RVPs

Funny thing happened this Saturday I along with others were invited to a birthday bash very different from mine. The set up was excellent the host had waitresses standing by your every wish, the cake was immaculte, nice buffet, drinks were availabel [but nothing alcoholic not even beer], smokers could go out and light, music  was playing but only one glich- there was only two people beised the birthday girl, her friend and her brother.

When I reached at the place, there were  between 8-12 people and they were there as cusotmers of the place not birthday invitees, as I enter I look around for familiar faces but find none except the birthday girl, we greet I am a little uncomfortable since I did not get her any gifts. I did not know what to bring her a book” too nerdy,  jewelry? to pretentious,  a VCD? no way, clothing? don’t know her size and her style, cake, cookies? hello it was a party cookies would have been there,  wine? she does not drink.

So fidgeting I greet her, exchange plesantries and look around the place at this point I am told I am the first invitee to come,I,  humbled smile and wait around for people I know to make a showing, so after a few minutes of agony I make apologies and step out for a quiack smoke, then finally a face I recognise waves at me for a distance I was elated, i felt that i was saved, se we both come in wait a few more agonising minutes [32 minutes to be precise] and start attacking the buffet …. another half hour passes and we finally understand that nobody is goinbg to show up and encourage her to blow out the candels and cut the cake. She does this we wait and leave.

Leaving the party I felt really sorry for the girl guys would have handle sit easy [that if they like the pomp and ceremony that comes with birthday parties] but girls take the offense really hard. RSVPs (Répondez s’il-vous-plaît” or “Réservez s’il-vous-plaît”, a French phrase that translates to “Please respond” or “Please book your place” or “Response Shall Verify Presence”, an English substitute for the meaning of “R.S.V.P”) are not really common here and people either opt to call ahead and say  sorry or have someone pass on their  excuses fro them or simply don’t come and give their excuses when they are caught some other day.  I left that party with a promise to myself to make sure I inform of my absence for future engagements.

Unexpected visitors at the office

Often visitors come to the office with proposals that boggle your mind. Yesterday morning I had a visit by a designer who came from Hong Kong looking for Ethiopian businessmen who would like custom made designs from fabrics ‘from world famous manufacturers’. Initially I thought he was looking for an ad placement or being given contacts of possible distributors in Ethiopia. I readily opened up my phone book and started going through names and contacts that might be interested in including his products in their shops. The salesman said no he caters to individuals only. Intrigued I asked him how he came up with this marketing pitch he tells me that he came in yesterday to Ethiopia after a three day stay in Zimbabwe and that he is thinking into tapping into the African market.

I was completely impressed by his wit and drive but could not help him. I could have bought some of his items [payday was on Monday so their was no inhibitions as far as my budget was involved]. Slightly disappointed he tells me how big is Addis I tell him okay but could get hectic for first time visitors with no guides. He then tells me where he could get potential clients I give him a name and a telephone number of a friend that works in the fashion business that is ‘in the know’. Satisfied he leaves with his suitcase of samples

After his departure I started thinking about the trials this guy has faced and would surely face on his travels. All sorts of people often drop by our office some just say hello and ask to see our archives read, do not give much info in regards to their pursuits but please us by telling us that they so love our newspaper which prompts us to offer them coffee/macchiato/tea or even lunch [depending on the compliments]. Some visitors include marketers from other newspapers that offer us subscriptions or sometimes even ads. And of course there are those that come to the office sit stare back at you until you ask what they are looking for and sometimes go off with the telephone, calculator or some item which you cannot find missing but get vibes that something is out of place.

My favorite salesman would be this guy that used to frequent the office in September he would come with brochures of all sorts of appliances and offer installment packages for all those interested. He had an uncanny way of creating competition among the office workers edging the reluctant ones to invest in one appliance or the other. He almost got me hooked on this electric shower head that heats water. I was really interested in it but had fears that electrocution might occur.