I am getting giddy with excitement about a trip that is finally in the works! I began by going on line, but the calendar was not co-operating, there was a lot of reading and guess-work going on, so I decided to call the a travel agency in Vancouver that caters to people traveling to Asia. It so happened that the same agent who arranged the trip for us in 2007, answered the phone and he remembered me! Maybe he remembered me because I have such a difficult time understanding him and I ask the same questions over and over. It’s funny, you get a bit of an idea of what it’s like being a foreigner, just talking to him. I have to say that I do have a lot of empathy for people having to learn a second language as adults. I have done some part time ESL teaching to Korean moms who are here to have their kids get an English education and I don’t think that I could make the sacrifices that they do, the humbling of oneself to try to understand a different way of life, shopping, getting around, schooling, etc.
I say this partly so that you know that I am not posting this to make fun of a travel agent who is making himself vulnerable, but again, to say that I don’t think I could be so brave.
Here he is, having to talk to people on the phone, emailing and making arrangements, all with a very strong accent and limited English writing experience. I know he understands everything very well but, the problem is, I don’t.
The good thing is that this travel agent is good at what he does and so friendly and eager to please, one really can’t go wrong…
But, to show you just some of the fun I’ve had with this, here’s a copy of one piece of correspondence from last time. He writes just like he talks, and he talks pretty fast, so put on your best listening ear.
HELL ANNELIESE.
I GOT 1 GOOD NEW AND 1 NOT VERY GOOD NEW TODAY..
hopefully u may understand what i try to explian you.
the good new is... The fare cad 1488 for your itneary have been extend untill 30jun. i think the fare a little bit more then before but still be ok
i think..
however.. the eve airways prom this fare but use for the lower class
then before the one i got for you.
the one i get for you during that period of sale is L CLS. now this fare
they change to Z Cls. ( the same as deluxe ecom but the clas is much
lower the L cls).
that is mean... class is not applied for this fare..
the seat is still the same but the cls is different.. which mean.. still not good on your day of travelling
what i do is as below.
On Saturday I got another email with the same friendly greeting!
9 comments:
It looks like you are off to visit your children I'm assuming.
How wonderful. I would be a bit nervous working with the agent, but it looks like you are about to go, I'm not sure which class anymore.
Anneliese. . .woo hoo .. .I'm so glad you are leaving on a jet plane soon. . .and I can imagine from your delight that it must be to see someone very special.
I also have worked from time to time with the task of understanding very friendly voices. . . one fella had me completely take apart my computer. . .telling me all the while. . .you can do it. In the end, after 4 hours and us being firmly friends for life. . .I begged him. . .no I can't do it. . please send some one. He said. . .I think you are right.
Hi Anneliese,
I love your blog so far... I found it b/c it's linked to Kristal's, which I read all the time. Sounds like you're off to visit Julene... fantastic! You two sounds like you have a very close relationship.
If you'd like to read my blog about living in China this year, send me your email addy and I'll send you an invitation (it's a private blog).
Hope you're well.
~Corinna Nairn (nee: Hiller)
oops, sorry, my email addy is corinnanairn@gmail.com
Yikes...who knows where you could land up and what you would be travelling on with this friendly assistance...risky business, but I heard in church a couple of weeks ago that how much you pray typically has a direct correlation to the amount of "trouble", oops - I think I mean it is "risk" that you take. This could be the trip of a lifetime. Just kidding, but it does sound like an exciting venture!
I am so happy that you and Dad get to go visit...but a tad bit jealous too...oh dear...why must we all be so far away?
So glad you are off on a jet plane to 'who knows where'! A most interesting plane in the photo as well.
Those accents make for most interesting conversations, all right. I volunteered as an ESL tutor at one time as well...working mostly with Spanish speaking immigrants. The European accents seem much easier to undertand than the Asian ones. That letter from your agent is priceless!
I nearly rolled on the ground laughing when I read the e-mail from the gentleman that I have complete empathy for. WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!! Planning has begun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anneliese..........sooooooooooooooo haaaaaaappy for you and your other half :-). Julene must be jumping out of her skin......... anticipating your arrival. Have you booked? I too have the same problem at work, a large % of employees do not speak English, they have been in Canada a long time but still always speak their own language with co-workers. When you ask them questions they smile and say yes to everything.
Hope all your plans work out.
Alvina
Post a Comment