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One Chicken - One Duck
Monday, April 13, 2009
Working in a multi-national environment which comprises a number of nationalities is quite a challenge. Specially so, if you are at “ground zero” where day to day you are face to face with the workers that are not conversant with the common language, English, or understands at all. As if, one chicken and one duck trying to understand each other.
Unfortunately, I have quite a number of misadventures with the one chicken and one duck syndrome in the workplace. One of which, just happened last Monday as I was at the other Project assisting in the tender exercise.
I reported at the tower project that day, as I was going through with my works I realized that I left something at my place. I thought of redoing it but it would certainly take me an hour or so to re-do my work. But if I go and take my work at my place it would only take me half an hour the most.
So I decided to call the transport foreman to arrange a driver for me, remember that I haven’t got my license to now. No thanks, to the traffic police examiner for always failing me in my driving test.
The transport foreman asked me to wait at the gate and he will send me a driver, of course with a car, in ten minute. Fifteen minutes past and the driver never came. As I about to call the transport foreman, I receive his call. “Where are you” said the man at the other line.
“I am here at the gate”, I replied.
“I cannot see you”, protests the man.
“I am standing here and I don’t see any driver”. Then I realized maybe he is looking for me at the other project at P99 and I am at P89.
“I am here at P89, EIGHTY-NINE”, I said very slowly.
“Sir, I thought you’re here at P99. I am sorry sir, I will send the driver now to you”, he said apologetically.
So, I waited another ten minutes.
When the driver arrived, he looks new to me. I asked him if he know my place. He just looks at me. This guy doesn’t speak English. A scenario of a chicken and a duck inside a car. Obviously, he doesn’t know where I live. So I asked him if he knows how to go to Najma, because my place in near there. He simply replied “Yes”. He speaks English at least.
As we are traveling on the road, I noticed the road directions going to D-ring road, which is actually my place. I told the driver to go to that road. He said, “No”. Pointing the direction I told him he said “No Najma”, and pointing the direction of the car, “Yes Najma”.
I don’t want to start a chicken and a duck argument, so I just sit still and thought the driver must know then where he is going. When we reached Najma near my place, I assisted him with the direction and we reached my place after fifteen minutes.
I took my things I need then jump back into the car and ask the driver to go back to P89. He quietly obliged and off the chicken and the duck.
At the first round-about, instead of going straight, the driver U-turn. “Where are we going?” I asked the driver. “P89”, he said but looking puzzled. “Sir, you, good road, good driving” I thought he is trying to say we are taking a short cut.
After traveling for about five minutes, I noticed the road signs and directions that we are traveling towards the opposite direction. So, I reminded the driver, we are going back to P89. He responded “Yes”. I said to myself, ok, maybe he knew a short cut.
Then I saw Villagio, the mall I planned to go and visit but I never had the time. Villagio is far south of City Center where our site is located. Then it occurred to me the driver is lost. I started getting furious, scolding the driver. I was telling him to go back, but it seems that he doesn’t understand. He continues to drive south.
Then we were already at the Industrial round-about and then it is the end of the road, literally end of the road. The asphalt road has ended. But still he continues to drive south. If not for the blockage at the end of the road, this guy would not U-turn, we might have reached Saudi Arabia.
I called the transport foreman to tell his driver is lost and asked him to tell the driver to follow my direction. I was fuming but what can I do, even if I scold him left, right and center, he doesn’t understand me.
After one and a half hour we reached our site, at least, safely. I wanted to save 30 minutes of my work but end up losing more than two hours.
Moral lesson of the story,
A chicken and a duck do not understand each other.
Next time bring a turkey to make it more fun.
Unfortunately, I have quite a number of misadventures with the one chicken and one duck syndrome in the workplace. One of which, just happened last Monday as I was at the other Project assisting in the tender exercise.
I reported at the tower project that day, as I was going through with my works I realized that I left something at my place. I thought of redoing it but it would certainly take me an hour or so to re-do my work. But if I go and take my work at my place it would only take me half an hour the most.
So I decided to call the transport foreman to arrange a driver for me, remember that I haven’t got my license to now. No thanks, to the traffic police examiner for always failing me in my driving test.
The transport foreman asked me to wait at the gate and he will send me a driver, of course with a car, in ten minute. Fifteen minutes past and the driver never came. As I about to call the transport foreman, I receive his call. “Where are you” said the man at the other line.
“I am here at the gate”, I replied.
“I cannot see you”, protests the man.
“I am standing here and I don’t see any driver”. Then I realized maybe he is looking for me at the other project at P99 and I am at P89.
“I am here at P89, EIGHTY-NINE”, I said very slowly.
“Sir, I thought you’re here at P99. I am sorry sir, I will send the driver now to you”, he said apologetically.
So, I waited another ten minutes.
When the driver arrived, he looks new to me. I asked him if he know my place. He just looks at me. This guy doesn’t speak English. A scenario of a chicken and a duck inside a car. Obviously, he doesn’t know where I live. So I asked him if he knows how to go to Najma, because my place in near there. He simply replied “Yes”. He speaks English at least.
As we are traveling on the road, I noticed the road directions going to D-ring road, which is actually my place. I told the driver to go to that road. He said, “No”. Pointing the direction I told him he said “No Najma”, and pointing the direction of the car, “Yes Najma”.
I don’t want to start a chicken and a duck argument, so I just sit still and thought the driver must know then where he is going. When we reached Najma near my place, I assisted him with the direction and we reached my place after fifteen minutes.
I took my things I need then jump back into the car and ask the driver to go back to P89. He quietly obliged and off the chicken and the duck.
At the first round-about, instead of going straight, the driver U-turn. “Where are we going?” I asked the driver. “P89”, he said but looking puzzled. “Sir, you, good road, good driving” I thought he is trying to say we are taking a short cut.
After traveling for about five minutes, I noticed the road signs and directions that we are traveling towards the opposite direction. So, I reminded the driver, we are going back to P89. He responded “Yes”. I said to myself, ok, maybe he knew a short cut.
Then I saw Villagio, the mall I planned to go and visit but I never had the time. Villagio is far south of City Center where our site is located. Then it occurred to me the driver is lost. I started getting furious, scolding the driver. I was telling him to go back, but it seems that he doesn’t understand. He continues to drive south.
Then we were already at the Industrial round-about and then it is the end of the road, literally end of the road. The asphalt road has ended. But still he continues to drive south. If not for the blockage at the end of the road, this guy would not U-turn, we might have reached Saudi Arabia.
I called the transport foreman to tell his driver is lost and asked him to tell the driver to follow my direction. I was fuming but what can I do, even if I scold him left, right and center, he doesn’t understand me.
After one and a half hour we reached our site, at least, safely. I wanted to save 30 minutes of my work but end up losing more than two hours.
Moral lesson of the story,
A chicken and a duck do not understand each other.
Next time bring a turkey to make it more fun.
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