Did she try securing the ice tray with a bit of tape as a temp fix? My old fridge rattled like that until I lined the tray slot with some foam padding. It stopped the noise completely and was a cheap diy solution.

inspiration blurs into taking credit" used to think copying was a compliment

Could awkwardness be the best icebreaker?

Airlocks always felt like overkill for kimchi, like using a race car to get groceries. My last batch with an airlock got gunked up and actually stalled, which never happens with a simple cloth napkin over the jar. It lets the gas escape without letting in fruit flies, and I haven't seen a spot of mold since switching. The cloth just works better for the way kimchi bubbles up.