The Handyman Can (even at the most inconvenient times)

I can’t decide what I think about customer service type things in this country. Things get done here (much unlike when I lived in Italy) but in very strange ways.

I recently requested that my apartment be sprayed for bugs because I’ve had some nasty little roach things in here. In the U.S., that would mean that I'd schedule a time for the roach man to come spray. This morning, however, someone unexpectedly knocked on my door so I decided not to answer; I can’t see outside without opening the door and I knew I wouldn’t be able to understand whoever it was anyway. After a few knocks though, they just came in! It was the “handyman” from our school (who has the spare key to my apartment) and the bug spray guy! Thank god they didn’t come in 10 minutes later because I would’ve been in the shower with the bathroom door open and that wouldn't have been pretty. It annoyed me that they came without telling me ahead of time but at least they were there to fulfill my request. They finally left and I was able to shower. Ten seconds after I got out though, I heard them knocking AGAIN and that time I really wasn’t dressed. I ignored them because they were annoying me but it didn’t matter – they had a key. So they started to come back in, saying something about signing a contract and I made them wait outside until was dressed. They came back in to sign some paper that didn’t require my signature (I couldn’t read it anyway) so they might as well have done it outside and slipped it under my door. They sat on my kitchen floor to sign it because my table had stuff all over it…again, I wasn’t expecting company. It’s weird to me that that kind of thing doesn’t bother people here. They could tell I was annoyed and they felt bad about it. They apologized and everything but seriously...call next time and ask if it's okay. It's not that hard.

To add to it all, I just killed a freaking bug. I’m so confused…but this is the beauty of adapting to a culture with a completely different way of thinking.

Side note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my amazing sister, Erin!! She turns 26 today and I love her so much!!! :D Hope you have a great day and an awesome year chiquita!!