Communications "Skills"

Yes! A lot of sales people, call centers, waiters/waitresses, managers need it!

A new restaurants opens, my sister goes with her friends for breakfast and get mixed up orders THREE times! Not to mention the careless manager. They tell him we wont pay... he goes "be my guest". He does not even try to make it up to them

Telemarketers who cannot understand "NOT interested" and keep asking for a minute or two to at least convince me into getting their products! I mean they want me to buy new shampoo, I tell them I am bald, they still wanna talk!

Call centers! Yes, I ask about an offer, she goes the promotion period is over, I ask her what was it about, and she say why do you wanna know? ITS BECAUSE I WANNA KNOW! And its not like she ask why do you wanna know? She goes and interrupt me before I finish my question and tell me with a sarcastic tone that I am TOO late to be asking about it! What if I wanna understand the ad itself!

Its not just that! I go into the elevator and someone burps! WTH! No sorry no excuse me NO NOTHING!

Electricity

They are fixing the main cable in our neighborhood, which happen to pass majorly in our house, so they removed the tiles and all... in our house and some other houses, and the electricity keeps going off GRRRRRRR!

I am invited for a wedding tonight, I hope nothing happens! Ugh!

Bits From Here & There

I read almost all the newspapers, and some websites, every morning at work (research related). So I get the chance to know who wrote what first, or compare the different info given on the same subject, or spot typos.... Specially when its one newspaper with a typo against MANY others...

Yesterday, while browsing AlWatan Newspaper I spotted a very shocking news piece! It states that Saudi Telecom Company, STC, is giving distributions of SAR75.3! I was like Whoa! Whatta company to be distributing that much PER SHARE! I knew right there and then that this was a typo, specially when I started reading other newspapers and websites. It is suppose to read SAR3.75... (simple math, since they added SAR3 and SAR0.75). I decided to double check with AlWatan and called the Economic Division.

Let me tell you the guy was SO RUDE!!

He was like; "Sister... can I tell you something? First of all, for such mistakes DO NOT COME TO US, call KUNA for that they are our main source, so it is NOT US to blame... secondly where do you work?"

I was shocked! I told him this was not the right way to speak to me, and that all other sites and newspaper got it right so it could be a typo and I only meant well! And I told him I work in a field where I have to check such news on daily basis... he interrupted me and asked if I work for STC? I said no, and he was like then why do you care! I WAS FURIOUS at such treatment! I swear I thought they were gonna do something about it and not investigate with me! Grrrrrrr!

Oh and whats up with guys I see at work with bags!? I am talking little LV purses with no handles (no, not portfolios)! I dont like Male-brandwhores! I dont like seeing guys who are dressed in brands head to toes with the initials of that brand allover... well, girls as well! Its distracting! I have seen some girls some time ago at the avenues who were dressed this way! Screaming for attention with all the Gucci, LV, and God knows what logos on their clothes, earrings, handbags! Ughhhhh!

And why am I still suffering from my flu! I know I had a bad case of flu with respiratory infection, middle ear infection, fever of 39.5C, and sore throat! How long dose it take to be cured? And why am I still lethargic!

Hahahahaha I reread what I wrote and I am nagging a lot :-P And that guy's ad that I read on Buzberry is annoying me too!!

I am just being Grouchy Smurf for the day I guess :-P (By the way... if you strangle a smurf, what color will he turn to?)

Rotten Burger King

I always like my burgers PLAIN with nothing else but cheese and sometimes whatever special sauce -that is actually good- that I would not mind. I ordered Burger King Whopper Jr. and for some reason I forgot to mention that I did not want lettuce nor tomato. I had a couple of bites and decided to remove the tomatoes.... GLAD I LOOKED! It is disgusting! A rotten tomato :-S

I kept asking myself what if I had a bite of it already... it got me sick, so I drove to Qadsiya branch and asked for the manager, he came in

