The HR area I’m in is located in an “enclosed” area. There is a private room with a phone, which is for HR use only, for us folks who sit in open cubes who wants to make private and personal calls.
Since this private room is right at the entrance to the HR area, there are folks who would come in to have a private call on their cellphone or just make a quick phone call.
My cube is about 5 cubes away from the main door to the HR area. This morning, I was working away and, out of the blue, I heard an Inidan lady’s voice, a very irritated sounding voice. Initially I thought it was some Indian folks having a conversation outside the HR area. I stood up, saw no one outside the area but the door to the private room was closed. Then it struck me that the whole Indian commotion was from that room. So I kay poh chee a little, walked over to see what was going on. Obviously, an Indian lady on the phone, sounded like she is yelling at the other party, angry at some thing. I shook my head, walked back to desk and still able to hear her loud and clear, crystal clear.
The loud commotion from the room went on for another 10 minutes. I had enough of it – could hardly concentrate on what I’m doing. I am a minority in this company, too. I try not to speak my mother tougue when I’m in an English speaking, public environment. There are a lot of employees the company hired from India and China. When these folks from their same country meet up, boy, all you hear is just St. Peter’s language, and they don’t talk softly either. No offense, but I find it very rude them yakking in their own mother tougue.
Anyways, back to this “irritated” Indian lady. I walked over and saw two of my other coworkers were standing there trying to figure out what they should do. These two coworkers sit farther in than i do, yet they were still able to hear this Indian lady. I told them we should knock on the door and tell her to tone it down as she is disrupting others in the area. One of the coworker said it’s really annoying to know that any Tom, Dick or Harry walks in to the room where it has a sign that says “HR Use Only”, and jabber on the phone so loudly. I concur with her. So, the other coworker said give another 5 minutes, and if it continues, one of us will intervene.
5 minutes past, my coworker walked over, knocked on the door at least 8 times and finally heard the Indian lady acknowledge the knock. See, she was yelling so loud she could not even hear the knock. J.C., sister!! My coworker told her to turn the volume down as she is disturbing a lot of other employees in the area. Of course she didn’t tell her that there are also many others who are walking by the area stopped and had a WTF look. The Indian lady said “sorry, sorry” a few times to my coworker. My coworker went back to her desk, the conversation in the room went on but this time a little softer and yet I could still hear it, not as clear. Probably she continued with her call for another couple of minutes and then SILENCE. Phew….peace and quiet.
So there it is, the highlight of the day for me!
But overall, I’m happy coz I have finally got a henna done on my arm. Pictures taken with my cellphone. So I sent it to DB telling him I got a temporary tattoo on my hand. Yes, I called it a hand and he came back telling me that is the arm, not hand. The hand is the palm, back or front…I’m still learning, English is confusing!
