Yesterday afternoon I was sitting at my desk, trying not to fall asleep working hard and minding my own business when I got an Instant Message from one of our testers in Romania. I have worked with this gentleman before, like early last year, on a project and he was nice enough, though I couldn’t figure out why he would be pinging me now. He said that he was in Omaha for the week and would like to meet me while he was here. Oh how nice! I thought. I told him where to find me and he came right on over.
And spent the next 8 minutes (yes, I was counting) insulting me and explaining how awful Omaha is.
He started with the weather. It’s way too humid here, he said. And did I know that I had the choice to move? Why would anyone continue to live in a place like this.
Maybe because you don’t live here, I thought.
But in the practice of trying to show interest in him, I just smiled and agreed that yes it is hot and humid here, but we are used to it. He told me that in Europe, people move all the time. Don’t like a city? Just move! Then he asked if I had ever heard of Greece. Um, not only had I heard of it but I have actually been there. Fancy that! Us Nebraska hicks actually travel once in a while! He told me he could build a house on the coast of Greece for 20,000. Well hey, good for you buddy. Why don’t you go do that right now!
Then he went on to say that he’s been here for a week already and there is nothing to do here. Someone took him to Jazz on the Green, and that was cool, but that’s about all we have in Omaha.
I just stared at him and smiled.
He saw the picture that I have in my cube of me with the Olympian and asked if that was my sister. I told him, no, that is one of our Olympic athletes. This time he just stared. He mumbled something about how we must be so in to sports because there is nothing else to do here. I considered reminding him of the Romanian gymnastics teams and how seriously his country takes that sport but decided not to waste my breath.
I was quickly growing tired of his insults and pretending to be interested in his opinions. He pointed to a picture of CJ, Isabella and me and commented on having a family. Yes, my daughter is almost 2 and so much fun. How about you – do you have a family?
Oh no I’m too young to have a family! Well gee thanks. Now I suddenly feel like Granny Mae. He went on to explain that men should work hard and build up wealth, then buy a nice house before starting a family. His plan is to do just that and then marry a 20-something.
Didn’t realize I was talking to the Hugh Heffner of Romania.
By this time I’d had enough and told him I had to run to a meeting (which was actually true. The first time I was grateful to have a meeting). He thanked me for my time and left.
This morning I saw him in the cafeteria while I was getting breakfast. He was at a table across the room. I pretended not to see him and got the hell out of Dodge.
Sorry dude but this old lady has things to do. After all, it’s hard work to be ignorant and not realize I have options to move and instead suffer in the humidity because I have never heard of Greece.
If you liked this, you might also like:
The Customer is Always Right! Right?
Team Trader Mom 