Manager: Yes ma'am
Ansam: (putting the burger on the counter) Please explain this?
Manager: What ma'am?
Ansam: The rotten tomato sir!!!
Manager: Where? I dont see anything (at this point he removed the bun and still acting there was nothing wrong with it)
Female Staff: Sir... here! (pointing at it)
Manager: Ohhhh that
Ansam: Yeah THAT
Manager: OK ma'am, do you want me to replace it?
Ansam: Is this your way of solving it?
Manager: No I will take care of the kitchen staff, meanwhile do you want a fresh one?
Ansam: NO! (I was thinking, no apologies, no sorries, no how can we make it up to you? WHY DID I EVEN COME)... Give me the number or your headquarters?
Manager: Here, look it up in the poster

I was furious at this point, he was not even polite enough to give it to me

Ansam: FINE! And by the way... I took pictures, that I am planning on publishing online
Manager: OK!!
Ansam: BYE

And I stormed out!

What kind of customer service/retention/loyalty are they seeking?

Cairo - Part II

Its been a week since I posted about my Cairo trip.. and I thought I should continue my Cairo journal here and write..

I woke up around 7:30-8 and was so excited because the plan was to see the Pyramids. We headed down for breakfast, and it was a beautiful site.. we sat by the Nile.. it was just amazing :-)
A lot of my friend kept telling me to avoid saying that I was Kuwaiti, I just couldn't... at the buffet, I felt like having eggs, the chef asked me if I was Arab, I said yes... and when he asked what nationality I just couldn't lie, but instead I asked him to guess... he went east to west, north to south with the Arab countries skipping Kuwait LOL. Until he was like "Kuwait??" I smiled and nodded hehehe. By 9:00 we were back in our rooms getting ready and I called the driver to pick us up...

Ahmed I: Hello
Ansam: Good morning, can you pick us up at around 10:00?
Ahmed I: Well, you see... Actually the other Ahmed is your driver, I just picked you from the airport cuz he had some thing to do, so would you mind calling him instead?
Ansam: Sure

Ahmed II: Hello?
Ansam: Yes, this is Ansam............. (telling him the same thing)
Ahmed II: I am sorry to tell you that it will take me more than an hour to pick you up! I was not informed nor prepared
Ansam: But we did the whole arrangement thing from Kuwait to have a driver on call!!!
Ahmed II: I am a bit busy
Ansam: Fine

My friend calls Kuwait about what happened.... after five minutes

Ahmed I: I am gonna pick you up soon
Ansam: Thanks

We wasted our morning waiting until he came around 11:30! It pissed me off big time since we had to call Kuwait to get things done in Cairo! Plus 11:30 isn't really early for us to go around the city :-( The driver did not seem happy about it... he was quiet!

There they are.... the Great Pyramids of Egypt! I always thought that they would be in remote area and that you cannot really see them from the city, I was wrong. As we approach'em, we were stopped by civilians who claimed they work there either as "Egyptologists" or for ticketing. There were also tourist police all over the place. One of those ticketing guys approached us and asked for PASSPORTS!! I was like WTH!? Apparently you are giving entry tickets' prices according to your nationality. So he asked us for any forms of IDs because we did not have our passports, he made it seem like a BIG mistake to be coming to the Pyramids without passport! He examined the IDs like for few minutes and was like OK, since you are Kuwaiti I will charge you EGP4 which is the Egyptian rate, but will have to charge your American friend EGP60... I was like whatever, and paid for myself, the driver, and my friend. He kept telling me "Kol sana wento 6ayebeen" (which literally translates to happy new year) all through ticketing process.... and how he worked hard on getting me the Egyptian rate because Kuwaitis and Egyptians are the same to them... I ignored him, I kept saying thanks.. but that was about it!

We had to go through security to go in while our driver drove ahead and waited for us inside.... I was surprised to read CLEARLY that they charged me just the right amount and there were no favors... It stated clearly there; the price of Fellow Arabs are EGP4... they asked for the ticket and again the guy checking my ticket gave me a "shocked-face" look on how I got the Egyptian rate... I pointed at the sign and smiled! He then stalled me asking me for ID again and asking questions... I went with the flow.

