Nataly

"Human beings are a disease - a cancer of this planet. You're a plague and we are the cure." "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Thing is, I have a lot of sympathy for people who work in the airline industry because they get A LOT of abuse, and often they can't even do anything to help... More and more, however, I am noticing that they say nothing/do nothing/have no one to talk to when something goes wrong. They simply don't want to deal with irrate or unreasonable customers. This too I can understand, but I think there comes a point where it's normal to get *some* kind of news - even if it's just over the intercom. Given you have a right to reschedule or to a refund (which you could use to buy a last-minute ticket from another airline), it's frustrating to know that you *have* options but are unable to exercise them... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

*Usually* I don't mind LHR too much because at least it's connected to the Picadilly line, HOWEVER, *nothing* runs at stupid o'clock in the middle of the week... My flight back, remarkably, was even worse! Seriously, I wish they had at least kept us a little bit informed of what was going on... Actually, if the delay is more than 2 hours, they are obliged by law to propose some alternatives - they did not. Other flights (ie: other airlines) were not having the same difficulties, so it *could* have been salvaged. I was not annoyed about the fog - that is outside of everyone's control. I was annoyed at being kept in the dark for over 4 hours (on the way back) with no sign either way that it was going to sort itself out (or not). I was annoyed that some better alternatives were available but no choice was given to us (ie: different flight / reimbursement / or even an APOLOG§Y, for pete's sake!). No... They didn't want any hassle, so they decided what was best and didn't give us any opportunity to choose for ourselves if their decision was acceptable. Because of course landing at 2 AM is OBVIOUSLY the right option for *everyone*... - rant over - "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Oh dear... I had an exam in London at 08:30 this morning. After realising that the exam centre was extremely close to London City Airport, I paid about 3 times the price of a direct flight into say Heathrow/Stanstead/Luton/Southampton. I did this knowing that getting into central London can often take 1.5 to 2 hours from any of the aforementioned airports whereas LCY is right smack in the centre. So the first leg of my flight went without a glitch - Nice to Zurich. Then the Zurich to London City boarded with only 30 minutes delay - no biggie. We got over half-way (we even spotted the Parisian city lights) and then about 5 minutes from when we were supposed to land at LCY the pilot announces that due to fog, we are returning to Zurich and can be put on the next available flight from Zurich to London Heathrow. TEN MINUTES LATER we began our descent to Zurich!!! Well, they faffed around with changing luggage and boarding passes and instead of arriving at 6:30 pm right next to my hotel, I arrived at the wrong fucking end of London when all public transport had long since shut down. A very expensive cab ride later, I arrived at the hotel around 3:00 am... Needless to say, I was not amused. I checked and Heathrow was not shut down during this time. Why, why, WHY would they take us all the way back to get us on the next flight to LHR instead of landing in LHR??? Or any other London airport that wasn't affected by the fog??? Any ideas??? I asked - they had no explanation. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I've seen it before and it made me laugh again

What has?? "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

How long will he be gone for? He's not gone... About once per week I simply need to catch up on my sleep "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Mmmmmmmm - cipaille.....!!! I will be making that for Christmas diner

