All in a Day's Work...

I intended to write my next blog post (this one) about something significant- like what’s been going on at work or what I’ve been socially. I had a few ideas, and I have just never got around to doing it. After an experience I had today, I decided to share this with you instead. This is what I have done the last hour at work today:

One of our donors is connected with the Rotary Club in the US and has been unsuccessful in contacting the Rotary Club here in Tegucigalpa after several attempts. He asked for our assistance to call the Club and ask for “Mario” to call him. The website for the Club here in Teguc is down, so I couldn’t get the phone number that way. I called our Social Worker (not in the office today) because I know she has had some contact with the Club- What an easy way to get the phone number, I thought. Well, she didn’t answer after several attempts. (Note: leaving voice messages and returning them is not as common here as it is in the US; I knew if I left a message it wouldn’t get returned.)

So then I call Don David, the director/founder of SCM, because I was told he would have the number. He speaks English, but I always speak with him in Spanish because I want to continue to improve my language skills. He said he had the number, and just had to get it out of his cell phone (at least I’m pretty sure this is what he said- there could have been language confusion). Well, I waited on the phone for 29 minutes, and finally decided to hang up. Every 5 minutes or so there was a rustling noise, so I thought, He’s finally going to get me the number, I’m not going to hang up. After 25 minutes, some other people then entered the room and I was listening to their entire conversation- seemingly just casual conversation and playing with kids for a while. Then I decided to hang up.

I tried called the Rotary International phone number in the States for the phone number of the Club here in Teguc. A woman tells me they don’t give the phone number out to non-Rotarians. She transfers me to someone, and I have to leave a message on voicemail. I just gave my email address assuming she wouldn’t call be back internationally. I then call the switchboard again to ask for the women’s email address, but I am told that can not be given out either. Really?!?!

So I call Don David, and he answers the phone like nothing happened and gives me two telephone numbers. Hmm. I try the first phone number, and it goes to an automated voicemail. I try the second voicemail, and eventually someone picks up the phone. Thank goodness, I thought, I’m finally going to get the information I need. Only, it turns out that I wasn’t calling an office, but someone’s house. Wrong number.

So here I am an hour later- frustrated, and without the information I have been attempting to gather.
Not all days are like this, but it can be frustrating. :)