Was this your first interactions with you neighbors?

The response your received from the “Buddhist nuns” did not on the surface conform to Buddhist practice or values as I understand them… But Buddhist are human, and as most humans don’t always live up to their values.

Your post reminds me of the stories you hear of someone yelling a someone for not paying attention only to learn that that person just lost their father. We don’t usually know everything that may be influencing a encounter, we like to think we know, but we don’t.

Is it possible you caught your neighbor at a bad time?

The rule of charity states that if there are more then one way of interpreting an interaction and you can’t or don’t want to investigate the intention then chose the most compassionate interpretation.  The next step would be to ask your neighbor about the encounter or wish them well and look elsewhere for help.