I keep getting mistaken for being Philipino everywhere I go. Most shops here are manned by Philipinos (like literally every salesperson!), and 9 out of 10 times they will ask me if I'm "Kabayan" or countrymen. I was at a mall once looking at the mall directory, and these 2 Philipino ladies came to me and said "Kabayan?". They were so embarassed when I replied No. Once I also stumbled into the office pantry and 3 Philipino ladies were having their lunch, so I said hello, and immediately, one of them asked if I was Philipino. When I replied No, they told me that they had been guessing if the new girl (me!) was Philipino or not!
People have always had a hard time telling what ethnicity I am, but I think it's unanimous that if I had to look like anyone, I would be Philipino. Even when I went to Manila 2 years back, people were talking to me in Tagalog. Maybe I should learn the language, that would really put people in a spin as now, most of them tell me that they know I'm not Philipino once I open my mouth. One Aussie lady did ask me if I was Aussie as soon as I said a sentence, I really didn't think that my Aussie accent was remotely noticeable, but who knows!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
JUST...SO...TIRING...
I had an interesting conversation with a colleague last Thursday...it was the end of the week and we were all so exhausted. Not because of work, I think I have had the best work-life balance I've had for the longest time (getting in at 8.15, leaving by 5.30 or 6 is so novel!) but because achieving anything is never straightforward.
Everyday there is h some drama, some complication...with taxi drivers, with banks, with telco providers, with anyone and anything. It's come to a point where I always expect the worst when having to do something, and generally I"m fine, but it does get to a point at the end of the week where everything just heaves down and I feel completely exhausted. Last week, the trigger was my bank loan, when the bank couldn't just scan the approval letter to me though they said they would, and this resulted in my car being delayed by 2 days. All it took was 1 person scanning a simple letter over, but 20 unanswered phone calls, smses and emails later, I"m still waiting.
It does get to me, and I feel like know I understand what an expat setting up home in Malaysia would feel like. There is this big hump of stuff to get over when you first arrive, and dealing with developing country inefficiencies can really drain someone. Thankfully I think I'm nearly there, and hopefully I can lead a fairly protected life away from all these painful touchpoints soon.
Everyday there is h some drama, some complication...with taxi drivers, with banks, with telco providers, with anyone and anything. It's come to a point where I always expect the worst when having to do something, and generally I"m fine, but it does get to a point at the end of the week where everything just heaves down and I feel completely exhausted. Last week, the trigger was my bank loan, when the bank couldn't just scan the approval letter to me though they said they would, and this resulted in my car being delayed by 2 days. All it took was 1 person scanning a simple letter over, but 20 unanswered phone calls, smses and emails later, I"m still waiting.
It does get to me, and I feel like know I understand what an expat setting up home in Malaysia would feel like. There is this big hump of stuff to get over when you first arrive, and dealing with developing country inefficiencies can really drain someone. Thankfully I think I'm nearly there, and hopefully I can lead a fairly protected life away from all these painful touchpoints soon.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Yoga at last!
I am so happy to be finally close by to a yoga studio (www.theyogajuice.com). It has been about 7 weeks since I attended a yoga class and I was really craving for a studio environment where I could practise. There are only 2 dedicated yoga studios in Abu Dhabi, and I live 5 mins walk away from one of them and 10 minute drive from the other. I went to my first yoga class last week and another a few days before and they have a good variety of ashtanga, vinyasa and hatha styles.
While I know I shouldn't compare, I do miss the amazing Stella (www.shinyoga.com) and the awesome Body Mind Life (www.bodymindlife.com) in Surry Hills.. The good thing here is that they organise workshops and yoga by the beach which I cannot wait to try out once I get my wheels!
While I know I shouldn't compare, I do miss the amazing Stella (www.shinyoga.com) and the awesome Body Mind Life (www.bodymindlife.com) in Surry Hills.. The good thing here is that they organise workshops and yoga by the beach which I cannot wait to try out once I get my wheels!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Naughty naughty..a little scary actually!
Taken from Gulf News..
Dubai: A couple who claimed they kissed on the cheek in a restaurant while under the influence of alcohol face one month in jail and deportation.
A 24-year-old British man, who works in Dubai, and a 25-year-old woman, visiting from the UK, will appear before the Appeals Court next week, seeking acquittal or reduction of the primary judgment. The Dubai Misdemeanours Court sentenced the Britons to one month in jail followed by deportation for kissing and touching at a restaurant in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
Presiding Judge Ebrahim Khalil Abu Shamma, who handed out the primary verdict, also fined them Dh1,000 each for consuming alcohol.
Prosecutors charged the couple with kissing and drinking alcohol, after an Emirati mother claimed her children saw the man kiss the woman on her lips around 2am in the restaurant. When the defendants appeared in court they denied kissing on the lips and said they kissed each other on the cheek. However, they pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol.
