Tuesday, January 20, 2009

communication problems

France, afternoon

I just got a phone call, in French. This is how it went. I have to say that even if I can understand and speak French, doing that on the phone, especially when my mind is somewhere else, can create some problems.....

Phone ringing (I will report here the translation of the conversation):
- Woman: Hi, is it Madame XXX?
- Me: Yes
- Woman: I am calling you because you left your number to XXXXX (noise, so I didn't hear why they got my number, but as I was waiting for a phone call from my general doctor, I thought that it was her speaking)
- Me: Ah, yes, yes. I called you to know if you could give me the name of a specialist in this and that speaking English
- Woman: I am sorry, can you repeat please? I am not sure I understood well.
- Me: I would like to know if you could give me the name of a specialist who speaks English
- Woman: sorry, we don't do this service.
- Me: You don't? I thought that as a general doctor you may have some contacts and could suggest me a specialist.
- Woman: No, but maybe you can find this info on internet.
- Me: Ok, thanks. I will try.
- Woman: In any case, I am calling you because we got your order XXXX tattoo (noise before the word tattoo).
- Me: my what?
- Woman: xxxx tattoo (noise again)
- Me: I don't have tattoo...I am sure I didn't order one.
- Woman: Are you Madame XXXX?
- Me: Yes
- Woman: You ordered the Larsson book. The first book of the Millennium Trilogy in English. Do you remember? you ordered a week ago.
- Me: Sorry, with whom exactly am I speaking?
- Women: English book store.
- Me: so, I guess you are not my doctor......
- Woman: No.
- Me: I am so sorry...I was waiting for a call from my doctor to get the name of a specialist and I was not thinking about the book, so I got really confused.
- Woman (clearly embarrassed, as I told her a couple of things about my medical history during the conversation and for sure she was thinking that yes, I would need to see a specialist, for sure a psychologist and a good one!!!): No worries (but she sounded clearly worried)....so do you still want the book?
- Me: of course, of course. Till what time are you open today?
- Woman: 7pm.
- Me: Ok, thank you, thank you and sorry for the confusion.

I am sure that now she is laughing about this with her colleagues..I am feeling so ashamed.... :-( such a ridicolos conversation.....
But I got the book.

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