I think this post is before any of my regular readers started reading. Its all about our electricity woes here in this house. Recently, things have been getting worse and we often have 4 or 5 power trips each night. It seems to happen more at night than in the day time.
We finally called Palembang's power office and they sent somebody over to check things. The guy checked things out and tried to tell me we had too many appliances on and that we don't really get to use the full 2200W because some is lost on the way. He said some other stuff as well and started to pack up. He was going to leave!
In my limited Indonesian, I kept trying to ask him why things have been different recently with the 4 or 5 trips each night even though we have no new appliances and have even reduced the number of lights we turn on in the hope of stopping them.
This was when I think I might have offended him. I think I said something about paying free money because all the trips mean that I don't actually end up using any of the electricity. After that, he seemed to just ignore me.
The good thing is that he agreed to check outside as well. Maybe he was too lazy to do this in the first place:
With the aid of a rope, he scampered up and down there without his shirt or pants touching the rusty pole!
After he fiddled around, he announced that we now have additional voltage coming in. A whole 10 volts extra I think. Not the full amount to power 2200W worth of appliances but a little bit more.
I felt bad when the guy started ignoring me. I think he was offended. And I felt bad that I offended him because he's really just the technician working for the power company. I was irritated with trying to explain things to him but I think I could have been nicer. I still think he was trying to get out of doing some work but that was no reason for me to be rude.
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
11 comments:
Don't feel bad. Honestly, i think some people deserve it. like a wake up call if it ever wakes them at all.
Brian's facing some poor service lately and it got to him. i felt sorry for him. i think some use our poor bahasa skills as a reason to ignore or take advantage of us.
Try not to be too hard on yourself. I blame the language barrier:)
I second the nap warden.
Unfortunately, some people just don't react unless you get rude. I am generally very polite and tolerant, but sometimes you just need to apply the old 2x4 across the back of the head to get people's attention. Don't feel bad.
I third the nap warden and agree with Bilbo!
2200 watts!? That's like one 20 amp circuit. Most houses in the US and I bet in AUS have 200 amp main service. At 120 volts (US) that's 24000w. You need to move back to civilization. Or get a generator.
I'm with the Nap Warden too. Don't stress too much about it. Be extra nice to your next waitress or something. :)
Yeah, the nap warden has to be right otherwise you wouldn't need a nap warden about.
It's the work culture here. If they can get away without working or working on it halfheartedly, they will. I'm not saying that they are all like this. But I have come across countless who are like that in my 3 years of being here. If you come across people like this, you have no choice but be impolite in your choice of words or else you will be the one who is on the losing end.
i have heard of ppl stealing electricity. could be part of the problem...
Some indeed need reminding about their behaviour.
Post a Comment