As we entered, we were looking for the driver and we were approached by one of the "Egyptologists" who harassed us rather than offering services. I kept asking him to go away! Under other circumstances I would not mind hiring an expert but since they are so annoying I decided going without them... reason I did that is because when he offered, I rejected it with thank yous... he would just ignore me and get into our car insisting on it which scared the hell outta me! I kept asking him to step out, the driver was asking him that too... my friend also, but he would just come close to my face and try to convince me to take his service...

You want worse? I saw a tourist police and I asked for his help... he came in with some hand gestures (implying tips/money) saying.. "tell me? whats wrong?" DO I HAVE TO PAY EVERYONE to get through it all or what? The Egyptologist looked back at me inside the car and was getting so close to me till I started kicking the chair and asked him to move away from my face!! He finally stepped out of the car!

We parked the car, and walked around but to add to my joy... another Egyptologist came and started talking and explaining things to us.. I ignored him 100% I asked him to leave politely but with no use... he kept walking with us like we have no choice... until I clearly told him that I was not gonna tip him or give him a penny!

The weather was two windy, the Pyramids looked amazing but the place was trashed :-( There are "No Climbing" signs, but you can climb anyway if you tip them :-( I wanted to do more... but the whole atmosphere was not helping! I wanna go again with a male presence or with an Egyptian friend or someone who really know their way around there! I wanna go again where I can have a good time without all those annoying surroundings :-( Its beautiful, its awesome, its the Pyramids for God's sake!

I remember standing in front of the Coliseum in Rome and just thinking about the history... gladiators, lions, people who walked those grounds....etc! I wish I was able to do so with the Pyramids :-( They just wont let you enjoy it... some thing must interrupt and ruin it for you!

Tips:
Bring in eye drops, water, lotion, and sanitizer. It helps a lot.

CBK Problem!

I slept around 11:30PM last night and my eyes were wide open at around 3:00AM! I could not go back to sleep :-S So I went on facebook, checked my email messages, rearranged things in my bathroom, surfed the internet... Oh and read on Yahoo! that Natasha Richardson died after ski accident :-(..... still, not feeling sleepy! Went on youtube and watched some videos, but no.. that did not work either! I turned off the light and closed my eyes but I just could not sleep!

I decided to go back online and check my bank account(s), and one of which is an account with CBK. I remember opening that account for one purpose only, which was buying Tijari Funds. Its been a while since I checked that account... and when I logged in I saw that they have been deducting KD2 each month since August!!

It states that when your balance falls below KD100 they start deducting KD2 as a fee. I always kept it at, at least, that minimum. So get this...

August 5th '08, my balance was around KD100
August 6th '08, I withdrew KD50 and my balance was around KD50
August 7th '08, I transfer KD51 to have a new balance of around KD101...

Then my account started to drop KD2/month totaling to KD16 with a credit of KD2 in January.. so they added KD2 for some reason and deducted KD16 in the course of eight months! I called the call center and he said this was done because at one point in time it got to less than KD100, so they decided to do so... I am redeeming my fund on Monday and closing the account too on the same day!

I still can't go to sleep! Ughhhhhhh!


UPDATE I:
Its now 5:30, I am still awake... Gonna watch Grey's Anatomy S5E17

UPDATE II:
And I arrived to work LATE! How is that possible when I woke up around 4 hours prior to my actual wake up time...

UPDATE III:
AlTabtabaie was interviewed on BBC - Arabic FM while I was driving to work, and he used a hadith to describing the parliament dissolving...
He said: أبغض الحلال عند الله حصل وهو حل المجلس
Isn't that HARAM?!

Wordpress Problem!?

How come sometimes when I want to leave a comment on a wordpress blog I find someone else's Name, email, and website? Its annoying me because I would leave a comment without checking sometimes and it would turn out to look like someone else posted it, or direct them to the wrong website or email for that matter! Anyone?

March 11

"Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out!"*

I am up for trying to make the best of the way things turn!

