All About Insanity, Stupidity and Tequilla
Dienstag, Juli 25, 2006
The "Un-intelligent" Side of Austrians
the story took place at work today... somewhere in the morning. a call came through. i picked it up with my best "greeting voice" (as i call it... baca: merdu, serek2 becek... hehehe). the voice on the other end was male, obviously austrian, somewhere in mid 30's, i'd guess. he introduced himself as one of the agents at a travel agency, didn't catch the agency's name, but who cares.
obviously the guy was in some sort of stress, judging from his strenious voice. my first reaction was, of course, of pity. alas, this sympathizing feelings didn't last too long. the following conversation immediately took place (roughly translated from german to english):
travel agent (ta): my austrian client has just arrived in denpasar and the immigration officers there wouldn't issue visa on arrival for her
me: is your client staying longer than 30 days?
ta: no
me: is your client on business trip?
ta: no, it's a 2-week holiday trip to bali
me: then i don't understand why the balinese immigration officers should deny her visa on arrival
ta: because her passport is only valid until today
me: (slightly incredulous) oh, then she cannot enter indonesia
ta: i have spoken to an officer from the austrian embassy in jakarta. is it true that your government doesn't accept entries with emergency passports?
me: errr... (this guy must be out of his blardy mind!)
ta: this is no time for "errr", i need an immediate and correct answer!!
me: (WTF!!!!) yes, it's true
ta: why?
me: what do u mean why? of course we don't accept entry on provisional-status passports. entry to indonesia requires a passport that's more than 6 months valid.
ta: what if the emergency passport is issued for 6 months' validity?
me: no
ta: what do u mean no? u said the passport has to be valid more than 6 months!
me: yes, but for normal passports, not provisional-status passports. in any case, provisional-status passports are only issued if the person loses his/her passport while he/she is already IN the foreign country, and this provisional-status passports can only be used to leave the current foreign country, enabling the passport holder to return to his/her home country
ta: i am about to send my client to bangkok so she can go to the austrian embassy in bangkok and ask for this so called provisional-status passport, thus enabling her to enter indonesia
me: u can do that, provided the thai immigration officers let her enter thailand with a non-valid passport. and even if she gets into thailand and if she gets a provisional-status passport, she still won't be able to enter indonesia with it, i have already informed u why
ta: but this is absurd
me: how do u mean by that, sir? (slightly losing my temper)
ta: bali totally depends on tourism, and u are denying entry for tourists!
me: sir! ur client has no passport, how do u possibly even imagine her to travel? and by the way sir, there are other sources for bali to live on other than tourism (who the fvck does this guy think he is!!!)
ta: have u checked the latest statistics? tourism is the highest source of living in bali! (no, i haven't checked, couldn't be bothered to anyway... but WTF!!!)
me: the highest! but not the only one! (by this time i've dropped any kind of politeness)
ta: but how do u possibly expect to depend on tourism if u are denying entry for tourists? ur tourism will suffer!!!! (the nerves on this little byotch!!!)
me: u are perfectly aware of the reason why ur client cannot enter indonesia. and with all due respect, ur client is only one tourist. we have thousands of tourists pouring into, not only bali, but the whole of indonesia, tourists with valid passports! i'm perfectly sure that ur client won't tear our whole tourism down.
ta: then i will see to it that my travel agency doesn't advertise indonesia anymore!
me: ur agency is one agency in austria, there are millions other agencies in the WHOLE world, sir!
ta: i just can't see why my client can't enter indonesia if she has an emergency passport!
me: i have clearly informed u why, and i have also told u in detail the proper use of emergency passports!
ta: ur country is just the same as the other third world countries!!!
me: excuse me, but indonesia IS a third world country, u can scream at me all u want, it won't change anything. it is the regulations
ta: then the regulations are ridiculuous!
me: (positively shouting into the mouthpiece now) it's the regulations of the republic of indonesia, if u think it is ridiculuous, by all means, make a complaint to the government of indonesia. but if u cannot accept and respect these regulations, then do not go to indonesia or send any clients to indonesia!!!! period!!! no discussions!!
ta: (timidly) thank u, good bye!
that is so typical of austrians! they press u and will keep pressing u until u give in and apologize to them. however, it is not my fault and i'm not about to swallow some mess that's not mine down my throat.
the travel agent was not being nice at all to me, and i was just trying to be polite and answer his questions, although it was perfectly clear to me that this guy's an idiot... expecting someone to wipe his sh1tty little ass for him. he kept pressing me, until i spoke firmly, he started speaking nicely again... well, actually just saying one last sentence nicely and feebly.
u think the residents of an industrial country are intelligent, and u're proven so wrong... i must say some are... but they positively have no common sense nor logic...