Court records said a 38-year-old Emirati woman testified that she spotted the woman walking into the restaurant along with four men. "My daughter told me that the accused were kissing on the mouth. Then I spotted them doing so myself. I also saw them touching each other, as they were seated two to three metres away from our table. A number of customers witnessed the scene as well," claimed the Emirati in her statement.
A forensic laboratory report showed that the defendants had 22mg/dl of alcohol in their blood. Sources close to the case told Gulf News that the couple appealed the primary judgment. "The couple is seeking to acquit themselves or to win a reduced punishment," said the source.
Prosecutors asked the court to implement articles 121 and 356 of the Federal Penal Law.
Article 121 stipulates that any expatriate suspect, who gets convicted for a crime related to honour or modesty [such as kissing, groping, hugging, cuddling etc…] faces compulsory deportation. According to the same article, a court can instantly deport a suspect for a misdemeanour crime instead of imposing a jail sentence.
The verdict sheet of the primary judgment said: "The court concluded that the man kissed and touched the woman's leg and shoulder in the restaurant in JBR.
"She consented to what he did. The court deemed their behaviour as public indecency and a breach of modesty and honour.
"The man had asked the court to hear the statements of the Emirati woman's children but the court disregarded his plea because her statement was enough. Besides she had also seen the crime herself."
Presiding Judge Abu Shamma handed out a lenient punishment as per articles 99 and 100 of the Federal Penal Law.
Dubai: A couple who claimed they kissed on the cheek in a restaurant while under the influence of alcohol face one month in jail and deportation.
A 24-year-old British man, who works in Dubai, and a 25-year-old woman, visiting from the UK, will appear before the Appeals Court next week, seeking acquittal or reduction of the primary judgment. The Dubai Misdemeanours Court sentenced the Britons to one month in jail followed by deportation for kissing and touching at a restaurant in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
Presiding Judge Ebrahim Khalil Abu Shamma, who handed out the primary verdict, also fined them Dh1,000 each for consuming alcohol.
Prosecutors charged the couple with kissing and drinking alcohol, after an Emirati mother claimed her children saw the man kiss the woman on her lips around 2am in the restaurant. When the defendants appeared in court they denied kissing on the lips and said they kissed each other on the cheek. However, they pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol.
Court records said a 38-year-old Emirati woman testified that she spotted the woman walking into the restaurant along with four men. "My daughter told me that the accused were kissing on the mouth. Then I spotted them doing so myself. I also saw them touching each other, as they were seated two to three metres away from our table. A number of customers witnessed the scene as well," claimed the Emirati in her statement.
A forensic laboratory report showed that the defendants had 22mg/dl of alcohol in their blood. Sources close to the case told Gulf News that the couple appealed the primary judgment. "The couple is seeking to acquit themselves or to win a reduced punishment," said the source.
Prosecutors asked the court to implement articles 121 and 356 of the Federal Penal Law.
Article 121 stipulates that any expatriate suspect, who gets convicted for a crime related to honour or modesty [such as kissing, groping, hugging, cuddling etc…] faces compulsory deportation. According to the same article, a court can instantly deport a suspect for a misdemeanour crime instead of imposing a jail sentence.
The verdict sheet of the primary judgment said: "The court concluded that the man kissed and touched the woman's leg and shoulder in the restaurant in JBR.
"She consented to what he did. The court deemed their behaviour as public indecency and a breach of modesty and honour.
"The man had asked the court to hear the statements of the Emirati woman's children but the court disregarded his plea because her statement was enough. Besides she had also seen the crime herself."
Presiding Judge Abu Shamma handed out a lenient punishment as per articles 99 and 100 of the Federal Penal Law.
Bureaucracy at it's best
Ras Al Khaimah sex-in-car duo to serve sentence
- Taken from Gulf News..
The RAK Criminal Court sentenced the couple after a passer-by heard noises coming from the car and reported it to the police.
Ras Al Khaimah: A Bangladeshi man and an Indian woman have been sentenced to a year's jail and will be deported after they were found having sex in a covered vehicle. The RAK Criminal Court sentenced the couple after a passer-by heard noises coming from the car and reported it to the police, who caught the couple red -handed.
A senior court official said the couple initially denied having an illicit affair despite the evidence the authorities collected against them. During the court session, the suspect provided the court with a marriage contract signed by himself and his partner stating that they were already married.
The court official said that the court did not recognise the contract as it was not attested.
Sorry - you did not get the 10 signatures you needed to get this attested!
- Taken from Gulf News..
The RAK Criminal Court sentenced the couple after a passer-by heard noises coming from the car and reported it to the police.
Ras Al Khaimah: A Bangladeshi man and an Indian woman have been sentenced to a year's jail and will be deported after they were found having sex in a covered vehicle. The RAK Criminal Court sentenced the couple after a passer-by heard noises coming from the car and reported it to the police, who caught the couple red -handed.