Let me tell you this: It was a BAD week! Something was brought to my attention "very publicly" when I am the kind of person that like to sort out things smoothly and I appreciate it more if it was on a scale of "one on one" (people who are really involved) without involving a third party who have no say about it to begin with! Did that make sense?

Oh but the highlight of my week was participating in a focus group for an ad agency, and it was chocolate related :-D I had so much fun!

Oh, and I am going to Cirque De Soleil - Alegria tomorrow! YAY!
That should put me in a better "state of mind" (how ironic is that? - click the link above to know what I mean)... I really really REALLY wanted to see "Ka" for Cirque De Soleil... but I guess Alegria will work for now :-)


Cheers!
Ansam



*I got this from a motivational quote calendar on my coworker's desk!

DON'T TOUCH ME!

There is this female... that I see A LOT. She see me a lot so no need to greet her by kissing every time we meet specially when I see her sometimes in consecutive days and when I dont really REALLY know her all that well to go all "YAY" and "WOW".

OK... picture this; the first time she see me at any given day, she would go .....

"YAAAAY Ansaaaaaam... hiiii, how are you dear??" Muwaaah X 2... so yeah she greet me with kisses, sometimes hugs, and some tapping on my shoulder and touching of my arms...

Sheesh!!

On the same day... I ran into her *lucky me* and she goes again...

"YAAAY Ansaam Ansaam, I see you again" with some more tapping and touching :-S

Yeah, she would go out of her way to come and do it all over again.. crossing people and waving while doing so until she reaches me and asking me how am I doing? and some other "advice" questions she needs help with in her personal life! Keeping in mind that I just met her last January! I am not even close to that lady!

She would do this every time she sees me... every single time, and I am starting to freak out specially when she once ran into me and said...

Her: I miss you :-(
Me: How come? I see you "a lot"
Her: I am traveling soon for six weeks
Me: This weekend? *Thank God*
Her: No next month
Me: ?!?!?!??!?! uh ha ha ha?
Her: I already miss you! I will miss you for six long weeks

She misses me already! She is leaving after three damn weeks!

The more hugging, kissing, and touching involved in greeting me... the more I freak out. I am not the touch-y.. feel-y type of person... specially with people I dont really know!!!!


HELP!

Domino Effect... Still On

As I was walking out the door towards my car, I saw Isaac (our driver)... I clearly said this to him.

"Isaac, dont make any plans today at around 10:00am. I am dropping my car at the bodyshop in Shuwaikh... So I want you to pick me up from there and drop me to work"

He said ok!

So I went to work and left at around 90:00AM heading to Shuwaikh. I get all the paper work done and call Isaac.

Ansam: Can you please pick me up now.. I am in Shuwaikh?
Isaac: I am in the Coop with your mom
Ansam: WHAT! I told you that I needed you today! I will be late to work!
Isaac: Talk to madam
Ansam: Mom... can you please tell him to pick me up? I dont want to be late for work... Dad can come and get you?
Mom: Sure... we just got in, I will be done by the time hes done with you
Ansam: Thanks :-* OK so let me talk to him please
Mom: OK dear
Isaac: Yes?
Ansam: I am not at the dealership.. I am in the Shuwaikh garage.. OK?
Isaac: Yeah.. I know the place, been there with Sir
Ansam: Perfect.. Thanks
Isaac: You're welcome

15 minutes later... phone rings

Ansam: Are you out?
Isaac: Yeah I am home
Ansam: HOME!?
Isaac: Yes.. where are you?
Ansam: I told you to pick me up from the garage... THE GARAGE ISAAC
Isaac: I did not hear you well I guess
Ansam: I DONT WANT TO BE LATE TO WORK... Come to Shuwaikh NOW!
Isaac: OK

15 minutes later... phone rings

Ansam: Are you out
Isaac: Yes, outside garage #7

I did not pay attention to the numbers, but THANK GOD he came to the right place

Isaac: So you want to go to work?
Ansam: Yes please
Isaac: Which road should I take
Ansam: Any road that leads to Kuwait City
Isaac: Rd 45 or 40?
Ansam: I dont care

*I was not in the mood to talk to him cuz all I was thinking is I wanna choke him*

Isaac: OK

Now I am at work, and the minute I got to my floor...... I threw up :-S

Domino Effect!