My friend worked in the Netherlands, and he said people assumed he was incompetent if he left work late!! As if he wasn't able to finish his job within normal work hours! In the UK, I found that working late was seen as you being dedicated to your job... Where I worked, it was pretty much expected... That, and he said the dutch were incredibly cheap. We have a dutchman in our ranks at work, and he does cliam for stupid little things like toothpaste and gum when he travels... So the stereotype certainly fits him, anyway...! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Ahhh... A night without the b/f means I can put hot-peppers, garlic, and red wine on the menu... I'm slurring, my nose is running, and I will have bad breath for AT LEAST a week! WOO HOO!! I live on the edge!!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Jesus... Don't ever move to Africa, then!!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Well, a lot of those 70-somethings have grand-children and christmas *is* coming up... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Re: Sweden: North Americans are brought up thinking sex is dirty/amoral/wrong... Swedes seem to have a lot less negative associations with sex and sexuality... It's just something you do when you fancy someone (without a lot of the shame/guilt/fear)... Almost like it's "natural" instead of some kind of evil impulse... About the Brits and language... Hard to come up with just one example... They use English SO differently... Think of the word "nice," for example... In North America, you *can* use that sarcastically, but most of the time nice actually means "pleasant" or "kind" or "good"... In the UK, "nice" is used in about 50 different ways, and hardly ever really means something positive... A lot of words are loaded with tons of meaning, whereas North Americans have more of a tendency toward hyperbole. In the UK, you might just answer "indeed" and that single word packs quite a punch. Sometimes I thought people agreed with me because they went along with what I said - I'd realise later that silence does not mean acquiescence... Nor does "you must be right"!!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Locals often have suspicious "conspiracy" theories, but people *do* come up with "creative" ways to get around tricky building regulations... I can imagine it was a mistake, just as easily as I can imagine it was done on purpose... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Au contraire... All the fun answers are now allowed, since I am not looking for a "serious" (SC) answer Ummm...I don't think you meant what you typed there. I meant exactly what I wrote: the disclaimer henceforth encourages fun answers

Good Lord, for what would those octogenerians need a motorcycle helmet? Perhaps they need it for every-day protection (not necessarily on a bike!!) "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Au contraire... All the fun answers are now allowed, since I am not looking for a "serious" (SC) answer "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I played loto (similar to bingo) in my village last night (I probably lowered the average age to about 70!!!)... I won 2 things: a motorcycle helmet and a GPS (tomtom)... What d'ya reckon it means??? [disclaimer: please keep this thread fun (and out of the SC) and do not interpret the topic to *literally* be about religion] "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Because there are soooo many 18th century chateaux in the US...!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

My friend was pregnant in the UK, and she said she couldn't *stand* all the people assuming it was fine to touch her belly... I remember when she said it, I had almost done it myself - guess it's instinctive... Not the same, but I got groped a lot by men when I was in Morocco... REALLY couldn't stand it, because it felt like everyone thought "she is European, so she must be a whore/prostitute"... I don't know if that's what they were *actually* thinking but it felt terribly disrespectful - they would NEVER dare do that to a local woman... It wasn't grabbing of my arse or anything so crass... Mostly touching my arm as I was passing by, or my hair, or my shoulder... But going out of their way to come up and touch me. It was weird... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Buddy of mine from Quebec calls it "redneck French..." I am NOT from Quebec. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I was surprised how inept I felt just going to the UK, where they theoretically speak a language that is *almost* my native tongue... I am also feeling the same thing in France, where my French is remarkably different to theirs... People take for granted just how trying (and tiring) it is to constantly have to think about what you're saying - I felt this most when I was learning Swedish... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I was surprised how inept I felt just going to the UK, where they theoretically speak a language that is *almost* my native tongue... I am also feeling the same thing in France, where my French is remarkably different to theirs... People take for granted just how trying (and tiring) it is to constantly have to think about what you're saying - I felt this most when I was learning Swedish... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

This question is for everyone who has ever lived for an extended period of time as a foreigner. What was the hardest thing to adapt to in your new country? For me, it was: Sweden: the language barrier and how "at ease" they seemed about sexuality UK: the way they use and manipulate the English language... For example, I often found it surprising how much what *isn't* said can matter. France: the admin... Dear GOD, the admin!! Morocco (although I didn't technically "live" there): the different gender "roles" and higher focus on family/community as opposed to self. Hardest of all everywhere is that you always have to consider that criticism of your new country can really cause offense, no matter how much everyone agrees with you... It's kind of like telling a fat person they are fat... They know they are fat, they can say "I'm fat" but if you say "you're fat" it hurts the person's feelings. It's just the way it is. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Thank you for reminding me of this! I try to thank people for good service, although I admit that too often I take it for granted. Sometimes we are just too focused on the stuff that goes *wrong* and we forget all the work involved in things going*right*. Agree with Quade that an insincere "thank you" is just patronising... But it *is* nice when people genuinely acknowledge and value your input. Often we assume people know how much we appreciate them and we forget to say so - but it's really gratifying to hear it every once in a while