A senior court official said the couple initially denied having an illicit affair despite the evidence the authorities collected against them. During the court session, the suspect provided the court with a marriage contract signed by himself and his partner stating that they were already married.
The court official said that the court did not recognise the contract as it was not attested.
Sorry - you did not get the 10 signatures you needed to get this attested!
Crazy taxis
The reason why I cannot wait to get a car is because I am sick of getting cabs around. There are no street addresses here, so each call-cab affair involves me getting on the phone directing a cabbie on how to get to me. Most of them are pretty ok but occasionally you get the really dumb ones that have absolutely no clue, and refuse to listen to what you're saying.
A sample conversation was my colleague and I getting a cab to get us from the office today. Cab asks where we are, we tell him, he says 10 minutes. 15 minutes later, still no cab, so we call him. This is the conversation on my colleague's side:
"Where are you?"
"Can you speak English or Hindi? I cannot speak Arabic or Pashtun.."
"OK you are at 2454?"
"OK, which roundabout??" (there are like 5 around my office)
"No, what do you see, tell me what you see"
"Do you see the pink concrete wall that borders the airbase?" Go towards that, take a right and you will see the building on the right"
"NO NO NO, we are not at 2454. We are at xxxx "
"Listen to me, we are not at 2454, we are at xxxx, You know xxxx?" (obviously he has no clue!)
"Ok we will wait at the road"
Colleague puts down the phone and we both heave a big sigh...
10 mins later, still no cab. Colleague gets on the phone and calls cabbie..
"Where are you?"
"What??! We are not at Cafe Colombia, I know where that is. You have to come to xxxx"
"OK, who is this?" (Cabbie had passed the phone to someone else!)
"Do you see the pink wall, go straight towards it and turn left, ....."
The conversation goes on for another 5 minutes and colleague puts down the phone cursing..
We wait and see a cab passing on the opposite side, so we wave at him, and expect him to make a u-turn..but 3 mins later, no cab! We got so pissed off that I called another cab, and a total of 30 mins later we were finally in a cab.
This wasn't an isolated incident, and I've had so many conversations like that ("Yes i know you are at a roundabout but there are 5 around the office, what do you see, tell me what you see!). It's really annoying and tiring to deal with this so i cannot cannot wait for the car!
A sample conversation was my colleague and I getting a cab to get us from the office today. Cab asks where we are, we tell him, he says 10 minutes. 15 minutes later, still no cab, so we call him. This is the conversation on my colleague's side:
"Where are you?"
"Can you speak English or Hindi? I cannot speak Arabic or Pashtun.."
"OK you are at 2454?"
"OK, which roundabout??" (there are like 5 around my office)
"No, what do you see, tell me what you see"
"Do you see the pink concrete wall that borders the airbase?" Go towards that, take a right and you will see the building on the right"
"NO NO NO, we are not at 2454. We are at xxxx "
"Listen to me, we are not at 2454, we are at xxxx, You know xxxx?" (obviously he has no clue!)
"Ok we will wait at the road"
Colleague puts down the phone and we both heave a big sigh...
10 mins later, still no cab. Colleague gets on the phone and calls cabbie..
"Where are you?"
"What??! We are not at Cafe Colombia, I know where that is. You have to come to xxxx"
"OK, who is this?" (Cabbie had passed the phone to someone else!)
"Do you see the pink wall, go straight towards it and turn left, ....."
The conversation goes on for another 5 minutes and colleague puts down the phone cursing..
We wait and see a cab passing on the opposite side, so we wave at him, and expect him to make a u-turn..but 3 mins later, no cab! We got so pissed off that I called another cab, and a total of 30 mins later we were finally in a cab.
This wasn't an isolated incident, and I've had so many conversations like that ("Yes i know you are at a roundabout but there are 5 around the office, what do you see, tell me what you see!). It's really annoying and tiring to deal with this so i cannot cannot wait for the car!
Car please come quick!
As soon as I got my driving license I decided to shop for a car. Initially I was planning to get a new Honda Accord or something similar that costs around the AED100-110k range (~RM90-100K). Then I learnt of the thriving 2nd hand market here, and that I could buy from the showrooms, and they do all the testing, servicing and even put in warranties for a minimum of 1 year. So I went to check out a few second hand dealers and suddenly owning a luxury car seemed pretty do-able! So, I placed a deposit yesterday for a BMW 320i, 2008 model, 20,000K, 3 year full service warranty that covers everything except tyres plus a couple of very cool options, for a nice sum of AED100k. That's RM90k. Unbelievable..I figured this is likely to be the only time that I would ever drive a BMW as it's so cheap, so heck :) I'm hoping to get it latest by early next week!
It's interesting going around these 2nd hand car dealers, most are not interested in even talking to me, unless it's a proper showroom with english speaking sales people. I test drove a Lexus from a 2nd hand shop, the guy sent his assistant who couldn't speak English to get in the car with me. When I came back with the car, boss wasn't even around to talk to me, I was asked to wait for 5 mins till he comes back from prayers. 15mins later, still no boss so I left.