OK... so maybe I am in a posting mood these days! I am not sure its gonna stay this way but anyhow I had a loooooooooooooooooooong day yesterday!

I left home around 7:40ishAM and went to work... stayed there till around 4:10PM. I called a few guy friends to ask them about the procedure to take when I need to get my car fixed, specially when its a case against an unknown person....

So I went to the police station at around 4:30PM to report the hit-and-run and the investigator wasnt there. I was asked to come after an hour or so. I called a friend of mine and we decided to meet for coffee... I went to Soug Sharg -the closest to where I was- to kill that hour. I first went to Debenhams, got to the makeup section and an older man (in his late 50s-early 60s maybe) wispered something to me... something like "follow me... " and I could not understand a word he said. I figured maybe he talked to me by mistake thinking I am his daughter or something.. The guy started to follow me, as I was holding a couple of pieces of clothes he would stand few meters away from me and wait! I decided to leave immediately.

At the cashier my friend called and asked me to meet at the cafe. The cashiers started to whisper things about that freaky man who was follwing me and asked if I knew him cuz he was waiting for me AGAIN! I told them that I did not know the guy! So an employee of Debenhams walked me to my car (WTG Al Shaya) *phew*

At the cafe, I ordered something to drink till it was time to go to the police station again... I went in and there were few cases ahead of me... Many of you are propably wondering why I went alone without a male relative! Well, its because I dont have brothers and we have some sort of family health issue and I felt it was selfish for me to ask someone to come with me while they have something more important to worry about....

When it was my turn to go in the investigator's office, he wasnt really paying attention... his eyes were locked up the TV screen hanged on the wall! It pissed me off! Apparently some important match/scores were on and he was more interested in that than in listening to me! He even asked if I was parked far away, which I was, so he was like "hmmm did you take a picture of it?" and "Can I just trust your description of the accident!?" And thats what he did! He did not even bother to look at the damaged part!! VIVA LA SYSTEM! LOL

By the time I got back home it was around 7:30PM... which is almost exactly 12 hours later... and thats when I had time to eat "lunch"!

Word Vomiting?

I am a recipe for disaster :-S

I am sure I did upset some people....!

Someone today showed me something and was like I hope "this time" you will say something "positive" about it... WTH!

Another someone said something really harsh to me earlier today :-( Someone I dont even know!!

My dear friend R.O. told me its the Sunday blues... I think its more than that! Its more of 2009 blues.. started with a car accident + health issues in the family + things I cannot say + things I cannot explain + people.... hmmmm who did things that seemed to be simple to them but not to me and its hurting me badly!

Its all those mixed emotions and feelings of the surroundings that are upsetting me badly! Yes I am smiling and my day seems to be going just fine but I am not telling ANYONE what is really wrong! Its killing me, and I wanna deal with it alone... so there you have it! I am NOT fine! I am NOT OK! I am upset and I am feeling down....

HB... I have no idea why the things I say come out like word vomit! You are a special friend to me and I did not mean to bother you in any way or get you in trouble! God knows what you mean to me and how I see the true friend in you! You are the one I can depend on with no fear... I feel like crying just typing those words :-S

Mrs. Doubtfire... I know even if you read this you would not know who the hell I am talking about, but I do feel that you resemble Mrs. Doubtfire (and I do see some Kramer in you too)... See... I am doing it again! Being mean and calling you all that! But you are driving me crazy! I know you are a nice lady but I can't seem to find a common ground for us where we find mutual understanding.. I try but you staring at me sometimes for no reason freaks me out! And it makes me vomit words as well :-S eeeeek!

"Someone" I vented to about what is happening regarding the health issues in the family. I dont know if you know who you are, but you are awesome! I mean it! "You dont just say things to make me feel better" yet you say things and you do make me feel better... Thanks :'-) Oh and you are super funny in your own ways!

