Walter is spending most of his time in India these days. He stays at a Marriott and has a 2 hour drive one way to the plant where he is building. Most nights he gets back to the hotel late and either has a dinner to attend to or he eats on his own in the hotel. This particular day he got back early to his hotel because he had a meeting. Having a few hours to himself after the meeting he decides to workout.
Walking into the workout room the attendant stops him and tells him he can't bring his phone into the gym. After a civil exchange Walter explains that he won't be talking on it that he uses it for music for his head phones and keeping track of his run. No problem the attendant leaves him be.
While working out a man walks into the room. He is blabbing on the phone rather loudly and also tagging along he has his 2 year old. No one stops him, no one questions him about the young child and there is a large sign on the door that says no children allowed under 15. After 10 minutes of this guy continuing to talk loudly on the phone and the attendant saying nothing Walter decides to say something to the gym attendant.
The attendant is extremely hesitant to say anything to this guy. Walter is the only foreignor in the gym and this guy is Indian. The class system is highly regarded in this culture. Walter again has a word with the attendant and how rude it is that Walter was questioned about his phone when he wasn't even on it and this guy has continued to talk rather loudly for the last 15 minutes. The attendant succumbs to Walters wishes and approaches the guy extremely hesitantly and quietly speaks to the man. The man gets up and leaves taking his 2 year old with him. Walter feels a bit triumphant and continues his workout. The attendant walks over to Walter and proceeds to explain that the guy was his boss the GM of the Marriott and he just had to tell him to stop talking on his phone and take his kid out of the gym. Oops! Walter just had the GM of Marriott thrown out of his own hotel gym.
Needless to say the GM returned about 10 minutes later with no phone or kid and a very sheepish grin on his face.
I feel a tripadivsor.com review coming on. Lol.
Walter is on the phone for a work meeting. He is talking to one of the construction managers. Typically I don't listen nor understand his work conversations but this particular end of the conversation caught my attention. Walter says to the other guy "listen when you talk to "d..k sh.t" please tell him to call about the machines being received". Something was said to Walter then Walter responds "no seriously "d..k sh.t" needs to understand that this needs to get done". Something is said in response and Walter says " okay well tell d..ksh.t I said to do this"
The conversation ends and Walter gets off the phone and I am dumbfounded and giggling. Walter is usually extremely professional when on business calls so I have to say something. I am completely curious.
Umm - Walter, you must be really comfortable with this guy you were talking with on the phone to refer to another person using such strong language
He looks at me like I have completely lost it. What are you talking about??
I just have never heard you refer to another person who you work with using profanity. This guy must be a real idiot. What?? He is looking at me like I'm nuts.
On the phone you called another guy "d..k sh.t". He burst into laughter. No I didn't that is the guy's name, Dikshit. What?? Seriously who would name their kid that. Well it turns out that this guys mother did. He is the owner of one of the construction companies Walter uses in India. He has to be the boss with that kind of name. Who would take him seriously. Walter shows me his profile picture and sure enough his name is Dikshit. Walter then proceeds to tell me that a guy here at the Thailand Big K's plant is named Tongshit.
I am now realizing that the English profanity language is not taken into account when people from India or Thailand name their kids. 😜. We both had a good laugh.
I could write a book titled The Life with a Driver. So many funny stories with KB.
I get out of the car one afternoon and tell (what I think I said) KB that we will leave in 1 hour / 3:30 for school. Jack has a basketball game. I go inside get some stuff done and walk out the door at 3:30. KB is gone. Hmm that's weird. He usually never leaves when we only have an hour. I wait a few minutes and decide to call hmm. Here is our exchange on the phone.
Me - KB where are you?
KB - I at school madam. You said school at 3:30. I here madam.
Me - no KB I said we will leave the house at 3:30 for school with me in the car.
KB - oh madam want to go with me. I left madam? Tsk tsking to himself in Thai
Me - yes KB (sounding a bit irritated).
KB - madam I come get you?
Me - (more irritated in my head but keeping calm) yes KB Jack has a basketball game and I want to watch
KB - now? I come get you now?
Me - yes now ( sarcastic voice is being suppressed)
KB - oh madam want to watch Jack. Jack be upset with momma if you not here.
Me - (seriously I want to scream- but don't). yes I want to watch Jacks game. Can you please drive home and get me
KB - oh ok I drive home get you and we go back to school
(Now I can't decide whether to laugh or reach through the phone, grab him and shake him saying just get the hell home.)
Me - yes please come home and get me. Leo Leo (that's very fast in Thai).
KB - oh Leo Leo ok madam
Me - goodbye KB (get off the phone and drive I want to scream).
KB - you want me to drive home Now?
Me - (that crazy manic laugh is stirring inside me) yes NOW
KB - oh ok I come now (then he proceeds to go through his 10 words of Thai goodbye before he hangs up)
Really? There are some days I wonder why I have a driver.
KB shows up - oh I so sorry madam. Shaking his head as he waddles around the car tsk tsking himself in Thai.
Mai pen rai KB I say. ( no worries).
Needless to say I made it to Jacks game right before halftime. It was a great game. Jacks team won and it was their first win of the season.
Needless to say now KB and I have a running joke. With madam or not with madam he asks me
Jacks basketball team after their first win. Jack is the one with the Beiber hair to the right of the guy holding the ball. (Needless to say he does not like that nickname).
Cheers from the other side
😘 M