My colleagues are buying direct from owners and they have even funnier incidences. Yesterday, he went to check out a car, and asked to take it for a drive. Owner says no, because he took 1/2 hour to get his car parked 100m from his house and if he removed the car, there is no way he could ever find parking. So he asked my colleague to come back over the weekend! Then today, my colleague calls another guy, and the guy told my colleague that he asked too many questions and he can only test drive the car if he's really going to buy! He has also been trying to get some Audi dealers to let him test drive a couple of the 2nd hand units they have but it's 5 days later and they still haven't brought in the cars! It's quite funny but really infuriating as well. I'm so glad I'm sorted with the car, while I probably paid 10-15k more because I went to a showroom but being able to just breeze through the process really is worth something..
It's interesting going around these 2nd hand car dealers, most are not interested in even talking to me, unless it's a proper showroom with english speaking sales people. I test drove a Lexus from a 2nd hand shop, the guy sent his assistant who couldn't speak English to get in the car with me. When I came back with the car, boss wasn't even around to talk to me, I was asked to wait for 5 mins till he comes back from prayers. 15mins later, still no boss so I left.
My colleagues are buying direct from owners and they have even funnier incidences. Yesterday, he went to check out a car, and asked to take it for a drive. Owner says no, because he took 1/2 hour to get his car parked 100m from his house and if he removed the car, there is no way he could ever find parking. So he asked my colleague to come back over the weekend! Then today, my colleague calls another guy, and the guy told my colleague that he asked too many questions and he can only test drive the car if he's really going to buy! He has also been trying to get some Audi dealers to let him test drive a couple of the 2nd hand units they have but it's 5 days later and they still haven't brought in the cars! It's quite funny but really infuriating as well. I'm so glad I'm sorted with the car, while I probably paid 10-15k more because I went to a showroom but being able to just breeze through the process really is worth something..
Ironing Shop Update
So..I went back to the ironing shop today to see if my clothes were ready. Voila, 9 pieces all ready and ironed perfectly.
But, where are my 2 pieces that I sent for dry cleaning? They couldn't find it in 5 minutes and I needed to leave as the cab was waiting..So fingers crossed that I will see my clothes again!!
But, where are my 2 pieces that I sent for dry cleaning? They couldn't find it in 5 minutes and I needed to leave as the cab was waiting..So fingers crossed that I will see my clothes again!!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Ironing Shop
I haven't ironed any of my clothes since coming to Abu Dhabi. Where I lived before, there was an in-compound dry cleaner who would also do ironing, which costs AED2.50 per shirt (that's like RM2.20 or AUD$0.90! Now that I've moved, there are a number of dry cleaners around my area. The closest is an "Ironing shop", who apparently also does dry cleaning but calls it an ironing shop because calling it a dry cleaner would cost AED500 more per year in registration fees.
So I went to the closest one today with my pile of clothes. My colleague had been there before (catch - he speaks Hindi, I don't!) and said they're fine. I rock up with my bags, 1 full bag of shirts and another bag for dry cleaning. The 2 guys stare at me.
I hand them my ironing bag and say "pressing only, ok?" and the other bag and say "dry cleaning"
Young Guy : "ah ok ok no problem"
Old Guy has quizzical look on his face, YG says something in Hindi and OG nods. OG gives me a marker pen and makes an indication to write on the plastic bag. I stare at them quizzically.
YG: "Phone number, phone number, name"
Me: "Ah ok ok" and I write my phone number and name on both bags.
YG: "OK thank you, bye bye"
Me: "No no, count how many pieces", so I start taking out and counting the pieces and write the number on the bags.
YG: "Ok OK, no problem"
Me: "Give me your number"
YG: "EH??"
Me: "Your phone number, mobile? Give me paper and pen" . I make a writing gesture
YG: "Ah ok ok". He gives me a piece of paper, I write down their number and name and the number of pieces.
Me: "When ready?"
YG: "samskera" (or something that sounded like that)
Me: "Err, when? tomorrow?"
YG: "Yes Yes tomorrow?"
Me: "Tomorrow yes? Or Monday (its saturday today)"
YG: "Yes yes, Monday"
Me: "Ok, tomorrow, or monday, or when?" and i proceed to count with my fingers the days of the week
YG blabs something in hindi, and it goes on for awhile. In the end I think the ironing is ready by tomorrow and the dry cleaning by who knows when. Actually I don't know if I'll see my clothes again..."fingers crossed!"
So I went to the closest one today with my pile of clothes. My colleague had been there before (catch - he speaks Hindi, I don't!) and said they're fine. I rock up with my bags, 1 full bag of shirts and another bag for dry cleaning. The 2 guys stare at me.