And to all my unanswered calls/messages/email please know that I do acknowledge it all but I swear to God I have no time to answer you.....

Oh and many more things I cannot even start to list.....

Salmon Avocado Salad!

I was having lunch at Maki earlier today... my friend asked if I wanted to share Salomon Avocado Salad.. I agreed, only problem is that she do not want it with Salmon or Avocado!

Me: One salmon avocado salad please and I want the salmon avocados on the side.
Waitress: OK.. so just lettuce and crab.. and you want the salmon and avocado on the side, right?
Me: Yes please
Waitress: OK :-)

A while later, another waiter comes..

Waiter: Excuse me ma'am.. but can you please pick between having either the salmon or avocados on the side? You cant have both as sides!
Me: No, you dont get it... I am ordering the salmon avocado salad but I want to have the salmon and avocado on the side and not mixed!!
Waiter: Yeah.. still, you have to pick only one side!
Me: Why?
Waiter: You can only pick ONE side....

The manager was at this time near our table listening... and to my surprise he was the one who sent the waiter cuz he was waiting for me to say "OK FINE" which I was not planning on saying..

Me: OK let me get this straight... I am ordering THE SALMON and AVOCADO salad, I only want those two on the side and not mixed... do you get this part?
Waiter: Yeah I do... its not possible.. errr... hmmmm

The manager calls for that waiter... after five minutes he comes back..

Waiter: OK, done
Me: Thanks!!!

Explanation? ANYONE??

email-Psycho

Hmmm... OK, get this! My cousin's wife sent an email with a question that you dont have to really answer but it was somehow misleading (with wrong piece of info). So, I replied to all and wrote the correct info thinking that all people on that list are civilized enough to understand that my email was more of informative! I wasnt looking for friends or anything!

So the story begins when I received an add request on my gmail account for msn from someone I dont know. I basically deleted that request and did not accept it.

Earlier today, I started receiving email messages from that same person... Forwarded messages! I did not want that person to flood my inbox so I replied with a simple question (and I added a :-) face): Who is this? :-)

The war just started! Just like that! That guy simply took things personally and attacked me as if I was asking for a fight or something!

You sent me an email first!

It was then... at that moment that I connected he was one of those people on that email list I "replied all" to! I tried in so many ways to explain to him that I meant well by sending an informative message to all the recipients.. I also told him that he was the only one acting in that weird way! And dont get me started when he made it all about him!

I did not email HIM as in just him! What! He thinks the world evolves around him!!! Whatta self-centered kid he is!! He wont stop emailing me with stupid explanations on how I was the one who contacted him first! On how I tried to make friends with him!! On how illiterate I am when it comes to sending and receiving email!! ME!! Yeah! Is he friggin kidding me! I have been using the internet/email since 1995! Why would a kid come to me now and try to "TEACH" me on ways to use the email!!!

I explained it to him! NOT once... not twice, but THREE friggin times...

I was trying to send out an informative message, I replied all... he was the only one who thought it was personal and rushed to conclusions and whats not! I had to tell him in the end that I was NOT in the state of mind to argue and blocked him!

I only regret one thing.... I should have blocked him 3 emails ago! LOL

More Random Thoughts! (More of Rants :-P)

Problem is I am a bit on the edgy side these days hehehe! So no room for bright happy posts I guess! Is that a problem? No! Its my blog and I'll cry if I want to! X-P

I order from Coffee Republic a lot at work! My food/drinks get delivered in a timely manner! I've noticed they bring in the "expected" exact change with them when they deliver! Say my order is KD2.800, the delivery guy will have KD17.200 ready (so he can give you the exact change back starting from paying him KD20!) I also noticed that same thing with many restaurants I order from... Salad Creations, Q Cafe, Caribou... and many more

BUT NOT HOLIDAY INN - Downtown!

See... I mostly order through 6alabat just because I find it easier for me to deal with them electronically rather than by phone! I can write whatever I want in the comments (such as no mayo, brown bread instead..etc).. I am kind of documenting my order just in case, if something goes wrong... I have it documented! And plus its easier for them to read it rather than have me repeat it over and over, right?!

