"Errr...helllooow"
There is a new PhD student at work. So far he seems okay, but he is starting to grate on my nerves a little bit, despite me gritting my teeth and trying my best not to be rude. He's from Pakistan (so as is traditional in this blog, he will hereinafter be referred to as Pakistani Z).
The problems started last week when he found out that he lives in the same halls as me. He asked me for my room extension number and I foolishly gave it to him at the time, an action I have not stopped kicking myself for thanks to him incessantly calling me on it to ask me all sorts of trivial questions like where should he dump the rubbish, how can he call Pakistan, how can he apply for the post of a senior resident, how should he get his light bulb fixed, how his shower doesn't drain and what should he do. Please note that each of these queries were a phone call each. Also note that all these calls took place after 11pm or so on a week night, at a time where I was drifting off to sleep. Waking up a sleeping Darwin is an Unforgivable Crime, so that was not cool at all to say the least. I switched off the ringer after the 5th call and just went to bed. And then proceeded to have nightmares where I was plagued by ringing phones and "Errr...helllooow"s in Pakistani accents. Fuck.
The second on my list of grievances was when he asked to walk back home with me after work since he didn't know the way. Fair enough. It was dark, but we walked home, and he seemed chatty enough (lotsa small talk as is expected). We stopped at my door and he wanted to walk into work with me next morning too so when he asked me what time I'd be setting off, I said 8.30am. We said goodnight and parted ways for the night. 11pm, sure enough, the fucking phone rings again (I had foolishly switched the fucking ringer back on, and this time I was actually fucking asleep) and he asks me what time I'm leaving for work. ARGH!!! I repeat 8.30am with as much patience as I could muster.
Next morning, I'm having my breakfast and at 8.20am, this time my fucking mobile beeps. He's texted me to ask 'where r u now'. I'm not a morning person to begin with and this was just not on. I rang up his extension and told him with barely concealed impatience 'Hi Z, it's Darwin, I'm just trying to have my breakfast at the moment so like I told you twice last night, we'll be leaving at 8.30 alright? Bye.'. Sheesh.
The walk into work was painful. I love my morning walk to bits, the solitude and tranquility, particularly while walking along the canal when it tends to be completely deserted and there are swans and ducks swimming along it peacefully. I count on that walk to wake me up by the time I reach work. I love being able to walk in at my own pace listening to my music. This was completely lost thanks to walking in with Z. He asks endless questions, questions that I have no way of answering because I simply don't know the answer. I try my best to direct him elsewhere - Eg: "why don't you try asking the International Office" for when he asks me how he should extend his visa, or "why don't you check the campus map online" when he asks me for directions on how to get to his library induction meeting. I'm more than willing to help someone if they need help but I'm not his fucking Yellow Pages, he really needs to take some initiative and attempt to figure out the simple shit like this himself.
I was peeved at all this to say the least and had a rant on the phone to another friend about it, an unsympathetic asshole of a friend who just laughed at my tale of woe and told me to quit being a bitch (I have such nice friends you see). The asshole friend then proceeded to do the "Errr...helllooow" thing over the next few days at random times to wind me up and send me into a panic. So Sunday night I had just finished a phone conversation with the asshole friend (a conversation he started with the "Errr...helllooow" line). The phone rings immediately after he hangs up and I answer it to hear a "Errr...helllooow" at the other end.
You know what happened right? I reply with a "Oh fuck off will you, it's not bloody funny!". I'm met with a stunned silence. Turns out this time it's Pakistani Z, the real one. Oh fuck. I stammer and explain that I thought he was someone else. I feel awful for swearing at him and wonder if he's okay, but he seems to be because he's too busy doing his usual routine of using me as his Yellow Pages.
He then asks the dreaded question, "what time are you leaving for work tomorrow?".
Please shoot me now.
The problems started last week when he found out that he lives in the same halls as me. He asked me for my room extension number and I foolishly gave it to him at the time, an action I have not stopped kicking myself for thanks to him incessantly calling me on it to ask me all sorts of trivial questions like where should he dump the rubbish, how can he call Pakistan, how can he apply for the post of a senior resident, how should he get his light bulb fixed, how his shower doesn't drain and what should he do. Please note that each of these queries were a phone call each. Also note that all these calls took place after 11pm or so on a week night, at a time where I was drifting off to sleep. Waking up a sleeping Darwin is an Unforgivable Crime, so that was not cool at all to say the least. I switched off the ringer after the 5th call and just went to bed. And then proceeded to have nightmares where I was plagued by ringing phones and "Errr...helllooow"s in Pakistani accents. Fuck.
The second on my list of grievances was when he asked to walk back home with me after work since he didn't know the way. Fair enough. It was dark, but we walked home, and he seemed chatty enough (lotsa small talk as is expected). We stopped at my door and he wanted to walk into work with me next morning too so when he asked me what time I'd be setting off, I said 8.30am. We said goodnight and parted ways for the night. 11pm, sure enough, the fucking phone rings again (I had foolishly switched the fucking ringer back on, and this time I was actually fucking asleep) and he asks me what time I'm leaving for work. ARGH!!! I repeat 8.30am with as much patience as I could muster.
