I would like to state in advance that I am writing this immediately after the event, and am therefore a little drunk.
Imagine this for a moment:
You grew up in a country that drives on the left hand side of the road. Therefore your car has always been right hand drive. Not only that, but in your country the concept of an 'automatic' car is for the rich and lazy. You drive manual (stick shift). Your driving license test was done in a manual car. Then, for some bizarre reason you cant quite fathom, you move to Sudan. In Sudan, cars come from wherever was importing them the cheapest at the time. The law is to drive on the right hand side of the road. Any given car you drive could be left or right hand drive. Automatic or manual.
Now imagine you have been in Nairobi (Kenya) for a few weeks and have once again reverted to type and have been driving a manual, right hand drive (left side of the road) car, and have once again become accustomed.
Are you confused? Excellent.
I went out tonight. I was driven to the designated location, and handed the keys when we got there. Then, I had a few glasses of wine. And got in the car to drive home.
First, I got in the wrong door. I looked around, checking that no one had noticed. No one around. Great. I got out, walked round the car, got in the correct side. I put the key in the slot, and turned on the ignition, gave the accelerator a couple of pumps to make sure the car was warm (what was I thinking, its 35 degrees C for heavens sake). Then I tried to put the car in gear. Oops. Nothing happened. Why? I was in an automatic.
Turn the car off. Foot on brake. Start car. Gear in 'drive'. Moving forward. Progress. Oh shit! Wrong side of the road.
Amazingly, I made it home in one piece. Once I was actually driving I was fine.
I have started the new job, and I am loving it. The place is in an absolute mess. The previous manager was a mess and when they fired him he deleted everything off the computer. This means there are no stock control systems, no menu costings, no bar costings, no staff lists, wage percentages, P&L's, ANYTHING! I love it! The thing I enjoy most is setting up systems and making them work, then handing them over. I get bored fast, but this consulting thing suits me fine.
My accommodation is great. I have an en suite room, with air conditioning and wait for it.... a HOT shower! I have definitely landed well here. I wonder if they want me back full time?
More to come, watch this space....
7 comments:
Eee Gads! I just went from driving a stick (manual) for the last 6 years to an automatic and my gas can is on the opposite side. So I can relate to that change as it has been a bit frustrating as I try to shift or step on the non-existent clutch. Also pulling up to the pumps on the wrong side for gas.
Now if I had to deal with the back and forth thing on which side of the road AND which side of the car I was driving in, I think I would just say screw it and walk, or find a donkey.
Nice catch on the job. Hope it goes well. Nasty cuss the old guy though to just erase it all. That is just Malicious Intent! :)
Where have I heard that before?
haahahhahhahah that is quite funny!
I did the same in Sardinia, kept trying to enter the car at the wrong side. Was hellava embarrassing cause I was with 3 other people!
Glad youj didn't kill yourself madam.
Glad you're enjoying the new job too!
JEEEEEEESH. I stick to sanity here... still driving the car you know so well (although if I can organise my finances... next year will be the year of her retirement)... in a country where they drive on the "right" side of the road (the left side then!). Sounds crazy and scarey... but I'm sure you took it all in your stride! Just keep yourself safe in Sudan... seriously... you don't want to go there and have people say... she went to Sudan and passed away in a CAR accident... just not glamorous enough-athough I'm quite happy with your blood pumping vigorously through your veins! Enjoy the lux accomodation and challenge... you're gonna knock the socks off anything that came before!
LOL - well at least your keeping your brain pathways healthy. They normally just suggest swopping which hand your brush your teeth with but i think your situation sounds much more umm...risky - lol
Good to hear that the new job is great. Enjoy.
Do they have Bud Light over there?
M.I. It is pretty confusing. I am back in the groove now though. And yeah, the previous manager was fired for being an alcoholic and regularly being drunk as hell on the job. He wasnt happy when they fired him...
Miss M: Luckily no one saw me!
Shivs: Same car! It hasnt been stolen???
Gem: They do? How bizarre..
Moe: Yuck. Simply... yuck
Boy, I think we're spoiled here in North America, where hot showers etc. is the norm.
I can't wait to see what happens when our economy fails! Wonder how many will starve to death. I'm thinking most of us ;)
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