Post Purchase Cognitive Dissonance

I was finally inducted into the new apartment this evening at 8:16pm. We had to conduct the inventory walkthrough while I was on a conference call. My inventory guide didn't speak any English so it wasn't so rude. He didn't have any rhinestones on his jeans, either, so it's not like we'll ever be friends. 

Managed to say "I don't see any chopsticks in this drawer but they're listed on my inventory report and so can we please look harder or strike them off the list?", using only hand signals and some odd smiling thing, whilst on a call talking about whether our Russian client is just trying to find fault or has a point and if so what that point could be.

The rice cooker was sitting up on the bench when I walked in, pride of place. Phew. No toilet paper though. I'm going to conquer that damn cooker.

That new dwelling feeling is strange though. I always feel very discombobulated after moving to a new residence. I don't get it in a hotel room, so it's probably linked to the irrevokability of the choice.

I've found a lebanese restaurant (of all things) nearby and am now in it. I was the only person here at 9:30 and no one else has come in during the last hour. Friday night, too. There are 5 waiters, 4 bad hairstyles and 3 t-shirts with fresh spills down them. Staff lunch must have been poorly plated.

I'm going to somehow say "bingo" when I pay; just to break the ice. It's important to make friends in a new school. 

Blunt instruments

Had an extremely busy day with tight deadlines and angry client and too much work and stress and concentration. So I've been dans la zone all day; furiously typing, and formatting, and basically doing things which no one will read. But important, right ...

Anyway at one point Edwina pipes up out of the blue, for the tenth time, with something inane and distracting. This one I wrote down:

"Isn't it funny? Don't you think it's funny how people always think it's a lot further to walk --"

Me: "No. Edwina. Not now. I can't listen to this now. Sorry".

She didn't seem to mind at all.  I somehow think I'm not her first.

Worst lease ever

I forgot to negotiate an iron, ironing board and towels (tea or bath) with my landlord. I'm sure there are many others standard items as well. So I now have to steal some towels from the hotel before I check out, to tide me over for a week or so when I can buy some.

Yesterday,  when we walked through the apartment with the inventory list, I did ask if he supplied a rice cooker. Oh yes, I have successfully worked a rice cooker into my lease. (Get me.) I didn't ask for towels, or an ironing board, or an iron, or indeed anything of a standard, perfunctory nature. I was probably trying to sound Vietnamese during the negotiation or something, God knows. I've never even used a rice cooker.  Even when I was given one.

Dirty clothes

[Ring Ring]

"Hello Good Morning Hilton Reception this is Mai speaking how may I help you?

"Hello Mai I am checking out today and I was won—"

"Check out?"

"Yes I am checking out today. BUT—"

"Yes sir, what time you like to check out?"

"BUT I need to do my laundry. Is it possible to do my laundry and also check out?"

"Your Laundry, sir?"

"Yes. I am checking out today. But also I want to do laundry. Is it possible to do laundry?"

"Laundry."

"Laundry. And check out."

"Yes sir. You have a laundry bag sir?"

"Yes."

"Please leave laundry in room. You want me call housekeeping to pick up?"

"Yes but not until I now if I can also check out. Is this possible?"

"Check out?

"Yes. Check out AND laundry. Is that OK?"

"Check out? What time you check out?

"Umm. Early I think. Morning. Now. Soon. L"

-- Check out now? OK. No problem. Please come to reception for check out.

"What about my laundry?"

-- Is there anything else I can help you with sir?

"Yes I just want to ask about my laun—"

" Thank you, sir. You're welcome, sir."

[Click]