The Wacken Hot Tub (General Chat)

[Quark]

Canada has only 2 recognized 'official' languages.

Ah, ok.

What about the other 11 then? They have a status of what?

Also, out of curiosity - any opinions on the fact that a lot of us westerners (Americans, but I believe Europeans too) largely don't like Indians because of incomprehensible English and overall bad customer service when we're forced to call you for technical support? I don't ask to be rude - genuinely curious to hear your perspective.

I know Indonesians don't like the Dutch, but I can imagine why.

 

[Koldawne]

Ah, ok.

What about the other 11 then? They have a status of what?

I'll admit that I am wholly ignorant of anything that isn't English or French. I have no idea
Link me the article?

 

[Milkie]

I hope you have such luck I really shouldn't be giving interview advice; I've only had three successful interviews ever. The first was as previously mentioned, the second was even easier as the original plan was to have someone fill in for only a few weeks, and the third one I had the opportunity to demonstrate that I was the best for the job (my boss said the "interview" part wasn't that great).

Well I've never had a job interview so pretty much all advice is good.

 

[Milkie]

I mean, I have hired this lady who cleans the house, does the dishes, washes and irons the clothes daily and asks for about 12 Euros a month in return. :|

I don't think that service will cost anywhere near 12 Euros anywhere in Europe.

12 euros.. Wow. I feel bad for her.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

Well I've never had a job interview so pretty much all advice is good.

Best tip for min wage jobs I came up with - if you're getting toward the end of the interview and you feel like it sucked, or that you didn't get to say everything you wanted to say, use the "do you have any questions for me?" question at the end, use that to open up the conversation. Maybe ask what the interviewer likes about their job, or how they got into it, and then ask what kind of person they're looking for for the position. Then when they tell you, tell them you have those qualities.

Worked for getting me my current job.

 

[Milkie]

Best tip for min wage jobs I came up with - if you're getting toward the end of the interview and you feel like it sucked, or that you didn't get to say everything you wanted to say, use the "do you have any questions for me?" question at the end, use that to open up the conversation. Maybe ask what the interviewer likes about their job, or how they got into it, and then ask what kind of person they're looking for for the position. Then when they tell you, tell them you have those qualities.

Worked for getting me my current job.

Okay, thanks!

 

[Quark]

I'll admit that I am wholly ignorant of anything that isn't English or French. I have no idea
Link me the article?

I can, but it won't help you. It's in Dutch.

but.. http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada if you want to.

(on the left the English version is linked, but I reckon it's not the same article)

 

[Milkie]

My English book says "If you go Dutch in a restaurant, everyone pays for their meal, which pretty much means that if you go to a restaurant with a Dutch person, everyone always pays their meal. Is that true?

 

[Quark]

My English book says "If you go Dutch in a restaurant, everyone pays for their meal, which pretty much means that if you go to a restaurant with a Dutch person, everyone always pays their meal. Is that true?

Amoungst friends? I'd say yes. If you're just the 2 of you, (boy meets girl etc.) no.

But... I've been out for more than 10yrs!!!

 

[Milkie]

Amoungst friends? I'd say yes. If you're just the 2 of you, (boy meets girl etc.) no.

But... I've been out for more than 10yrs!!!

Yeah that's what I thought. It's pretty much the same here in Finland.

 

[dishayu]

How do your wages compare to your expenses? Is 12€ a month enough to live on, or is that more of a part-time/side job?

You mean my wages or the maid's wages? I work a middle level job in a multinational corporation, so I do alright.

As for our maid, our house is not the only place she works at, she works at other 4-5 houses in the apartment as well. Plus her husband most likely has a job as well (I've never really asked but it's almost certain). My estimate is they would make somewhere around 150-180 € a month combined which is enough for survival but not much else. For instance, if they have a medical emergency, they're pretty much fucked.

 

[dishayu]

Also, out of curiosity - any opinions on the fact that a lot of us westerners (Americans, but I believe Europeans too) largely don't like Indians because of incomprehensible English and overall bad customer service when we're forced to call you for technical support? I don't ask to be rude - genuinely curious to hear your perspective.

You're absolutely right about that. The call center employees here are way less qualified than anywhere in EU/Americas. Anyone who has gone to school, can read and speak English can easily land a job at a call center (they are paid around 200-250€ a month). The ones who are formally trained in English/American accent are paid more.

It has also got to do with the fact that English is not our first language (or even 2nd language for most). Imagine taking Japanese class at school and then working at a Japanese language call center. It's exactly like that, hence the incomprehensible English. India is the call center of the world because we're cheap to hire, not because we're any good at it

 

[dishayu]

12 euros.. Wow. I feel bad for her.

Welcome to life in poor 3rd world countries

 

[dishayu]

My English book says "If you go Dutch in a restaurant, everyone pays for their meal, which pretty much means that if you go to a restaurant with a Dutch person, everyone always pays their meal. Is that true?

Amoungst friends? I'd say yes. If you're just the 2 of you, (boy meets girl etc.) no.

But... I've been out for more than 10yrs!!!

Wait, I thought the expression "going dutch" applied pretty much exclusively to couples (more specifically, on a first date).

What Quark said is the norm in the entire fucking world... there's nothing Dutch about it :|

 

[dishayu]

With all that sorted out... Moooin everyone