Next morning, I'm having my breakfast and at 8.20am, this time my fucking mobile beeps. He's texted me to ask 'where r u now'. I'm not a morning person to begin with and this was just not on. I rang up his extension and told him with barely concealed impatience 'Hi Z, it's Darwin, I'm just trying to have my breakfast at the moment so like I told you twice last night, we'll be leaving at 8.30 alright? Bye.'. Sheesh.
The walk into work was painful. I love my morning walk to bits, the solitude and tranquility, particularly while walking along the canal when it tends to be completely deserted and there are swans and ducks swimming along it peacefully. I count on that walk to wake me up by the time I reach work. I love being able to walk in at my own pace listening to my music. This was completely lost thanks to walking in with Z. He asks endless questions, questions that I have no way of answering because I simply don't know the answer. I try my best to direct him elsewhere - Eg: "why don't you try asking the International Office" for when he asks me how he should extend his visa, or "why don't you check the campus map online" when he asks me for directions on how to get to his library induction meeting. I'm more than willing to help someone if they need help but I'm not his fucking Yellow Pages, he really needs to take some initiative and attempt to figure out the simple shit like this himself.
I was peeved at all this to say the least and had a rant on the phone to another friend about it, an unsympathetic asshole of a friend who just laughed at my tale of woe and told me to quit being a bitch (I have such nice friends you see). The asshole friend then proceeded to do the "Errr...helllooow" thing over the next few days at random times to wind me up and send me into a panic. So Sunday night I had just finished a phone conversation with the asshole friend (a conversation he started with the "Errr...helllooow" line). The phone rings immediately after he hangs up and I answer it to hear a "Errr...helllooow" at the other end.
You know what happened right? I reply with a "Oh fuck off will you, it's not bloody funny!". I'm met with a stunned silence. Turns out this time it's Pakistani Z, the real one. Oh fuck. I stammer and explain that I thought he was someone else. I feel awful for swearing at him and wonder if he's okay, but he seems to be because he's too busy doing his usual routine of using me as his Yellow Pages.
He then asks the dreaded question, "what time are you leaving for work tomorrow?".
Please shoot me now.
14 people quipped in...:
Shotgun or 9mm?
Honestly though cant you just tell him nicely to get a life. Cos he sure needs one and I guess you want yours back, right??
:P
could it be bad karma for gloating about your upcoming concerts? :p
Definitely bad karma.
You think he's just pretending to be an ignoramus hoping to score? Otherwise why the repeated calls at ungodly hours??? Brings to mind that dialogue on pests!
I hate hate hate walking in with people...it's so annoying...either you are rushed or you have to patiently wait for the person to come and then you have to make small talk....ahhhh....my flatmate is big on this whole walking in together, shopping together etc etc...thankfully we have different schedules that doesn't allow us this...and gives me my much needed alone walking time :)
the gods have answered my prayers....suffer suffer suffer!...oooh maybe he might be seated next to u at one of the concerts!
err...helloooow?
I too'd go with the bad karma.
Had a similar friend. Not pakistani though. Gave him the silent treatment and he went away. Probably thought of me as an arrogant Son-of-B, but it worked.
Some times you have to use the dark side of the force....;-)
oh.. some people just don't get it...
well i can suggest a remedy.. tell him that u're leaving at 8.30 and leave at 8.20 and don't tell him till he calls u or something.. just say that u had to leave early or some crap... you don't have to be polite.. that way they really do get the message...
that is only if you cannot tell him that he should really get a life and leave u alone...
*bang*
LOL... your plight certainly has made a few ppl quite happy eh? Come on... give the poor sod a break... maybe he's feeling a tad lonely or homesick and just wants to hang out with a brown skinned sistah. Anyhoo... good luck shaking him off!
You're really a softie, aren't you? I wonder whether your online hyper-assertiveness is mirrored offline, or whether it is actually the complete opposite and the blog is just the vent to let off steam. Hmmm... interesting.
Ha ha! The 'asshole friend' strikes again!
Dili: Hehe I felt bad to do that since it was his first week in Scotland let alone at work. I do have a (little bit of a) heart you know!
PP: Sigh. It could be!
Psy: Would it appease the karmic gods if I posted vids of the gigs? So that people can do the whole vicarious thing?
JJ: Nah I doubt it, he's not flirty as such. I suspect he's just a bit inconsiderate and selfish with regard to getting his problems sorted out at all costs asap.
Savi: Yeah walking has to be a solitary thing unless its with people I'm really comfortable around. Small talk and walking do not mix at all.
Confab: Damn, you're really holding onto this grudge aren't ya?!
Zlot: Oh shush!
R: Yeah I've distanced myself a bit from the guy now. I think he's got the message now.
Thackshila: Lol I suppose.
Seni: *hides*
Entrpy: Yeah exactly I thought he was feeling homesick hence why I was nice to him thus far. I have now established boundaries though so I don't think he'd be taking advantage anymore.
Ravana: Lol! A bit of both really. The blog is for venting mostly, but I think I'm more myself on the blog than say on a first time meeting with someone, where I tend to remain quiet and figure the person out before loudly stating my own opinions. Then again blog readers could be lulled into falsely thinking I'm the type to sic a pit-bull onto them on the first meeting too. Let's just say I'm in between the two extremes:)
the pimp: You know I'm going to get you back for that right? Right?
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