want the same job he had before, perhaps in another building. Rents are really out of control in NYC and if he got into the right building, he could possibly have an apartment for free.
Any suggestions or responses would be much appreciated.
Whoever was calling me this time was very persistent, but I still didn't pick up. After awhile the phone finally stopped ringing. However, after a few minutes, I heard knocking on my door. This was very unusual, and after a moment of thought, I went to the door and asked who it was. I was totally not expecting the person who responded. I hadn't seen him for about six or seven years.
I live in an apartment building, in which he used to work. He had come to New York fleeing Kosovo, and had gotten a job as the handyman, or as we say in NYC, the "super" of the building. He had been a student of architecture in Kosovo, but the situation there made it impossible for him to get certified. He came to New York to start a better life for his family and himself.
We became friends. HIs niece and my daughter became close friends. We helped each other; I helped him with English and found a job for his sister-in-law in a nursery school which was the profession she had trained for Everyone really appreciated him. But for me, he was really special and kind. There was a time when I was unable to walk - I had shattered my ankle in a bad fall, and I was too scared to use crutches. He helped me do errands by pushing my wheelchair when he had finished his work. He helped my daughter with an art project.
I had received money from my health insurance policy and decided to do some work on my apartment, I hired him. His work was amazing. He removed non supporting walls and the apartment suddenly became so much lighter and beautiful than it had been before. He installed a new kitchen for me. We would always talk usually about politics. I always knew that he missed his country and I was not surprised when he told me one day that he was going home. I was happy for him. His wife was not happy here, and his little children were not being raised in the way he wanted them to be.
After he left, we hired another "super" this time also someone from Kososvo. He too became my friend; He is a very smart man with a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. I am preparing to help his wife pass the U.S. Citizenship Test. He supports, in addition to his wife, two little boys and his mom who is recovering from a stroke.
He is not, however, as skilled as the previous super, and not as fastidious about keeping the building as clean as it had been. The coop board, of which I am a member and the only woman, is made of businessmen mostly mangers of some company or other. The dissatisfaction has reached a level that worries me - they are still always comparing him to previous super who had returned home. I keep defending him, so the guys on the board asked me if I would take responsibility for upgrading the level of his work I said yes, and then I spoke to him. I never understood why they didn't speak to him themselves or why the management company for which he works is not supervising him ad holding him to a higher standard.
I told him to keep a diary of everything he does, and to make sure that the floors were clean throughout the building. That's the part that seems to be of most concern. As of now, the floors are gleaming.. I set up a meeting in which I asked everyone to list their concerns and suggestions. That's the best I can do.
So getting back to the knocking on my door - it went on and on until I finally answered it. I could not believe that it was the first super, the one we had before, who had come to visit me. Something must be really wrong, if he came to me. And while I was worrying about the present super I was worried about the other.
I have work that I'd like done in my house; and I would hire the former architect/super in a heartbeat, but
a few scenarios run through my mind - one being his return would perhaps lead to the board firing the present super. Seeing that he was available just might lead to that scenario,
I want to help both of them, but I don't know what to do. The former super needs a job. I didn't ask, but it was obvious to me that that must have been why he came to me. I can not forget how tired he looked, and how disappointed. I was really sick that day, was not thinking clearly, and did not invite him in.I feel bad about that. I am not a spontaneous person. I have to have time to think things through. I was not at my best.
One of my friends suggested that he might drive a cab. He probably, though, would want the same job he had before, perhaps in another building. Rents are really out of control in NYC and if he got into the right building, he could possibly have an apartment for free.
Any suggestions or responses would be much appreciated.
