Tone
I rarely get mad while talking on the phone.
I guess its due to the fact that this mode of communication would not ensure you a complete victory if ever you wish to confront a particular issue, due to the constraints in conversation. Nothing beats one on one confrontation and arguments.
I recently subscribed to a publication that sells those small newstand books, due in part to the freebies and gimmicks they send you (I am a sucker for freebies and small reading materials and literature). The problem started when two months have already passed by and I have yet to receive my issues. The credit card company has already reflected my bill for that subscription, so there would be no cause to assume that my mail order did not reach them.
So I called up the publication's office here in the Philippines. The customer service lady got my details, my request (or complaint), and promised "...to put up a replacement order...". So I said thank you and said goodbye.
But as another week went by, I have still not yet received my subscription and my freebies! So again I called up the company, this time asking for the name of the customer service lady and took note of the date that I called up again. Again the reply was "...to put up a replacement order...", to which I again agreed to.
Another week. Again no mail, package or call. This time around I was being a little sarcastic while talking on the phone, saying that I have yet to receive my package, that this was my third call, and again, yes, the reply was "...to put up a replacement order...". Dumbfounded, I answered back, "What if I go there now?", to which she replied, "No sir, that wont be necessary." So I again conceded.
But by my fourth call, I have already practiced my speil, and now told the friggin lady that I have already called and talked to this and that lady on this and that dates, and it turns out that the lady I am now speaking to has already answered my call before. The lady gave me the number of their delivery department so that I can follow it up from there. Now at this point I asked for the name of their general manager, and asked them how many employees they have there. She told me that there are four customer service ladies answering calls, so I replied "So I guess I have already talked to all of you, and would be getting to know you some more later on." I was ready to go to their office to see their faces in person. Getting the signal that I was threatening to write to their manager regarding this failure in giving me two months worth of subscriptions, she promised to call back and work on the problem. I waited for the call the whole afternoon. None came.
By the fourth (or was it fifth) week of my endeavor, I passed out on the opportunity to call in the morning. Upon arriving back to the office after a site inspection, I was surprised to find on my chair my package, my beloved package and subscription. Sayang! I was getting ready with my sarcastic charm and wit over the phone, but the package already arrived. Yet it was missing one issue, so I guess I would still be talking to the four customer service ladies.
After that, I gamely DIGESTED my new reading materials.
I guess I did not come to them as being really angry, for me it was more sarcastic and straight to the point. But upon reading the delivery slip, there it was, written in blue ink, a small word that gave me an idea as towhat I must sound like on the other end of the line. The word was "galit" (angry). Well if that was angry, I don't know what I would sound like when I am furious over the phone. Now if only that missing issue would not arrive...
Finished
Ah at last, some sense of accomplishment! As 2006 opens on its final quarter, I have myself achieved some small victories, despite being holed up in the office and in the apartment for some time now.
1. I now have a diploma in Urban and Regional Planning! After five semesters and around five major researches and project developments, I can now close a chapter of my academic life and move on to other interests. I only have to work on my thesis, but at least I can still put "diploma" under Urban and Regional Planning. Our planning workshop has yet to be finished, since we have to move on to planning for the Municipality of Rodriguez now, having just finished the socio-economic profile of the LGU. But despite that, I already am mentally preparing myself for my thesis. I still hope to work on the topic I described earlier, on creating a University town for the Province of Pangasinan, since there already is a UP Bolinao there. This time around it would be more challenging, since thesis is a solo endeavor. I'm excited on the travel part of the thesis.
2. I just finished the online learning course on Disaster Management, sponsored by the World Bank, and am now ready to move on to the next course module on Safer Cities. The entire course is enlightening, as I am now appreciative of the power of Mother Nature, how we should adapt to her and how we can improve our use of her gifts.
3. This year would be the best year for my freelance efforts as an Architect, since I got the chance to really express my creativity, and not be hampered by client budgets and caprices.
Of course there are still clients who demand so much, such as cutting costs on employing a structural engineer, which I of course would not allow, in a polite manner. I gave this particular client a simple analogy of imagining if his intended three story house would cram in a lot of party goers and beer buddies and barkadas into his intended roof deck, and explaining the amount of weight being introduced into the house.
I hope to post pictures later on of my latest project, its a curvy curvy classroom setting, with the writing board being made of tempered glass, like the ones we see in the Pentagon and those submarine movies.
4. And of course I met someone who I can share myself and my accomplishments with. Yeah!
Of course along with these accomplishments there are sacrifices, such as missing out on sleep, gimmicks with friends and spending more down time. During the past month there were times when I would only sleep for less than 4 hours, working during the wee hours of the morning and coming to work late. This year would test the government provided 30 days worth of leaves, as I have almost used up half of my vacation and sick leaves for work on masters, sidelines and sick leaves.
This year would be the year with the most number of sick leaves for me, due to exhaustion and lack of sleep. I spent days in bed being sick, with a fever, cough, sheer exhaustion, and lately, food poisoning.
Some friends who reach out and invite me to movie gimmicks have already stopped inviting me.
I stopped spending my mornings for tennis. I hope to catch up with my tennis buddy, and hope to finally work on our proposed SURP Tennis group.
My biking days have also been put on hold. Due to lack of sleep, I dare not gamble crossing CP Garcia in UP Diliman with half my brain asleep, since I already had a near accident the last time I crossed that dang major roadway.
I have yet to enroll in the guitar lessons I mentioned a while ago. I don't want it to end up like my Spanish classes, where I missed out almost a quarter of the number of sessions.
So I guess working on your professional life would have its toll on your social life, but from hereon I am on the rebound! I hope to make it up to myself and to my friends and acquaintances. Now its on to a promising 2007!
