Customer Service ala "Joe"

Well, the best excitement I had today came a minute ago when I had to call the United States of America (USA) to renew a service provided to me. I mean, I knew I was calling the great company that I have learned to love and like sooo much because of the fabulous customer service. They hear from me once a year when I renew the said service they excellently provide for me but I am always happy to speak with them - yup, I said speak - when they help me go through the process. I mean the information, the manner of speaking, the clarity and the all around thoroughness of it, just marvelous. Now we get to the part about "Joe"...
Joe is a technician there and this is his name, really. I called a number to the main office because somehow I am not able to connect to their site on line. I am in Argentina so nothing surprises me on this matter - no connection and all that. So, as I was saying, Joe was the one who picked up the call/service when the main switch board forwarded my call to the appropriate department.
There I was spelling out my name and more security checks and balances, and then it occured to me that a certain kind of feeling comes over you (as a customer) when you get this kind of focused customer service attention, wow, I felt so special. So, on we went and tried to figure out first why I am not able to log on into their website ( this is a technical support question) and lo and behold I was told someone is trying to get in and access my site. Imagine that!! Little old me and my "other" website being hacked. I was promised the engineers of my website provider will get to the bottom of this and use all their might to prevent any hacking of any sort. To the wanna hackers - your attempts are hilarious in a sad sort and infuriating kinda way. My website is simple site, it is business of course but nothing of important of covert information in there. I mean give me a break! There is nothing there. And I am sure some pervert is trying to get to I do not know what with it! Lay off will you!
So, Joe assured me that in a couple of days an update will be sent to me on this matter. I have correspondences and read newspapers from all over the world and maybe a "worm" aka "virus" got in there and now I have the "flu". Darn it!
I am so glad Joe helped me. He was so nice and that was technical support - not the real customer service or sales department. Imagine that, service with a smile.
I am not saying anything about service or customer service here in Buenos Aires, that would be like comparing sweet luscious and crisp red American Gala apples with oranges - not the same caliber. There! But in fairness, customer service OUTSIDE of the city of BA can give the US some competition (not stiff but competition nonetheless).
Joe, whoever you are, THANK YOU very much.
I hope whatever bug that is tryin' to worm itself into my website, you squash it like the bug that it is, and if it comes from a third world country sort of bug, take a guess where that would be? Arghhh!
But it is inevitable coz it is part of living a portion of ones life over the internet. And I am just so fortunate to have Joe standing in my corner to help me out on this one.
Thanks and thanks again. You know who you are Joe and it was nice of you to help me - with a laugh and a smile. Good customer service jsut like Joe would service...it is a very, very good thing.
You want the best service provider for a website, email me, I'll tell ya! And tell Joe, I sent you
Another day...Ciao

You can take the...

You can take the Filipina out of the Philippines but you cannot take the Philippines out of this Filipina.

How true that is! Today I found out that though I have lived in the US for more than half my life, I still long for the Filipino food that I grew up with. I do not know what the heck they are called but I cooked that dish today ( pork, soy, garlic, oil and a tad bit of sugar, bay leaves) and I cooked rice - I mean Yummers!! The dish is sweet (uh - duh! there is sugar!!) but it was great.

I have been thinking more about the Philippines lately. My family is still there and part of my heart is still there. My father is still there and I miss him more each passing day.

Being in Argentina, makes it a tad difficult to be in so many places at one time. I have "M" in the US , my father in the Philippines and then my "R" in Argentina (though he is traveling at this time). I am trying to make it here and it can be tough at times like today. It is never simple and it is never easy when your heart is torn with the uncertainty and it being pulled in all directions.

Hmmm....I have been missing the Philippines lately that cooking has been a good source of solace for me. I have the aroma envelope me and I feel being at home again...as a little girl, feeling so secure and life is not as complicated as it is today. I miss those days. The innocence of it all.

I live in Buenos Aires because my "R" lives here and I am trying to get some work done here myself. It is just harder on some days, you know. Adapting to the US when I first came from the Philippines was not this hard; I had cousins with me for one, I had a job, I had a car, I spoke the language. I am a social and mobile person - well here -it can be tough. I do not know...my food smells very good as it is cooking....I wish you can smell it. My grandmother used to cook this for me when I was a little girl, she knew I liked this dish a lot and serves it with steaming hot white rice. I can close my eyes and hear the sounds at the dinner table almost, I can hear her coming to the table and dishing out the food and she always served me first. Yes, I can hear the water filling my glass and the cluttering of the utensils..I can hear a faint closing of the casserole in the kitchen and a loud sound of the chair being dragged away from the table - my brother sits to the left opposite me from the table, he always dragged the chair when pulling it away from the table...my father is home and he is headed to the kitchen to wash his hands before dinner. ....