So the first time I ordered from Holiday Inn, the delivery guy was 200 fils short... so I was like thats ok. Next time I ordered I wrote a note "Please give back exact change for a payment of KD5.000)... he comes and hes 300 fils short!! The third time, he was 150 fils short but I told him I would wait! I was in a that mood! Yes! I wouldnt mind he walk around for as long as it takes for him to give me back my God damn 150 fils!!!

PS: This Holiday Inn incident happened some time ago! I dont even know why I posted about it NOW! LOL

Random Thoughts!

ONE: How would you feel about someone who is clearly trying to test your stress level! Like testing his/her limits until you burst!? I am kinda stuck in such situation and as much as I try to smile back and be nice... it is still getting into me?? :-S

TWO: How would you feel when someone comes to you with simple-answer questions... and like come to you without being courteous enough to ask...

"Do you have a minute?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Are you busy?"

No... they just come and expect you to drop all for you to be free to help them out!

THREE: And how would you feel when someone ask you to check on something that you agree to check... and in return when you ask them to check from their side on something similar but they say its not in their area! Or they cant!?

FOUR: And how about when you see people taking credit for things you've done... as simple as good deeds, nice gestures, or even some things you've done!?

FIVE: Now imagine all that happen when your....
Stress levels are already SO HIGH,
You have personal problems (related to family health issues), and
You're not sleeping much

I keep on smiling and doing the best I can... I believe in Karma! I really do! So dont mess with me! Oh and I hurt myself while carrying loads of paper, talking on the phone, and holding my bag while going down the stairs...... OUCH!

Blah!

More bad news flowing my way! I am just waiting for this week to end :-S I need to clear my head and think happy thoughts! For that my readers... I may not be around as much (in posting here or reading and commenting on your blogs)



Cheers!

My Car Accident!

I was driving on third ring road last Sunday heading east and waiting at the traffic light on that bridge of Rawda-Nuzha X Hawalli-Qadsiya... The light turns yellow... then red, and after wee seconds it turns green for us to drive forward. I was in the middle lane, a bus to my right, and GMC-brand car on my left. Since I have the smallest car I was a little bit ahead of them when we drove off... another SUV suddenly decides to cross the red light from the opposite lanes and speed off towards South Highway 40.... Everyone starts honking from that side, but to me all I saw is a car in front of me... I slammed on my brakes but I hit the car anyway! I could not avoid it no matter what!

I went deaf for a moment, my mouth felt very dry! I am checking myself... am I OK!? Yes I am I look left and right... where is that SUV that appeared out of nowhere!! There I see it, is he gonna run away... I check his plates, I try to memorize the numbers! Cars are slowly driving by me and looking/staring at me! I gather my strength and drive a bit forward and turn on my flashing lights... I get out of the car, while I look to check the SUV I cant see it anymore... I go to the front and my car is damaged :'-(

I see someone approaching me... running towards me! Its the SUV driver.. I think!!

SUV: I'm so so so sorry! I know its my mistake! I know I run a red light... but are you OK? Are you hurt?
Ansam: I'm fine.... are you OK? What were you thinking?
SUV: Sorry, I wasn't thinking I was on the phone... I wasn't paying attention.
Ansam: Are you for real!!!! On the phone while driving! Thats not even legal!!! (I did not have anything else to say!)
SUV: I know, I know... Sorry! I am calling the police now

I walk back to my car to get my phone and call my dad.... Then I hear someone..

"HELLO?! ARE YOU OK? I SAW THE WHOLE THING!!... HELLO?!"

I look and its a young man on the opposite lane waving at me... he runs towards me, and asks if I was OK? And then tried to calm me down and telling me that he saw the whole thing and that he is furious. He checks my car, asks me to turn it off... and goes to the SUV driver.

I call my dad, and I tell him: "Dad.. I am fine, 100% fine, but I had an accident". My dad is on his way to me. Good!

