I have a virtual mailbox in the U.S. The location receives my mail, scans it upon request (for a fee), then disposes of it (free) or shreds it (for a fee). It will not scan confidential information like checks, financial statements and forms (bank, tax), or credit cards.
A few weeks ago I received what appeared to be a replacement credit card (a plain envelope they would not scan). I needed it here as it’s my primary card (no foreign transaction fee).
I requested it be forwarded to a friend (for a fee – they charge me fees for everything!). When it arrived, she confirmed it was that credit card. On February 7, she sent the card USPS International Priority Mail with tracking (cost: around $40). It made its way from Napa, to Oakland, Bell Gardens, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Munich – finally arriving in Zagreb on February 14. According to the tracking details, there was an attempted delivery on February 19 at 7:59 PM (!), but no one rang the bell to the building nor my apartment.
The next two days I kept frantically checking the tracking information. Finally on February 21, it said out for delivery at 6:33 AM. I quickly jumped in the shower, then got dressed in record time. I was ready! Around 9:15 AM, my building bell rang. I tried to open the door from the intercom, but it’s temperamental – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
The bell rang again, this time a little longer. I grabbed my keys and my phone and took the elevator down. There was a courier – a young man – standing outside of the building with two packages. I opened the door and said, “Elizabeth Smith?” He looked at one of the packages and shook his head yes. He pointed at the other package and said in English, “Do you know this person?”
I looked at the last name. Tomac. Yes. The Tomac family in the apartment beside mine (on the living/dining room side) has been renovating for a couple of weeks – drilling, hammering, etc. They’d put up a sign on our floor – as well as one near the mailboxes on the ground floor – alerting everyone to the renovation and noise, apology and name included. (It was in Croatian – Google Translate to the rescue!)
I replied to the courier, “Yes, I will take it to him.” He looked relieved, thanked me, and left. I returned to the eighth floor. It was quite early, but I rang the bell to the apartment. I heard some noise, but no one came to the door. I rang again and waited. There were voices this time, but still no one opened the door. I returned to my apartment with the package to try again later.
About 30 minutes later, someone rang my doorbell. I knew it had to be my neighbor. I opened the door with the package in my hand and said, “Hello, is this yours?” He replied yes. Then he said, “Do you live here?” I replied, “Yes, I am a temporary digital nomad resident. I arrived in January to live here full time.” He said, “I remember you from the elevator the other day.” The elevator is indeed a catalyst for connection and community.
I told him I knew his name because of the renovation notices – and that’s how I knew the package was his. He laughed and said he was almost finished – and apologized again for the noise. He said it had been difficult to complete quickly because he and his wife have a young child – and he was having to work around not disturbing them. I told him I understood. Then I jokingly said, “After these few weeks, I’d like to see how it turned out.” He replied, “It will probably be ready to show in a couple of weeks and I’d be happy for you to see it.”
That’s another example of how kind and welcoming Croats are. I had not intended for him to invite me – a stranger from another country – into his home. Yet, he did – and I know he meant it.