I miss that feeling of innocence...no worries about life, no responsibilities, no pain, no heartache...I will always be there even when I am not and I will always wish I was there but they also say that "you never really come home again" and that is true, my grandma is gone, my own Yaya is gone, my mother is gone and we are all grown with families of our own - it would never be the same "home" again. I wish for purest of times. And the truth is I will never have it back....and boy am I glad I so enjoyed those times so much that I can relive it in my mind and heart just by closing my eyes...Memory lane always starts with so much fun and then reality sinks in...I mean really sticks in to you...I love it then and I love it now...I just live and live...I like to think about the past but I am definitely living for the present, for there is not telling what tomorrow brings.

And that is one thing I enjoy about life, there are no guarantees and you never know how this life story will end - I think that is the most exciting thing of all. The unknown is as positive as you can make it or as negative as you want it to be.

My "R" is busy working I know so I know that he will be with me soon and I can create new memories with him and one day, as I am old and grey, I will think of these memories we have together and not wished or regret that I never did make any with him - that would be a sad ending to my life story.

So until another day - keep busy making those sweet and loving memories for tomorrow, today.

Ciao.

Questions and why we ask them

First I would like to say that I am on a roll here. I have posted 3 days in a row, that is a first for me I think and I love being here and connecting with the world out there. I am not sure who really reads my blog but so far I have had a few hits on here and I love to see new additional countries showing up as site visits - keep them coming.

Second, I have had not a bad day lately and I am so inspired to share my thoughts to y'all.

Third, I have this recent experience where in a barrage of questions was asked of me and I thought why do people ask questions, for real.

So the thought of increasing one's vat of knowledge answers the question of why we ask questions, right? Well, there are 10002 reasons why one would ask a question, to ask for directions, to ask for further information that could be life altering (doctor- patient) , to get to know someone better, to help in making an intelligent decision (mechanic, electronic store, make up counter) etc. But the questions I detest the most are the ones that do not seem to mean anything - like it was just an afterthought, or just to bridge a very uncomfortable silence. Because I try not to be mean I answered even if irritates and makes me very, very uncomfortable answering them. See what else I think about questions I have come across lately.

Here in Argentina, people do not give it another thought to ask me how old I am, and when I tell them my age - they say - you are not! - I mean why ask and then refute! Damn! Oh excuse me.

And then there are those that ask how much money I make, like if I run out of money they will cover my internet bill, HELLO!!! Where is the line of asking inappropriate questions drawn in here anyways. I have heard others ask very personal and private questions and I do not feel like answering them - so I say I do not speak spanish and leave it at that. I mean what business it is of theirs to ask these questions. I guess if you are sucker and answers it, it is your fault. My own father do not ask me these types of questions, the gall of some people to invade my privacy and then when you return the question they do not want to answer. Go figure! It is funny really if you think of it, in a pathetic way that is.

And then there are those that ask the same question over and over and over and over - well you get the point. What is up with that? Either they did not believe you the first time you answered the question (that person questions your sincerity) or they did not hear the answer they wanted; so asking you over and over again , you might just change your answer to the one they wanted to hear. HOLA!!!

And then there are those that ask the question just to be blatantly insensitive and rude - those I hate and tell them so. I may not speak enough spanish but I know some very salient words where I find appropriate to use, as long as it is out of my "R"'s earshot.

And again there are those who ask question because you know they are envious of you. I am sure you know the type , those that want to know if your stuff are just imitations. I laugh about those and I try to really rub it to them and tell them that it is real and you have had it for ages. Or a best friend gave it to you for no special reason -knowing it cost so much.

Well let us see, we also have those that ask questions because they already know the answer but tries to see if you know something different - phishers, I call them. These I hate with a passion, there is nothing nice about a sneaky inquiry. Ambush interviewers do this and I abhor this tactic. People who know the answers to their questions equals lawyers, and we all know where they are in the line of the food chain. I guess the lousiest part about this kind is that they are aware they are doing this and it is very leech-like in manuever, very detesting and it makes me very leery to the likes of this.

There are those that ask questions in a statement form, I love to humor these types. I just agree even if I know differently. A statement is a statement and a question is an inquiry and to mix both is hilarious, don't you?

Ciao, tell me why you ask questions and what you think of those who ask them.

Another day.

What do you know and what have you learned?

We have heard the line...I try to learn one thing new each day...great mantra to live by, really. But what do you REALLY know? What have you REALLY learned so far? I for one know this for sure, that I am a product of the lessons that life has taught me. One thing I love about life is that nothing is certain and that makes living great. You never know what the ending will be! I learn and live.
Read these lines below (by anonymous author) and see if you have already learned these things:
I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone that can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts. I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do.
I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.
I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done regardless of the consequences.
I've learned that money is a lousy way to keep score.
I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've experienced from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I've learned that no matter good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I have learned that my Life is better and enriched if I do not live it for someone else. Trust me when I say this but it will never bring you joy if you do. And life without joy is like a year without summertime, it will be sad and totally wasted.