I hand them my ironing bag and say "pressing only, ok?" and the other bag and say "dry cleaning"
Young Guy : "ah ok ok no problem"
Old Guy has quizzical look on his face, YG says something in Hindi and OG nods. OG gives me a marker pen and makes an indication to write on the plastic bag. I stare at them quizzically.
YG: "Phone number, phone number, name"
Me: "Ah ok ok" and I write my phone number and name on both bags.
YG: "OK thank you, bye bye"
Me: "No no, count how many pieces", so I start taking out and counting the pieces and write the number on the bags.
YG: "Ok OK, no problem"
Me: "Give me your number"
YG: "EH??"
Me: "Your phone number, mobile? Give me paper and pen" . I make a writing gesture
YG: "Ah ok ok". He gives me a piece of paper, I write down their number and name and the number of pieces.
Me: "When ready?"
YG: "samskera" (or something that sounded like that)
Me: "Err, when? tomorrow?"
YG: "Yes Yes tomorrow?"
Me: "Tomorrow yes? Or Monday (its saturday today)"
YG: "Yes yes, Monday"
Me: "Ok, tomorrow, or monday, or when?" and i proceed to count with my fingers the days of the week
YG blabs something in hindi, and it goes on for awhile. In the end I think the ironing is ready by tomorrow and the dry cleaning by who knows when. Actually I don't know if I'll see my clothes again..."fingers crossed!"
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Driving License Yippee!
I passed my driving lesson today, so I shall go shop for a car this weekend. Cars are super cheap here..Initially I thought a new Honda Accord (~90k), but then I found out that I can buy used cars from the showroom and it comes with warranty so I figured might as well buy second hand. I went browsing with my colleague this evening and saw some pretty swanky cars going so cheap, so now I'm torn! A 2008 Merc C350 with 3 year warranty for AED115k, 2009 Lexus for AED110k, 2008 BMW 5 series for 125k with 3 year warranty, or a 2009 Honda Accord for 55k..hmmmm
Taking the test was interesting, and so were all the events that led up to it. I decided to take 2 hours of lesson from this instructor just to make sure I know what they're looking for..So I start my class, and he says you have no problem, just got to practise. Then I keep driving and making lots of u-turns and left turns, and then he asks me to pull over at this car park with no visible building around. I thought he wanted to drive but he asked me to wait. I was confused and walked out, but he told me to stay in the car, and he made the praying sign, waving his hands across his ears..and I went "Aaaah, i just gave him a ride to the mosque!" So i wait for 10 minutes for him while all these men walk across the car wondering what this asian girl is doing sitting in the car by herself. He comes back, I continue driving, and after 1 hour on the way back, he asks me to pull over the side of the highway where there are tons of cars pulled over with a cop too. He then told me to wait again, and I peek over the cars and lo and behold, there are people praying by the side of the highway with their mats! Amazing!
The test itself was 3 minutes long. Yes 3 minutes, no wonder people here drive like maniacs! We all get into this van (14 women) and follow the test car. Every 3 minutes someone else gets out of the van and into the car and does 1 u turn or 1 left turn, until everyone has had their turn. I think I drove the most, maybe 5 minutes as I was the last person to be tested and I had to drive back to the test centre. Hilarious! So I'm so pleased that this whole ordeal is over, though I'm AED1,300 poorer from it!
Taking the test was interesting, and so were all the events that led up to it. I decided to take 2 hours of lesson from this instructor just to make sure I know what they're looking for..So I start my class, and he says you have no problem, just got to practise. Then I keep driving and making lots of u-turns and left turns, and then he asks me to pull over at this car park with no visible building around. I thought he wanted to drive but he asked me to wait. I was confused and walked out, but he told me to stay in the car, and he made the praying sign, waving his hands across his ears..and I went "Aaaah, i just gave him a ride to the mosque!" So i wait for 10 minutes for him while all these men walk across the car wondering what this asian girl is doing sitting in the car by herself. He comes back, I continue driving, and after 1 hour on the way back, he asks me to pull over the side of the highway where there are tons of cars pulled over with a cop too. He then told me to wait again, and I peek over the cars and lo and behold, there are people praying by the side of the highway with their mats! Amazing!
The test itself was 3 minutes long. Yes 3 minutes, no wonder people here drive like maniacs! We all get into this van (14 women) and follow the test car. Every 3 minutes someone else gets out of the van and into the car and does 1 u turn or 1 left turn, until everyone has had their turn. I think I drove the most, maybe 5 minutes as I was the last person to be tested and I had to drive back to the test centre. Hilarious! So I'm so pleased that this whole ordeal is over, though I'm AED1,300 poorer from it!
3 Stooges the second time..
OK maybe it wasn't the 3 stooges but it sure reminded me of the incident..
I applied for internet connection at my new apartment from Etisalat (that's the monopoly provider here). The application was quick, fast, efficient and they said someone would call me in 2-3 days to install the stuff. Perfect I thought..
