Zjabi

Traffic was definitely a bitch today.... It started off with a motor bike guy driving over my foot this morning.... then the police stopped me for being in the wrong lane but let me go after I gave him my most evil of evil early morning looks . .... I was standing at the traffic light ... behind a pick up truck without working hand break ... on a slight slope ... and as the traffic light turned green, he took off, pushing the accelerator all the way down ... leaving me in such a cloud of black smoke that I had to wait for several minutes for it to clear up to be able to see where I was going ... Other than this and the usual suicidal behaviour of others on the road ... All went well ... Sigh!

Got stopped by the police
And it was definitely my fault so had to pay
Had gone over the flyover with my motorbike ... and that is not allowed
But it only took me two minutes to deal with it
Well ... Madam .... you are not allowed to do that
Yes, Mr. police officer
I know that but last week I went under the flyover and someone tried to steal my bag (a lie but worth trying)
But what are you doing out so late
Yes, well, Mr. police officer
I just finished work .... busy, busy, busy
Ok, can I see your papers
Here you are, Mr. Police officer
So I will take your papers and then you can pick them up later at this and this office, paying the fine
No, wait ... don't!
Mr. Police officer, it is already late ... and I would like to go home ... so how much do you want?
Well ... eeeehh .... so ... eeeehh ... I mean ... eeeeeh
You know what we will do, park your motorbike on the side of the road as it is less dangerous. We will sit down on the pavement and we will think about it.
Dear Mr. Police officer, it is already late and I have to get up early tomorrow. I really want to go home so eeeeh ... here you go .... this is for you
Well, ok then
Have a nice evening Mr. Police officer
Don't ever do that again, ok?
Mr Police officer, I have definitely learned my lesson this evening, I will NEEEEVER do it again!

Good morning, this is Bank X
GOOD MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO MR. EDDY
Mr.Eddy? Do you have an account with our bank?
NO, I DON’T
Oh, then you must have dialed the wrong number
BUT THIS IS BANK X, RIGHT?
Yes, that’s right
OH, OK. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO MR. EDDY
Mr. Eddy? ... our office doesn’t have a Mr. Eddy
YESTERDAY I DIALED THIS NUMBER AND SPOKE TO MR. EDDY. I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME TODAY.
Which department?
I DON’T KNOW
What is it regarding?
WELL, I EXPLAINED THAT TO MR. EDDY YESTERDAY. IT’S REGARDING MY FRIEND’S LOST CREDIT CARD, FRIEND Y. BUT IT’S QUITE A STORY SO IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT ALL AGAIN .....
Yes, well .... we have someone called Adi and someone else called Hadi here.
OK, THEN MAYBE I GOT THE WRONG NAME, CAN YOU PUT ME THROUGH TO MR. ADI THEN PLEASE?

ring ring

hello
HELLO, IS THIS MR. ADI?
Yes, speaking
MY NAME IS GABY AND I’M CALLING REGARDING MY FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD. HAVE I SPOKEN TO YOU ABOUT THIS TWO DAYS AGO?
A lost credit card, you say? What is your account number with our bank?
NO, IT’S NOT ABOUT MY OWN CREDIT CARD. HAVE I SPOKEN TO YOU TWO DAYS AGO?
Excuse me?
HAVE I SPOKEN TO YOU TWO DAYS AGO ABOUT MY FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD?
About what?
ABOUT FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD
Can you give me friend Y’s account number?
SO I HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO YOU THEN?
Excuse me?
DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY CALLED MR. EDDY, HE’S SUPPOSED TO WORK AT YOUR OFFICE?
Mr. Eddy? No, we don’t have any Mr. Eddy here.
THEN CAN YOU PLEASE PUT ME THROUGH TO MR. HADI?
Mr. Hadi? Just a moment.

