Eat the olives

More silliness in kindergarten land.  I have realized that my American buttons get pressed very hard when a certain Indian accountant responds to the question, "We will be paid tomorrow?" (the 7th of the month for the previous month's work, which was agree upon the previous month) with a dismissive "Maybe".   I said, "May I have the owner's telephone number?" (which he wouldn't give me) "because 'maybe' I won't come and teach tomorrow."  Of course when I arrived the next day, he was not yet in and in defeat I had to go do a day's work.  By the end of the day, I figured he'd won.  I hadn't been paid, I had worked, and it was the weekend.  Just as I left, he gave me my check. 

I realize in hindsight, after dinner and a bath, that he enjoys the power of having me on the end of a stick.  I have a choice - I can quit, I can relax about it, or I can keep fighting them.  I think it is the dismissiveness that gets to me - as well as the idea ingrained in me that you work (and I have not yet missed day and I do a good job) and you get paid.  I think I am having a cultural translation problem - my Russian friend is never worried - "In my last job, I didn't get paid on time.  It's ok with me."  The Arabs there don't seem upset either - maybe they are glad for a job at all, maybe it is normal here, although for Charles the UAE Dept of Education pays on time automatically every month.

There seem to be some issues I have a harder time giving up, I guess - work and pay is obviously one of them, along with waiting in line.  I can give up a lot of things, but I hate being dismissed and I hate having hard work dismissed.  The Protestant ethic come through even when you didn't think you were Protestant! 

In contrast, at 10am, the Arabic teachers invited us to a spread of food in the staff room - all sorts of olives, bread, cheese, chick peas, zataar and olive oil, date desert, tea.  It was very kind of them and I went to show good will (and I was hungry after being so mad!!).  Maybe I need to let some of the Protestant go and just eat the olives.  If the Indian accountant had brought some naan or something I might.  I am going to try to strike a balance at April pay time - I will be more relaxed about it, but I will also not be dismissed - I will let it happen, but at some point I will stand the American line.     

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