1 week later I still hadn't got a call from a technician. So I call Etisalat, and the conversation went like this:
Me: "Noone has called me and it's been a week"
Call Centre guy: "Mam, from your file, it shows that it is in progress, someone will call you very soon"
Me: "Ok, but when? I was told 2-3 days but it's been a week"
CC guy: "From your file, it shows it is in progress, a technician will call you very soon mam"
Me: "Can you tell me when I should expect a call? Then at least if there is a problem or if noone is working on it, I will know.."
CC guy: "It is in progress mam, and a technician will call you very soon mam, very soon"
Me: "OK, so when should I call back if I don't hear anything? How long, 2 days, 3 days, 3 weeks, 1 year???"
CC guy: "It is in progress mam, someone will call you very soon"
Me: "OK thanks" and promptly slam down the phone knowing that I was getting nowhere
Next day, still nothing, so I try my luck, hoping I can get someone else who can say more than 10 words
CC lady: "Yes mam, it is in progress and someone will call you very shortly"
Me: "I know, can you tell me when they will call, it has been 1 week, they told me 3 days"
CC lady: "No mam, it takes 14 days, so we are still in the normal time procedure"
Me: "14 days?? I was told 2-3 days!"
CC lady: "Well mam, sometimes it can take 2 days, sometimes even 1 day, but sometimes 14 days. Your file is in progress and someone will call you very soon"
Me: "OK can't you call the technician and ask him when he is coming? Or give me his number"
CC lady: "No mam, they are IT department, not customer service, we don't talk to them"
Me (still polite but boiling inside): "As a customer I call Etisalat, I don't care if you're Customer Service or IT. Why can't someone tell me when these guys might come so that I know when I should follow up if there is a problem? Should I call to follow up if there is a problem?"
CC lady: "Yes mam, you should definitely call to check"
Me: "OK when? Tomorrow, next day, next year?"
CC lady: "You can call us anytime mam, we can check your status online here"
Me (fuming): "Ok thanks"
CC lady: "Is there anything else I can help you with today mam?"
Me: NO THANKS (F**@(!)
Thankfully the guy came 3 days after I made those calls, within the 14 day period. Sheesh.
I applied for internet connection at my new apartment from Etisalat (that's the monopoly provider here). The application was quick, fast, efficient and they said someone would call me in 2-3 days to install the stuff. Perfect I thought..
1 week later I still hadn't got a call from a technician. So I call Etisalat, and the conversation went like this:
Me: "Noone has called me and it's been a week"
Call Centre guy: "Mam, from your file, it shows that it is in progress, someone will call you very soon"
Me: "Ok, but when? I was told 2-3 days but it's been a week"
CC guy: "From your file, it shows it is in progress, a technician will call you very soon mam"
Me: "Can you tell me when I should expect a call? Then at least if there is a problem or if noone is working on it, I will know.."
CC guy: "It is in progress mam, and a technician will call you very soon mam, very soon"
Me: "OK, so when should I call back if I don't hear anything? How long, 2 days, 3 days, 3 weeks, 1 year???"
CC guy: "It is in progress mam, someone will call you very soon"
Me: "OK thanks" and promptly slam down the phone knowing that I was getting nowhere
Next day, still nothing, so I try my luck, hoping I can get someone else who can say more than 10 words
CC lady: "Yes mam, it is in progress and someone will call you very shortly"
Me: "I know, can you tell me when they will call, it has been 1 week, they told me 3 days"
CC lady: "No mam, it takes 14 days, so we are still in the normal time procedure"
Me: "14 days?? I was told 2-3 days!"
CC lady: "Well mam, sometimes it can take 2 days, sometimes even 1 day, but sometimes 14 days. Your file is in progress and someone will call you very soon"
Me: "OK can't you call the technician and ask him when he is coming? Or give me his number"
CC lady: "No mam, they are IT department, not customer service, we don't talk to them"
Me (still polite but boiling inside): "As a customer I call Etisalat, I don't care if you're Customer Service or IT. Why can't someone tell me when these guys might come so that I know when I should follow up if there is a problem? Should I call to follow up if there is a problem?"
CC lady: "Yes mam, you should definitely call to check"
Me: "OK when? Tomorrow, next day, next year?"
CC lady: "You can call us anytime mam, we can check your status online here"
Me (fuming): "Ok thanks"
CC lady: "Is there anything else I can help you with today mam?"
Me: NO THANKS (F**@(!)
Thankfully the guy came 3 days after I made those calls, within the 14 day period. Sheesh.
The 3 Stooges
I had the 3 stooges deliver my furniture last Saturday. I bought most of my furniture from the same shop, and it is a pretty high end store so I did expect decent service. So 3 delivery guys rock up last Saturday and start lugging things up. The first thing they say is that it's 2 floors up, so high, no lifts! I had told the shop there were no lifts and they said it was not a problem as long as the stairway is wide, which it is. Then the conversation goes like this:
Stooge 1: "Mam we got big problem, your sofa too big, too high floors cannot carry, you got too much stuff you know, too much.."
