ABROAD...again


Well, I am living abroad...yet again. After Singapore, Spain, Turkey, Korea the Netherlands (and returning to Spain for a Masters) I've unpacked my backpack a little closer to home in Mexico. I live in Culiacan where I am trying my hand at teaching English to University and high school students. Below you'll find random updates as I go to festivals, explore my city or just feel like sharing a random story.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Copying Keys

So after moving the furniture around the new apartment (pictures to come) we needed to make copies of our keys. Since I´ve been delegated "roomie-with-the-best-Spanish" I hopped out of the car to get copies made.

I approached a cute little key copy shop near my house (On the off chance anyone needs a place later or me in case I get locked out of the house: Cerrajería La Lomita Álvaro Obregón 1019 Sur Colonia Guadalupe Tel: 712-134-0269) it is probably the size of my office and held 5 men.

When I approached the shop I gave my usual smiling "Hola" and received a few "Holas" back. I did not however receieve anyone who asked what I wanted or if they could help me. In fact the man closest to me kep his head turned away the entire time. So I continued in Spanish (but for my non hispanohablantes I'll translate) "Whom should I talk to?" I asked, one man told me the man nearest me (the one who was still not facing me) I put the keys I needed copied down on the table and said, "OK, I need two copies made of these three keys" he turned his head slowly and took my keys handing them to the man sitting next to him, "She needs two copies of each" he said (a bit briefer but essentially exactly what I had said).

That man handed them to the next man and in a perverse game of telephone my keys (and requirements) were handed down through the five men until it reached the last man (closest to the machine).

I had to wonder if the men exchanged positions regularly so that the one taking the order would eventually work his way over to making the keys, or if it was a promotion based gig (the ones who simply sat did seem to be older). Nonetheless in the end I got all of my keys for 92 pesos (about $8 by current exchange rates).

I believe the plan is to move in on Saturday, but there's really no rush.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

sounds like Cal Trans or the PE dept. at MV. DAD

Anonymous said...

Carry, I will be stalking your blog now that you're in Culiacan. It's been years since I lived there, but your key shop experience is very common. Wait until you shop in one of those Soviet-style department stores where you place your order with one person at one counter, pay another person at another counter, and pick up your stuff from another person at another counter. I suppose it keeps the unemployment low ??

Anonymous said...

Oops, Carry, the stalker is me, Ellen.

Carissa Peck said...

Perhaps slightly more crowded in Mexico.

Stalking is welcome :) Thus far all is well!

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