The other guy who witnessed the whole thing comes back to me with the SUV driver, and gives out his phone number to both of us since he saw the whole thing. His name is HB. He again tries to calm me down and telling me that he will stick around until my father gets here.

My father arrived and rushed to my car... checked if I was OK, and then went to talk to the SUV driver and HB. The traffic police arrived shortly after to draw a little sketch of the accident. Listen to both, the SUV driver and HB... So he got the story that when he came to me he just asked me if I was fine! I answered: "I am OK" and smiled!

I guess they were all waiting for me to cry LOL!

We had to drive to a nearby police station... HB came to say bye, and again told us to just give him a call if we needed a witness. He was really nice.

At the police station... a place I hate to be in "JUST HATE" to be in... Remember my previous accident post? I just dont get the system or how insurance works, even if you are fully covered. Well... anyway, while we had to wait for the investigator I was asked to wait in a room... and right there, when I was alone I broke into tears! My dad came in and calmed me down, gave me some tissues... I did calm down after a minute! I guess I just needed to let out some!

We go in and the police take the SUV driver side of the story... I must say again he is one decent and honest man. They did not even ask me to speak out! The story was well said. In this case, that SUV driver is in serious trouble.. Red light? Phone? Accident? I really feel bad but I am too angry to just let it go! Being polite and nice doesnt give you the right to #### up somene's day! So the best we could do is do it on personal level rather than going to court and such! He told us that he was willing to pay for the damages. My insurance was full coverage, his was liability! My rights with the police station to file a case were reserved for few days in case he fails to pay.

Next day we go to the workshop and guess what!? They estimation was high... a KD1,930 high! Yeah yeah! My car is 2009, brand new, and all parts are expensive!

So yesterday we go to the police station and turn out the amount is too high for him to afford :-( and so we have to go through our awesome systems and bureaucracies. One thing that I will add to the corrupted police system we have in Kuwait was the investigator's suggestion... That is to sign on a paper that says Mr. SUV driver did not cross the red light to save him from the major consequences of that act... Which will automatically make the whole accident my fault since he was driving and "did NOT cross the red light" and I just BANG! Beautiful! Ain't it? Ahhhh and lets not just say that I did not make a big deal of mentioning that he was talking on the phone!!! Whatta system!!

MY BABY......

IS HURT :'-(
*sobs*
*sniff*

Another Isaac Story!

I have written about our driver, Isaac, before... And guess what? Something -some annoying thing-happened earlier last week and I thought of blogging about it!

My sister, M, sent Isaac to Hawalli to get something for her friend and asked him to call her once he's done.

Isaac: I bought the thing you asked for
M: Cool, now just go to my friend S's house, its located in... (she was giving him directions) and call me from there to make sure its S's house :-)
Isaac: OK

Isaac reaches S's house and calls my sister... he is sometimes so robot-like that you have to give him the step-by-step directions.

Isaac: OK I am there
M: Ring the bell!!!!
Isaac: OK

*Ding Dong*

M: Ask if its S's house
Isaac: OK

A man, S's husband, opens the door...

Isaac: Hello, Is this S's house?
Husband: Yes
Isaac: Here talk on the phone please
Husband: Hello?
M: Hello!!! I am M... S's friend (Wondering why Isaac did that!!!)
Husband: Yes yes, hello how are you?
M: I am good... How are you?
Husband: I am fine.
M: OK I just wanted to make sure that the driver reached your place.. the correct place
Husband: Yes it is. Thanks :-)

The husband hands the phone back to Isaac

Isaac: OK done?
M: Yes.. Thats the house, thanks

*After 20 mins*

The driver is back with the stuff that he bought from Hawalli and that he was supposed to hand in to S's husband!!!!

M: NO NO!!! Send it back! Why did Isaac bring it home! WHY!

M sends Isaac back! And he "SUCCESSFULLY" delivers it! *phew*



I never... NEVER thought someone can be so robotic to the point where they want to be spoon fed with detailed procedures on what to do!!!