Me (In my head - yes I bought shit loads from you guys so what are you complaining about) : "What do you mean? There was a much bigger sofa in here before"
Stooge 1 : "Oooh, but you got too much stuff madam, too much..it cannot turn, stair too narrow, we need help to carry. U know anyone to help??"
Me : "No, there is noone here to help. You can ask the washing machine delivery guys (2 guys were there fixing), but I don't think it is fair they should help, but you can ask them"
Stooge 1 talks to Machine guy in Hindi and the washing machine guy tells me that he can't help because what if he injures himself, which I think is fair enough
Stooge 1: "So madam, how now?"
Me (getting increasingly annoyed): "i don't know, you tell me! You want me to help, sorry I cannot carry a sofa! Why don't you call your office and ask them to send someone here, the store is only 5mins drive away"
Stooge 1: "Oh, it's very near mam?? OK I call them now.."
All this while, the other 2 delivery guys are not doing anything, there are only 3 boxes unloaded so far and in total there were more than 20 to be delivered..Stooge 1 gets store supervisor on the phone..
Stooge 1: "Mam you talk to the shop"
I start talking to the guy and he said the problem was that they needed someone else to help lift the sofa so that it can turn over the stairwell. So he said he would send someone over soon, no problem.
Me to Stooge 1: "Ok they are sending someone over, here talk to him"
Stooge 1 talks to the store guy, seems happier and the 3 stooges go downstairs to start lifting the other stuff up. They are up in my apartment with a new load every 15-20 minutes, so I wonder what takes them so long to walk up and down to carry stuff. I peer down the window that oversees the parking lot and realises that every time they unload something and go down, they start chatting, talking on the phone etc..geez
Then the 3 stooges come up lifting something that weighs 80kgs and puts it on the floor.
Stooge 2 : "You know this is very heavy, 80kgs, you see, 80kgs! U have water, water??!"
He then wipes his hand over his forehead and throws the sweat all over my box in a very melodramatic matter.
I was already very annoyed at that point, plus all his sweat all over my box! So i gave him toilet paper and said I would go and get water for them. They take another hour to unload and then there is nothing else but the sofas. The store guy hasn't come, and hey guess what, the 3 stooges manage to carry the sofa up without the help of the 4th person. What drama queens, obviously they were just moaning about having to do their jobs.
They then proceed to assemble my furniture and the whole process from the time they come till they left took about 2.5 hours. I only had 2 sofas, coffee table, tv console, sofa bed, dining table and chairs, a bed and a dresser. These guys were a hoot, and they expected a tip as well! Funnily enough, a colleague bought a fridge from the same shop and started talking about the 3 stooges behaving exactly the same way about lugging up his fridge - too high, too heavy, too much. When I look back it's funny but geez, these people sure have something to learn!
Stooge 1: "Mam we got big problem, your sofa too big, too high floors cannot carry, you got too much stuff you know, too much.."
Me (In my head - yes I bought shit loads from you guys so what are you complaining about) : "What do you mean? There was a much bigger sofa in here before"
Stooge 1 : "Oooh, but you got too much stuff madam, too much..it cannot turn, stair too narrow, we need help to carry. U know anyone to help??"
Me : "No, there is noone here to help. You can ask the washing machine delivery guys (2 guys were there fixing), but I don't think it is fair they should help, but you can ask them"
Stooge 1 talks to Machine guy in Hindi and the washing machine guy tells me that he can't help because what if he injures himself, which I think is fair enough
Stooge 1: "So madam, how now?"
Me (getting increasingly annoyed): "i don't know, you tell me! You want me to help, sorry I cannot carry a sofa! Why don't you call your office and ask them to send someone here, the store is only 5mins drive away"
Stooge 1: "Oh, it's very near mam?? OK I call them now.."
All this while, the other 2 delivery guys are not doing anything, there are only 3 boxes unloaded so far and in total there were more than 20 to be delivered..Stooge 1 gets store supervisor on the phone..
Stooge 1: "Mam you talk to the shop"
I start talking to the guy and he said the problem was that they needed someone else to help lift the sofa so that it can turn over the stairwell. So he said he would send someone over soon, no problem.
Me to Stooge 1: "Ok they are sending someone over, here talk to him"
Stooge 1 talks to the store guy, seems happier and the 3 stooges go downstairs to start lifting the other stuff up. They are up in my apartment with a new load every 15-20 minutes, so I wonder what takes them so long to walk up and down to carry stuff. I peer down the window that oversees the parking lot and realises that every time they unload something and go down, they start chatting, talking on the phone etc..geez
Then the 3 stooges come up lifting something that weighs 80kgs and puts it on the floor.
Stooge 2 : "You know this is very heavy, 80kgs, you see, 80kgs! U have water, water??!"