ring ring

Hello
GOOD MORNING, IS THIS MR. HADI?
No, this is Mr. Tony. Can i help you?
YOU CAN HELP ME BY PUTTING ME THROUGH TO MR. HADI
May i ask what it is regarding?
I WAS ACTUALLY HOPING MR. HADI WOULD KNOW WHAT IT IS REGARDING
Wait a moment

ring ring

Hello
GOOD MORNING, AM I SPEAKING TO MR. HADI?
Yes, speaking
GREAT, MY NAME IS GABY AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU IF I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU TWO DAYS AGO REGARDING MY FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD?
What do you mean?
I MEAN THAT I SPOKE TO SOMEONE ABOUT MY FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD TWO DAYS AGO AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT WAS YOU I SPOKE TO?
Friend who?
MR. HADI, I HAVE SPOKEN TO MORE THAN HALF THE STAFF IN YOUR OFFICE NOW AND ALL I WANT IS SPEAK TO MR. EDDY .....
Mr. Eddy, you want to speak to Mr. Eddy
YES, DO YOU HAVE ONE ON OFFER?
Just a moment, I’ll put you through

ring ring

Hello
GOOD MORNING, WHO’S SPEAKING?
This is Farid, can I help you?
I’D LIKE TO SPEAK TO MR. EDDY ... IS HE AROUND BY ANY CHANCE?
Who can I say is calling?
GABY
Mrs. Debby, just a mo .....
NO, NOT DEBBY, GABY
Ok, Mrs. Debby, I’ll put you through

ring ring

Hello
HELLO TO YOU TOO, WHO’S SPEAKING PLEASE?
Mr. Eddy speaking here, what can I do for you?
MR. EDDY, ARE YOU SERIOUS. THAT’S JUST GREAT. THIS IS GABY SPEAKING
Right, you are calling about friend Y’s lost credit card
FINALLY!! ................THE THING IS, I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN AN HOUR ON THE PHONE NOW AND HAVE TO LEAVE FOR WORK. BUT I’LL CALL YOU LATER AS NOW I KNOW THE TRAIL I NEED TO FOLLOW TO GET TO SPEAK TO YOU. I’LL TALK TO YOU LATER. BYE NOW

It is definitely a difficult time for the ladies from the middle and upper class in Java. They are having a hard time this week. The pembantus, drivers, gardeners and all other kinds of staff have gone to celebrate Idul Fitri (the celebrations after the Muslim fasting month) with their family who mostly live in villages far away from the city. What does this mean for the ones who stay at home and normally keep busy managing their staff. They have to do all the work themselves this week and surely this has caused some panic, especially the very first day. Cook themselves, wash up themselves, sweep the floor themselves, water the plants themselves, take care of the kids themselves, iron the clothes themselves, pour drinks themselves, open the door themselves, answer the phone themselves, etc., etc. How were all these things done? I turned on the TV yesterday and found myself in an interview with an Indonesian celebrity who was trying to survive this week,;she did not look very well. If they really get depressed, they can always find refugee in a nearby hotel. Fortunately it will all end next week when everything will be back to normal and the work of the staff will be appreciated again. I would like to write some more but unfortunately cannot, as my pembantu is also away on holiday and I am knackered. I still have to cook, wash up, mop the floor, water the plants, change the sheets, do the shopping etc ... I hope I can do all before the end of the day.

She has such a nice nose. But isnt' it strange ..... having a foreigner sitting next to you all of a sudden.
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Excuse me sir?
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Nooo, I bet she doesn't speak Indonesian ..... and definitely not Javanese.
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Oh, you do!
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Where are you from?
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Holland in America or Holland in Europe?
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I bet you teach English here.
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How clever that you speak Indonesian. I don't speak English, only 'yes, yes' and 'fenk yu'.
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Yes, I am a grandma. In the old days, there was no time to study. I married when I was young. I have a lot of children and now grandchildren.
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One is four years old and the other six. They are already in school.
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Your nose is so straight, beautiful. We all have a short noses.
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Have you been to TP (shopping mall)?
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Oh right, you just finished work.
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Where do you work?
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Oh right, you teach! That's what I thought.
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Are there a lot of Indonesian people in Holland?
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And of course in Suriname.
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Isn’’t Suriname near Holland? Then where is it?
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In South America? Are you sure?
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Where do you live?
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In Delta Sari? I assume you have bought a house there.
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You rent! With whom do you live? With your family?
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Alone? Isn't that scary, all alone in a house?
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So you are not married yet? But you are still young, how old are you?
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31? I thought you were 22 or something................
Well, I have to get off.
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Let me see? All my bags. Well, I might see you again one day. Bye now.