First you have to know that there is automatic and semi automatic.
The diff is that semi automatic you need to put laundry in spinner after wash (a separate tub).
So I ask the clerk; I put the clothes in the tub, push a button and wait. When done I put laundry in the spinner and then hang it up to dry (no dryers here).
I confirm, is this all I need to do – yes Sir.
Swagata goes to the same store some days later and gets the same story, but she asks about the automatic model:
Do I have to turn on the tap in order for the tub to fill? - Yes ma’m.
Do I need to turn tap off when tub is full? - Yes ma’m.
Do I need to select wash with the knob? - Yes ma’m.
When washing is done, do I have to set the knob to drain? - Yes ma’m.
When draining is done I have to fill the tub again and then select rinse? - Yes, ma’m.
WELL, THAT’S NOT JUST A SINGLE BUTTON PUSH THEN, IS IT?? - No Ma’m.
Moral of the story: you gotta know what questions to ask.
Of course, being strangers here, how do you know what the questions are?
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover
Friday, October 19, 2007
Drivers (by Cor)
Drivers - this is when you do not have your own car and need to get what we would call a taxi - except you "hire a car" to go to the airport, or shopping, or whatever. It's usually for several hours and quite reasonable $2-$3/hour. Except paying this several times per week gets to be a hassle.
We've now bought our own car, the Mahindra Scorpio, an "SUV" - quite nice, and soooo much better than trying to get the driver to come on time and get you where you need to go. Some people have their own cars AND a personal driver, not too expensive, $125 month (yes, for the whole month - he washes your car too and runs errands).
It's funny how you see a VERY small car with a chauffeur and the passenger in the back, just like in a limmo, except the car is one quarter the size of the limmo.
It's funny how after some months here now, a Honda City (smaller than a Civic) or Toyota Corolla actually look like large luxurious automobiles. A BMW (rare) or Benz looks absolutely extravagant - of course they cost 125% more here, due to import tarrifs.
Drivers come in all shapes and sizes (old, young, smart, s....d, etc). One thing they share; when you ask them "do you know how to get to place x or place y”, they all say say yes.
Well if they kindof mumble yes, they don’t know. Be careful.
What will happen is that they take off down the street and ask directions from people along the way. Of course most of those people answer very diligently, first pointing left and then right and then another way yet – all of this resulting in mass confusion and no clear directions. Eventually you do arrive at the address – most of the time, but almost always late.
Problem is that many streets do not have names, and very few streets have street names posted. And, of course we still dont always know how to get there either, so we dont know if the driver is guessing or not.
One exception, if you need to get to the airport they get you there on time, no matter what traffic jams they encounter - it's amazing.
We've now bought our own car, the Mahindra Scorpio, an "SUV" - quite nice, and soooo much better than trying to get the driver to come on time and get you where you need to go. Some people have their own cars AND a personal driver, not too expensive, $125 month (yes, for the whole month - he washes your car too and runs errands).
It's funny how you see a VERY small car with a chauffeur and the passenger in the back, just like in a limmo, except the car is one quarter the size of the limmo.
It's funny how after some months here now, a Honda City (smaller than a Civic) or Toyota Corolla actually look like large luxurious automobiles. A BMW (rare) or Benz looks absolutely extravagant - of course they cost 125% more here, due to import tarrifs.
Drivers come in all shapes and sizes (old, young, smart, s....d, etc). One thing they share; when you ask them "do you know how to get to place x or place y”, they all say say yes.
Well if they kindof mumble yes, they don’t know. Be careful.
What will happen is that they take off down the street and ask directions from people along the way. Of course most of those people answer very diligently, first pointing left and then right and then another way yet – all of this resulting in mass confusion and no clear directions. Eventually you do arrive at the address – most of the time, but almost always late.
Problem is that many streets do not have names, and very few streets have street names posted. And, of course we still dont always know how to get there either, so we dont know if the driver is guessing or not.
One exception, if you need to get to the airport they get you there on time, no matter what traffic jams they encounter - it's amazing.
Random Observations by Cor
Chalta Hai
It’s just amazing sometimes:
You scream and yell at someone, because you’re frustrated, they don’t understand you, they do something stupid, or whatever – and the next instance they’ll ask “Can I get you a cup of tea”?
All teenagers come a pinch your kid’s cheeks, smile their big white-toothed and honestly sweet smiles at your children and ask their names.
You ask for directions on the road and everyone will try and help you, nobody turns away from you – no matter what they are doing, whether they are in a hurry or not.
Service at business hotels is very good, helpful and friendly - yet you will be checking in with a clerk at the reception and someone behind you will step in front of you and try to get their affairs taken care of first. This same scene is repeated anywhere you go.
If there is one foot of space between your car and the one ahead of you, some bike or car or bulloock cart, or auto-rickshaw or pedestrian will try to occupy that space – so you better inch your own car ahead, so that you don’t get pushed to the back of the pack all the time.
Cars (4 wheelers) and motorbikes (2 wheelers) honk their horns at will; honking a horn is not offensive, it is defensive; it tells people “I am here, don’t run into to me” – so you hear honking horns ALL the time, often for no reason at all. My wife jokes that her brother honks at trees.
Grid lock happens frequently (literally), even when a policeman is directing traffic. He may allow one lane of vehicles go until they fill up the entire intersection. When that’s done the other lanes of traffic try to get around the vehicles blocking the intersection, and before you know it the entire intersection is stuck. To be fair to the policeman, most drivers ignore his commands.
It’s just amazing sometimes:
You scream and yell at someone, because you’re frustrated, they don’t understand you, they do something stupid, or whatever – and the next instance they’ll ask “Can I get you a cup of tea”?
All teenagers come a pinch your kid’s cheeks, smile their big white-toothed and honestly sweet smiles at your children and ask their names.
You ask for directions on the road and everyone will try and help you, nobody turns away from you – no matter what they are doing, whether they are in a hurry or not.
Service at business hotels is very good, helpful and friendly - yet you will be checking in with a clerk at the reception and someone behind you will step in front of you and try to get their affairs taken care of first. This same scene is repeated anywhere you go.
If there is one foot of space between your car and the one ahead of you, some bike or car or bulloock cart, or auto-rickshaw or pedestrian will try to occupy that space – so you better inch your own car ahead, so that you don’t get pushed to the back of the pack all the time.
Cars (4 wheelers) and motorbikes (2 wheelers) honk their horns at will; honking a horn is not offensive, it is defensive; it tells people “I am here, don’t run into to me” – so you hear honking horns ALL the time, often for no reason at all. My wife jokes that her brother honks at trees.
Grid lock happens frequently (literally), even when a policeman is directing traffic. He may allow one lane of vehicles go until they fill up the entire intersection. When that’s done the other lanes of traffic try to get around the vehicles blocking the intersection, and before you know it the entire intersection is stuck. To be fair to the policeman, most drivers ignore his commands.