„Ślimak” (a snail)

We (“we” is me and Agnieszka in this case. Actually in most cases on this blog “we” will stand for me and her) come to office around 9 a.m. We leave at 6.30 p.m. – amazingly the subsidized company buses are almost on time. I mean they really are. Even when it was raining heavily, we were flooded and expected the bus to be late, it came on time!

You may have quickly calculated we spend 9,5 hours at work. Luckily we have a lunch break, which we usually spend in the (again) subsidized office canteen. The food is good and – best of all – cheap. But from time to time… the spirit rises and we strive for more… This is when… we eat outside. It means 2 things - always higher spendings, usually - more time outside (is 2 hours too much for a lunch break?).

Yesterday was one of the let’s-go-eating-outside days. We took a taxi to the nearest mall “equipped” with KFC. We had some food, got feedback form to fill in, which we did - we were nice and put all positive comments. I didn’t even mention about the staff member, who spilled my drink (Lucky me – it was his pants that the coke landed on, not mine. And he brought me a new one and apologized in a manner that looked genuine.) So we are there, almost ready to think about considering leaving, trays and leftovers cleaned up by the guy with my coke on his clothes, when we hear a voice. “Excuse me…” – we see a foreigner standing next to our table. “Yes…” – we noticed him before, when he entered – not a high-tower, but tall, glasses, t-shirt. Just a “random” foreigner… So he is standing at our table and with apologetic smile he says “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I don’t really get to see to many white people around”. Hmmm… that would mean he is not a tourist. 1) because he would not be THAT excited to see foreigners b) staying “around” doesn’t match a traveler.

While he’s still standing, we get to know he is living in Salt Lake (the part of Kolkata where our office is), he is from US (Ohio), he is a physicist, he is doing a research, he’s been here 2 months, it’s a one-year renewable contract (“if they like me and if I like in India – who knows”). Since it seems like a chat that is not about to finish, we invite him to sit down with us. What we do? – we work in an IT company, in HR. “I never met anybody white working here. Most of the people I meet do charity work, but you are the first people who work. That is amazing!” “Yes” – I confirm “we are special” ;-) And where are we from? Poland?! “Dzien dobry” (Good day), “Dowidzenia” (Good bye), “Ślimak” (Snail).... Any kind of greetings, cheering (“na zdrowie” is a main Polish contribution to international communication I guess), names… even insulting can be expected in your language. But “Ś L I M A K”?!?!?! On the other hand – the story behind must be really fascinating! We exchanged phone numbers with Vincent (as w finally got to know) and each of us went his way.

Taxi back to office, few more things to do… going home… buying fruit and vegetables… but still, it was “ślimak” that made our day!