He then wipes his hand over his forehead and throws the sweat all over my box in a very melodramatic matter.
I was already very annoyed at that point, plus all his sweat all over my box! So i gave him toilet paper and said I would go and get water for them. They take another hour to unload and then there is nothing else but the sofas. The store guy hasn't come, and hey guess what, the 3 stooges manage to carry the sofa up without the help of the 4th person. What drama queens, obviously they were just moaning about having to do their jobs.
They then proceed to assemble my furniture and the whole process from the time they come till they left took about 2.5 hours. I only had 2 sofas, coffee table, tv console, sofa bed, dining table and chairs, a bed and a dresser. These guys were a hoot, and they expected a tip as well! Funnily enough, a colleague bought a fridge from the same shop and started talking about the 3 stooges behaving exactly the same way about lugging up his fridge - too high, too heavy, too much. When I look back it's funny but geez, these people sure have something to learn!
A week of craziness
I haven't had internet the last week at my old apartment or my new apartment hence my long silence..It has been a nutty week, with all the moving stress and crazy Abu Dhabi nuances!
The biggest thing that happened was a sudden departure of a colleague within a few hours of being told that he had to leave..it was pretty upsetting for all of us and definitely made me reflect on my very fragile position here. It took us a few days to get over it and for morale to pick up again but I guess that is life..
I've finally moved into my new pad and have been making many frequent trips to Ikea and other shops. I hate not having a car, I can't carry that much into a cab and it's so frustrating to have to keep making trips up and down. The worst thing is that I think either I'm jinxed or the quality of stuff here is really bad, or maybe a combination of both!
It started with my pot set - i bought a set of 5 pots in a box, I did not check it which was very stupid of me, and when i came home there were only 4 pots in there. So I had to go back to the shop and tell them what happened and luckily enough for me they found an excess one, which I thought was mine until I came back and realised that it is the same size as one of the other pots argh! So I decided to leave it and have 2 similar size pots, the hassle is just not worth it.
Then I bought a dinnerware set, the guy checked that nothing was broken before I left the shop, but when I came home and opened it, 3 of the plates were scratched very badly. So I had to bring back the 3 plates to exchange. I also bought a knife block, and when I came home to check, one of the knife handles was loose, so I had to carry that knife in my bag walking around the mall to exchange it. None of the above stuff are cheap things from Ikea, so I don't know, maybe I'm just jinxed.
Then I bought a dish rack from Ikea and when i came back to assemble it, one of the hooks was dented so now I have to bring that back for exchange.
The worst however, is that I bought a queen bed and mattress thinking that it would be Australian queen, which is the same as Malaysian queen. BUT NO, it's a king. Great..so now all the sheets that I shipped from Australia cannot be used! And there are no standard sizes here, every shop have their own unique quilt size and covers and I'm going nuts. So I'm going to struggle finding an Australian size, hopefully I do and then maybe I can use some of my linen..
Pretty tiring but I try to just brush it off and deal with 1 incident at a time..
The biggest thing that happened was a sudden departure of a colleague within a few hours of being told that he had to leave..it was pretty upsetting for all of us and definitely made me reflect on my very fragile position here. It took us a few days to get over it and for morale to pick up again but I guess that is life..
I've finally moved into my new pad and have been making many frequent trips to Ikea and other shops. I hate not having a car, I can't carry that much into a cab and it's so frustrating to have to keep making trips up and down. The worst thing is that I think either I'm jinxed or the quality of stuff here is really bad, or maybe a combination of both!
It started with my pot set - i bought a set of 5 pots in a box, I did not check it which was very stupid of me, and when i came home there were only 4 pots in there. So I had to go back to the shop and tell them what happened and luckily enough for me they found an excess one, which I thought was mine until I came back and realised that it is the same size as one of the other pots argh! So I decided to leave it and have 2 similar size pots, the hassle is just not worth it.
Then I bought a dinnerware set, the guy checked that nothing was broken before I left the shop, but when I came home and opened it, 3 of the plates were scratched very badly. So I had to bring back the 3 plates to exchange. I also bought a knife block, and when I came home to check, one of the knife handles was loose, so I had to carry that knife in my bag walking around the mall to exchange it. None of the above stuff are cheap things from Ikea, so I don't know, maybe I'm just jinxed.
Then I bought a dish rack from Ikea and when i came back to assemble it, one of the hooks was dented so now I have to bring that back for exchange.
The worst however, is that I bought a queen bed and mattress thinking that it would be Australian queen, which is the same as Malaysian queen. BUT NO, it's a king. Great..so now all the sheets that I shipped from Australia cannot be used! And there are no standard sizes here, every shop have their own unique quilt size and covers and I'm going nuts. So I'm going to struggle finding an Australian size, hopefully I do and then maybe I can use some of my linen..
Pretty tiring but I try to just brush it off and deal with 1 incident at a time..
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