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 2:03:00 PM |
Samstag, Juli 15, 2006
I Love You... But...
i'm not saying i'm having second thoughts
how could i ever possibly be having second thoughts
but...
there's just this little voice in my head
saying that something's not quite going right
dunno
maybe i'm just going crazy
i love you
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 9:30:00 AM |
Samstag, Juni 24, 2006
GREAT!!!!
cell phone fvcked
wash maschine fvcked
dvd player fvcked
...
waiting for the pc to blow itself up
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 1:30:00 PM |
Freitag, April 28, 2006
That Four Letter Word
“Love“: the four-letter-word that is often misunderstood. Some people overestimate it and even more underestimate it. The word seems meaningless, just like any other words. But when used and applied properly, this word can set the whole world into a motion.
Every single being on this earth has been touched by love. Not many are aware of it, but when love comes knocking at one’s door unexpectedly, the emotion might knock one off one’s feet. It can be wonderful as well as terrible. It just depends on how one looks at it.
The word is as beautiful as it is dangerous. A lot of things can start from the word “Love” alone. If it works out fine, love may start a whole new life but if one takes it for granted, love may destroy everything one will ever have. Many have succeeded gloriously in love and many more have suffered and even died because of it.
I personally have been touched by love several times, may it be love of my family, my friends or the love of a man. Each experience has left a memory, some pleasant and a few bitter even cold, but each and every one of them has taught me a lesson in their own special way. And I believe these lessons have shaped me into what and who I am right now.
I do believe that everything happens for a reason. So these people who have come across my path and touched me with their love were meant to come across me. I was meant to love them and in the end I was meant to be left alone or hurt. I don’t regret any of them; neither do I wish that things would go the other way, because if they did, I would never have learned the lesson contained in it. Therefore, I wouldn’t be here where I am at this moment.
For now I am trying to look for a shelter from a man’s love. A man I met 6 months ago. A man whom I hope will be my last, for I am tired and weary from looking and playing games. I guess I have come to the age of settling down. I don’t know if I’m ready for it, but I do realise that this has to happen one way or another, sooner or later. It’s not easy to nurture this new love, some even say it’s foolish and impossible to do, but I am willing to go the distance and make it work.
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 10:28:00 PM |
Montag, März 06, 2006
Blank....
time shows 21:43
been sitting in front of the tv
with the laptop on my lap
staring blankly ahead
tv programm: some kind of crime show
blah blah
yadda yadda
so much to tell
so much to write
dunno where to begin
dunno what to type
dun even know what to say
somewhere between euphoria
and depressed
is there such a thing?
nah, im just making it up
it's cold
no
it's warm
oh
it's cold again
maybe i should close the window
maybe i should turn up the heater
when's the winter gonna come to an end?
and when's summer coming?
what's gonna happen tonight, i wonder
want to talk
but dun even want to open my mouth
want to go over to get some warmth
where?
i dunno
his arms?
maybe
maybe not
maybe i'll just snuggle up under a blanket
what's the matter?
"what's should be the matter?"
i dunno u tell me
dun look at me like that
i dun like it
dun even be here if u dun want to be here
come, little brain
think...
gimme some words
some beautiful words to write
no, the cells aren't participating
they're doing their own thing
hey, little cells
what are u doing??
"nothing"
ah, nevermind
it's monday anyway...
it's not friday
well, do i feel better on fridays??
no, not really
good bye
good night
good fight
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 9:43:00 PM |
Dienstag, Februar 28, 2006
Stereotype and Racism
racism is just another way of saying "judging a book by its cover". living in austria, where the majority population is europeans, i have become a victim of racism myself, although not as often and not treated as discriminately as the africans are.
i have hated the word and the act of racism for as long as i can remember. although i'm not denying that there have been times where i couldn't help saying "racism stuff", but i have never done anything to hurt anyone just because of the colour of their skins. i do have some personal opinions that u may call "racist" but i don't show it to people.
what about stereotypes?
i'd say stereotype is simply the soft form of racism. it can go as light as thinking that all germans drink beer and eat sausages only to something malicious like all africans suffer from aids. see? racism, blanketed by words. same difference.
i was chilling at home last night with my african boyfriend and two of my good friends, watching tv. an sms from someone close - very close - to me told me to switch the channel. so i did. the tv programm was a coverage about a missionary helping africans infected with the hiv virus. at first i didn't understand, so i picked up the phone and called this person to ask what was the purpose of telling me to watch the programm.
