So, today, after my daily failed call to my special lady friend at the DC Consulate, I called the main office. I talked to a man with the most charming and stereotypical of French accents, only to fail in my mission yet again. “I’m looking for (you know who),” I began.

“Ah yes,” he said. “I will connect you.” (I can’t express his accent in writing, you just have to imagine.)

“No,” perhaps too forcefully, “I know her number. But her voice mail is full, so I can’t leave a message.”

“She is very busy.”

“Is there anyone else I can talk to?”

In short, no.

Maybe next time I will speak French. I almost tried this time, but speaking foreign languages on the phone is hard enough in the first place and I just spent four hours hearing and speaking Hindi. So I form sentences in my head that 95% in French and then Hindi-windi rears its head. Maybe at three o’clock I could be ready, but at one-thirty, no way. Unfortunately, three o’clock in Wisconsin is four o’clock in DC, and at the stroke of four, my special lady friend turns into a pumpkin and can no longer answer the phone. Come to think of it, maybe she’s a pumpkin all the time.

Posted in French, Hindi, best-laid plans, oy vey by rachel