I had my first occasion to deal with an infamous computer supplier's customer support after a key popped off of my keyboard (less than 3 weeks of use - nice.) I tried the online "chat room" style support.My customer support counselor signed on as Daniel, but when I read the following:
{Daniel} Since when is this happening ?
I knew I was dealing with someone from the motherland. My name, first and last, came up in the same chat window, so "Daniel" was aware of my family background (down to what state my family is from in India.)
Towards the end of the "service chat", we had this exchange:
{Daniel} Do let me know when the issue is resolved my Email ID is rajiv.superdesiname AT blah.com
{maisnon} so your name isn't Daniel, eh?
{Daniel} : )
{Daniel} No that is my sudeo name
{Daniel} My name is Rajiv Superdesiname.
{maisnon} Yeah I figured that out from the email address : )
I wonder if I received the benefit of "his good name" at the end because of my obviously Indian name. I can't see how that would work out too well otherwise: you can't represent yourself as Jennifer, and then suggest people email you at saraswati.swaminathan.
Many people think that I don't have an inner censor, or that she is asleep A LOT, but I debate things in my head much, much more than you'd think. Earlier this year, a radio station decided that terrorizing a call center worker would make good radio. Because of that earlier incident, I gave Rajiv two suggestions for alternate phrasings of "Since when is this happening?" And I felt like a total bitch as I did it.
I tried to be clear that I wasn't correcting his English. I figured if you're trying to "pass" as, ostensibly, an American, the tip could help. Of course, the best solution would be for the Rajivs of the world to just be Rajivs, for it to not be necessary to have a sudeo.
Oh, by the way, this post brought to you by the letter "J."
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6 comments:
Dude... my "sudeo" name? I read that and immediately got Su-su-sudio lodged inside my cranium. Great.
Also- I think I am going to change my last name to "superdesiname."
I also love "superdesiname." For a second I thought, "huh? where does that name come from?"
I did, too, cm. Wondered if it was an alternate spelling for Subra...something. Anyway.
So, what was Rajiv-Daniel's reaction to your lessons in Merkin English? Was he receptive or not?
Every time I call my benefits office, an Indian person who says he or she is in Toronto responds. Suspecting they were trained to say this to curious Americans, I was stunned when I started to hear "aboot" and "proh-cess." Since when did Canada have all-Indian call centers? Isn't that anti-EEO or some such?
I used to work at a call center - and I'm an desi mostly brought up in America living in the mid-west. But most people couldn't tell what nationality I was or where they were calling, only that they would "hunt me down" if their paycheck ever got lost again (!). Ah memories....
All propers go to my fellow desis working in customer service. It takes an amazing amount of tenacity and bravery to sit there on the other end of the line and deal with us "furriners."
hahah! i didn't get the fly way he tried to be cool with his last name. am i right in guessing that it is fake?? that is classic. i have to share that with other peeps.
yes, what did he say after you gave him tips?
and did he help you with your computer problem?
are you doing laptop or writing for the bar?
Unfortunately despite all lifesaving measures, including trying to pop it back on, I too bowed to the inevitable and got outside help this week for my good friend "E." In fact I strode in cockily telling Satish, who is software engineer with a background in electrical engineering, to just "pop it back on...here I'll do it." Thankfully we don't keep crow in our fridge...
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