Combyootar Says No
First of all I can't believe that this daily experience justifies a whole post to itself, but who cares? I need something to laugh about these days!
Here I was, on a morning that definitely screamt 'YES IT'S SUMMER!', wrongly thinking 10 minutes would suffice for a simple bureaucratic task. So I park my car, walk in the sweltering heat over to the machine and fork out 2 whole dirhams for a parking ticket. I mean, at least they could provide an air-conditioned buggy to the offices in exchange! I was really surprised to see there was no stampede to reach the gentleman at the counter, and took a little seat, asking for his assistance. Well it seems every time I face someone behind a computer and ask for help, my natural enthusiasm just doesn't rub off on them. I know I am not alone when I say that the counter with a gentleman behind a 'combyootar' is not a nice place to be most of the time.
Halfway through processing my request, he says 'System down'.
'OK, when will it work again?'
'Come tomorrow'.
'OK, are you sure it will be working again tomorrow?'
'Yes' (he didn't even say 'No Problem!)
'How do you know it will not work again today, I mean, in 15 minutes?'
'Come tomorrow, system down'.
So I went back to my car and thought dammit, I had alloted such a special slot in my day to run this errand and he tells me the 'System Is Down', and that, with an expressionless face: just imagine. Well I just did the funniest thing ever, and actually had a mini-picnic alone in the car and drank TEA out of a FLASK which is something I used to use when they were part of your school lunch! I quite enjoyed that as it felt so retro! So I sipped my tea, and tried to work out how to use my Blackberry, which I still don't understand...I thought: since my tea is finished and Blackberry can wait, I went back into the offices to try my luck, and the gentleman said,
'System Is Worken'.
....
'WOW.....REALLY?' I think to myself, giving him this look as in 'Come back tomorrow, right? And the day after? And the day after?'
I take a seat. The other gents behind the counter are hard at work behind their combyootars. One customer is leisurely reading a newspaper while he waits at the next table. I don't know how long he will be waiting there.
Just when my application is about to be complete, he says
'System Down. Come tomorrow'.
Well then. That was the best part of an hour spent on 'System Down' - perhaps I should take my tea flask into the offices tomorrow when I return.
8 comments:
sounds wayyy too familiar.
lol! Yes it does.
Take along a sandwich and pillow too. Maybe they might get the hint at hoe CRAPPy their services are getting. Almost makes you miss the good old days of pencil pushing clerks.
No combyootar and no mobiles.
Sigh...
Greetings - just dropping by to say hello. Everything good?
Lol, I love this one. So so so normal for UAE. I also take picnics with me. I wish I could take a loo too.
Once I was sat on the side of the road after soemone had 'hit & run' me (in my car of course) and I was desperate for a leak (the police were already 3 hours late). I had Kaya on the phone, and guess what she told me? She said I should pee into a box of kleenex and it would soak it all up. Did it? NO. She laughed. It has taken me a year and a half to share that story.
Oh well, I have more stories to tell, but I'd need a lot more kleenex to soak my pee in! At least the guy at the counter could have removed his aviator glasses when his manager shouted at him. They could have figured I love coffee when drinking it themselves. I could have been a lady who is ugly and not tampered with their progesterone cycle. Then again, I am a lady who demands what I pay for. Or has to picnic with a teaflask and next time bring a bunkbed? (Top level free for car parking etc. lol)
CG maybe you might be a little older than me, but I found the leak aspect particularly trying in a new environment.
I will cut the crap and say I peed in my pants. Good to know there's some homegirls who share the expissingence!
I think that should read testosterone, not progesterone. Doesn't quite matter when men actually have more oestregen (sp?) in their system and getting bigger boobs. There I was, thinking I'm turning into an L-plate.
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