Think about it and tell me what you have learned. See you another day. Ciao. Take care

Confessions....

Please do not ask me to explain the title of this post. Thank you. I will have to wait and see how often "R" reads my postings here for me to find out what he thinks about my confessions.

I am struggling here in Argentina to adapt and make a life with my "R". He is from here so "no prob" there, but for me, I do not speak castellano very well and it frustrates me to an unbelievable and indescribable degree. I do not tell anyone but I do not have the sense of freedom here that I have in the US. I do not have a car here. Again since my spanish is limited it is frustrating for me to take the taxi and go anywhere, I am not familiar with the streets. 2 points against me. Not that I ever kept score in the past.

For instance I always end up with something I do not want, was not what I was looking for, not something I want to do, but since I do not want to hurt anyone's feelings and cannot express my own sentiments I end up with whatever! And that frustrates the be-geezez out of me!!

My friends live all over the city and they have to make an appointment to see me because I have a store to run and business to attend to. Expectations and responsibilities I can deal with, now when someone demands of my time - that gets my skin crawling and I do not like that. Let us just leave that sentence at that. Man!

"R" has always been everything but the picture and actions of true love to me. I am here because of him. It says alot I know. The sacrifices I am making is unbelievable, it still makes me cry at night when I think about who I miss out there. But again, I am here for him.

The biggest fear I have is for one day to be so frustrated that I leave after all these years, pack my bags and ask for that last kiss and say goodbye. I cry every time I am very near and at the verge of that point. It is not easy being me and being here. But again I am here because of him.

This last week was an eye opener big time, there are things that are just beyond love and our control. I sit here and am having a difficult time putting my feelings into words ...I confess, maybe I have bitten more than I can chew. I am not sure what the problem is, so I am unable to even begin to imagine the possible solution.

This I know...after weeks for search I have found myself a spanish teacher! Ms.S is just the perfect teacher for me. She came today for the first time and I have a great time learning the things that I need to learn to start conversing basics coherent castellano. To "R" this is a personal decision of mine to take a teacher as a token of my promise that I will try to do all that is humanly possible to make this business grow. I am hoping my level of frustration will lessen once I can express myself to others, join conversations and answer questions over the phone.

About the other things that I have no control over, I will let you handle that. You have better judgement than I have, I know one thing only and that I love you. I do not need anything else, as long as I have you.

I hope to practice my castellano when you get back from your trip and correct me when I make a mistake, I have a libretita to take down notes. Ms.S. was happy to take me on as a student because she thinks I am doing it all for the right reason, to improve myself.

Ciao, and see you another day.

OMG, it has really been awhile since I posted ....mea culpa

Hi, everyone. I looked at the July 1st date and was amazed at how long it has been since I last posted anything here...sorry. It has been an overwhelming month (to say the least) but the adjustment I am making here in Argentina is complicated (again, to say the least) and it is not easy for both me and my "R". Not easy for him since he has to bare the brunt of my difficulties in adapting to a life here. I love the man, very much but there are just too many outside factors to make this transistion as smooth as anyone can hope for...anyhoooo.

I caught the nasty new strain of flu...the wonderful itchy throat, glamourous as always runny nose and just so sexy itchy eyes and sweet sounding raspy coughing were a constant companion. My "R" too me to the boonies and there in our little "weekend house" (jaja - inside joke) I tried to recoup back to health and was doing fairly well and then had to comeback to the city of Buenos Aires and WHAM! my cold and flu was full blown again. The cough was constant and the nose if stuffed and I was miserable. But I had to live thru it part of the adjustment I am trying to do here in BsAs and let us not forget my ever present ear infection. Huh? I thought you said something and I just did not hear you :-)

I am so sorry for my long absence here, I did not forget you all. I thought about posting but the sneezing and the..okay you get the idea.

So there I was tryin' to be nice and perty "pretty" during one of the worst colds I have had ever - at least looking at it on the bright side - I did not have a fever - phew!- I was learning to make empanadas. My "R" the "r" in sweetheaRt - was teaching me to do the repulge (twisting of the discos to seal the empanadas) and I think I am getting the hang of the twist and turn motion. My "R" cooked for me and tended to me like a sweet flower and kissed me even when my nose was redder than Rudolf's. He made sure I had my ear drops and my warm drinks - what a sweetie I know. And ladies, I have him for a looong time now. Very rare kind of guy, he is and I love him all for it. He can be hard headed sometimes but hey, we do not want to nit-pick here :-) , if he reads this he knows what I mean.

Well, try to post as much as I can, next time I get a chance I will post the empanadas I made recently. I assure you I made them myself, and yes, I like the raisins, no egg, no olives on mine. I am that traditional I know, but I never said I was.

Keep on reading my post and send me a comment when I do not write anything here.

Would love to hear from you.

See you another day, ok? Take care.

Ciao