Ugandan clinic princess
Haven’t you had those times of totally misjudging someone, then finding out later how wrong you were?
A few days ago my husband had to do a site visit at some condo complex, and the property manager let him into one of the units where a college girl lived. The place was totally plush–granite countertops, fancy furnishings, etc. The property manager explained that the girl’s parents owned the condo, and she lived there during school.
To which my husband thought, “Well, how nice for you, princess.”
Until the property manager added, “Yeah, she’s out of the country right now. She’s been volunteering for a year at a health clinic in Uganda.”
As my German cousin Friederike is fond of saying as she pinches her fingers together, “I felt this tall–with a hat.”
Your turn. What’s your Ugandan clinic princess story? I know you have one.
Technorati Tags: First Impressions, Snap Decisions, Boy Was I Wrong About Him/Her
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:19 am
Personally I wish that everything I think or say had a 15 second delay button. That way I’d have the time to think oh my god I can not believe I thought or said that and hit the delete key.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:16 am
Consider me the first investor if you ever find someone to invent that.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:24 am
What is this thing you people feel? Guilt? Embarrassment? Shame?
I don’t know what those words mean.
Hey Robin, check out how messy my desk is.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I’ve given this more thought. I think in order to feel small you have to actually say or do something. Your husband thought “princess” but, did not say “princess”. So he actually has a delay button. As this blog is as much about self improvement as it is about writing, I’m working on listening and not speaking. I’ve found that when I do not speak the opportunity to stick my foot in my mouth is greatly reduced. It is a hard habit to develop.
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Patrick, don’t see how you’ll ever get any writing done in a pristine environment like that. Good luck.
Herb, I truly admire the goal, but agree that’s a hard one for a lot of us to accomplish. Good luck to you, too. Let us know how it goes.
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Uh, this is kind of like that… maybe not, but it’s a good story.
Anyway, back in 6th grade, I met these two girls that I HATED and they HATED me, and we HATED each other for a solid year. Then at some point in 7th grade we started talking, and eventually became friends. I don’t even know how it happened! But we stayed friends through high school, even though we went to different ones.
A year or two ago, we were telling the story of how we met to some newer friends, which brought up the question of how and when did we stop hating each other?! I never realized it, but I no idea how it happened!!! Apparently one day, and I’m not kidding here, I held the door for them and they thought well, she can’t be all bad and that’s when they started talking to me! How crazy is that!?
One of the girls is actually the reason I’m at the university I’m at now. We started out enemies, and now we live 4 blocks away from each other, 2500 miles from where we started.
Just goes to show ya…
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:07 pm
*laughing* Patrick, my desk has more “stuff” (two 17″ monitors, a printer, a scanner, a laptop, assorted other “peripheral” necessities) AND a worse cable rats’nest. I get a lot of work done…. not much writing any more though (”work” = website design/management/hosting for clients….)
As to thinking before putting both feet up to the knees into one’s mouth: never happen with me - I generally start out with people by stating up front: I’m obnoxious, obstreperous, obstinate, outspoken…. and those are my GOOD points.
Email is pretty good for this though - except when you think you have a good friend you can say anything to, so you simply send it….
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Robin, it’s a necessary contradiction. A hair stylist once tried talking me into dyeing my hair purple and my best friend responded, “Nah, he’s too weird to not appear normal.”
Herb, you’re looking at it all wrong. Talk as quickly as possible. Once it becomes clear that you’ve said something stupid, run with it.
“Hey, are you pregnant?” said Herb.
“NO!” shouted Robin
“–with an alien about to burst out of your chest?” said Herb. “Pfflaugg…”
Thrusts arm from chest in mock alien fashion.
“Squeeeeaa… Squeee..Pffttt AAAAAIIIIIEEEEE!!!”
Disclaimer: Robin was used as a stand in for someone who could be taken for being pregnant. Robin does not have any appearance of looking pregnant.
Don’t hurt me.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Lizzie, that’s such a sweet story! I’m sure a lot of us have had that stupid situation of hating someone for no good reason, but not everyone gets the happy ending you did. And for such a small reason like holding open the door.
Patrick, do not use me for that example. You may recall from an earlier post that I’m still holding a grudge against someone who thought I was pregnant when I was just fat. Which would have been fine, except she kept insisting I must be pregnant. Slap her.
Vc, you’re right–e-mail can be both good and dangerous. Many’s the time I wish it didn’t send so quickly. But then the post office won’t let you take envelopes back out of their mailboxes, either. I’ve had that problem, too.
March 3rd, 2007 at 6:01 am
Herb said it. Not me.
Vc, that’s the cleaned version of my desk. I keep the multi-functional paper device in another room. All the external hard drives and DVD burners are in the drawers at the moment.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:50 am
Patrick, mine’s clean all the time. I can’t work if stuff’s everywhere…. I was the only one at my last “real” job whose desk always looked like:
A. No one works there.
B. The person who uses that desk must be a relative of the boss who can’t get a job anywhere else.
March 5th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
i don’t know who this vc is but i like him, a lot, all those “o” word attributes and a clean desk, oolala. patrick your office is a mess–no dinner (or girl scout cookies) for you until it is straightened.
i used to have a moderate amount of anxiety about saying inappropriate things. well not so much anxiety about saying inappropiate things as anxiety about my husband saying in the car on the way home, “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT!–THAT’S MY BOSS FOR CHRIST SAKES!” (as one example). but i’ve moved on. now i find it’s a good way to weed folks out of my life. you know if they don’t have a sense of humor (defined by whether or not they think i’m funny) then i just have no use for them.
March 5th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
now i find it’s a good way to weed folks out of my life. you know if they don’t have a sense of humor (defined by whether or not they think i’m funny) then i just have no use for them
Annette, what a GREAT policy. Think I’ll adopt that.
Also, I believe Vc is a she. Right, Vc?
March 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
“Also, I believe Vc is a she. Right, Vc? ”
Last time I looked…. (If you get that ref….) *snicker*
As to a sense of humor, Annette, I’m in full agreement with you. I know mine’s WAY out on the far side of Saturn, but really I do have a very well developed one - it’s just that 99 and 99/100ths of this world or any other will never get it….
March 6th, 2007 at 8:53 am
vc, i hear ya girl.
March 7th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Hi Robin, I found your blog through Seven Impossible Things, and can’t resist telling my Ugandan clinic princess story. I recently attended my friend’s graduation dinner from her medical degree and the MC announced the after dinner speaker would be a plastic surgeon. “Great” I thought. “A profession filled with people dedicated to helping sick people and we get to hear from the one specialty that basically has no point. The one for rich people who want bigger breasts.”
Then the doctor gets up and talks about his work, which is a charity that works in developing countries helping children born with facial and cranial deformities. He spoke of the difference it made to these children to be able to talk and eat like other children. It was extremely inspirational and moving.
Eeek. I’m so glad I didn’t say any of my earlier thoughts aloud!
March 7th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Emmaco, thanks so much for sharing that story! I would have had the same reaction you did–both in the beginning and at the end.
This seems to be one of those repeating lessons for me, because I still don’t have it down: do not prejudge. Sigh. One day I will be perfect. (Cough.)