the person simply said, "watch it, pay attention to it and tell me what u think about it, and then start thinking about ur own health". then it dawned on me. i switched the channel back to what we were watching before and slammed the phone down. the feeling was undescribable. i was angry at this person, who i thought was an open-minded person, and also embarassed.
later on that night, when we were getting ready for bed, my boyfriend asked me what the phonecall was all about. i looked at him straight in the eyes and couldn't bring myself to tell him. i was afraid of what he would say and i was afraid of hurting him. so i didn't tell him. i feel so bad about not telling him the whole truth, but i didn't want him to be hurt either.
so, last night, i have become an "indirect" victim of racism and my boyfriend a victim of cruel stereotype. i'm sure this won't be the last time, and i'm sure we will overcome it. but i just never thought it would come from a person very close to me.
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 1:45:00 PM |
Freitag, Februar 24, 2006
Back in Business
well... here i am... surprisingly whole and alive. you would say "surprisingly" too, if u'd known what i've been through. three months of non-stop emotion turmoil. I do understand the concept of, you know, the whole "it's a big ferris wheel, once u're up and once u're down" thing. but i've just never been on a ferris wheel that goes full speed! so i guess it's excusable to say that i had to adjust a little.
yea, three months. it was tough. really tough. but i guess once u've calmed down and accept the things, u start to see everything else in a different way. and somehow, u just make peace with the fact that u just cant change those things. in return, u'll find another way that leads u to a whole new place that u think might just be the right place for u.
it is difficult, especially when u've lived and believed in that old place for too long, u even started to believe that u really did belong there. but the first step is always difficult and challenging. once u've taken that step, u'll find it easier to take the next and find it even easier not to look back.
and after a while, u'll reach a point where u become so sick of the past that u dun even want to be a part of it anymore. u dun even want to talk or hear about it. it's true that we have to learn from the past. and that i do, but that doesnt mean that u have to keep the past with u.
i have reached that point. the point where i just throw away all the past, and put it where it should be: behind - no matter how wonderful the past could be; and also where i start accepting and making peace with the things i cannot change. i wouldn't say that that made me a better person. but i think i may have just discovered a new layer of me and perhaps it's a good thing. i dunno... time will tell.
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 2:55:00 PM |
Sonntag, Jänner 15, 2006
simply hurts, there's no other way to describe it
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 9:37:00 AM |
Dienstag, Jänner 03, 2006
Double Betrayal
He:
Hurts me most of the time during the 4 years we were together
Lies to me
Doesn’t care about anyone’s feelings but his own
Thinks it’s normal to date his ex’s best friend
Tells everyone about her being his new girlfriend She:
Lies to me
Doesn’t open up to me
Doesn’t do the things she said she would do
Cancels our plans to celebrate new year together,
Tells me she’s staying at home,
And then goes with my ex to celebrate new year And these are the two people I introduce to everyone as my best friends -rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 3:28:00 PM |
Montag, Jänner 02, 2006
New Year's Resolutions? (nah.... not really!)
New year has come
Celebrated good
Although not exactly as I had planned it The big plan was
Get drunk ‘till I can’t get drunk no more with my best friend
The outcome?
Quiet celebration with a couple of friends at home
(Foday too, though he came late due to a car breakdown)
Two bottles of champagne and a bottle of wine
Endless rounds of card games
And yes, the good delicious food
(Thanks to John) Some people come up with new year’s resolutions
Some just don’t care
I normally fall into the latter category
However, this year’s different It’s not what you’d call a resolution
I’d rather call it a new determination
And maybe a little bit of “learning-from-the-past” lesson Those around me
(Correction: those who truly understand and care about me)
Will know what kind of rough time I’ve gone through in November-December 2005
Not the prettiest months of the year, is all I can say
Although there were some factors that helped me get through them
And I guess these two months
(Including the “just out” event that happened at the last minutes of the end of 2005)
Have led me to these “determinations” Well, first
I have decided NOT to trust the people anymore
(Lord knows I do have difficulties in trusting people, but now it’s worse)
ESPECIALLY those who I already have trusted
(No matter, I’ve lost them anyway
Or maybe "I've erased their names from my trusted-and-good friends list"
is a better way to put it)
And, second
I have decided to NOT care about my surroundings
It seems that caring about the people around me have cost me a great deal of energy
And somehow backfired at me
(Not in a good way, may I add)
So, the thing with “trying to be an attentive girl” is a bye-bye for this year Call me bad, mean and heartless if you like
But at least these determinations won't cost me my feelings and tears anymore
-rv
posted by Apink a.k.a. Bubbzy
at 12:33:00 PM |
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