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As some of you know, I am living in England. Around late last year, they released a book on how to get citizenship in the UK (see topic for title). Now, seeing how everyone wants to live here, it is a huge seller. So huge that as soon as we get 20 in, they are all gone in at most 3 days, and our warehouse for customer orders never have them in. They now have 3 different books. The first is the "big book" that tells people all that they need to do to become a citizen. The second is a study guide for the test (there is a test that they need to take with questions like "what do you do if you spill a strangers drink in a bar" and stuff that people who were born here would not even know unless they were really into politics). The "spill strangers drink" question is funny....wtf? Ths 3rd book is practice questions.
This week we sold out on Tuesday and the warehouse is out so we can't get any of these books in at all. Now, everyone who came in and asked believed me and listened when they were told that we could not get them in for some time. The test is next month, so they wasted no time arguing and went on their merry way. One customer wasn't so easily persuaded though.
She came in with a child (her daughter, I presume) and she had a sheet of paper with her. She comes up to the till and her daughter (who can't speak English too well) starts to ask if we have "The Journey to Citizenship.....". Straight away I know what she is talking about and say "sorry, we're sold out and can't even order them". The daughter and mother look at me very funnily and the daughter continues to ask. I repeat myself saying "yes, I know what book you are looking for, but as I said, we don't have it and can't even order it". This repeats 4 more times (I kid you not). Finally the mother shoves the paper she is holdong under my nose and says "husband call.....address"? On the paper is the address of my store. I say "yes, this is the correct address, but we do not have the book. I've already told you so many times". She says again "husband call address" and is pointing to the paper. All I say is "I'm sorry" and shake my head. She looks at the girl and at me and the girl says "the book is Life in the Uk......" I say "yes, I know that, I have told you we don't have it" They look angry and confused. The daughter then says "test is in next month..we need THIS book". UGH!!!!!!! I say "I am sorry, try another shop"
So, they leave with confused expressions on their faces. Not 10 mins later Daniel, a co-worker, comes downstairs and says that they just came upstairs and asked him! He told them that books were downstairs and they asked him again. He asked if they have been to the Books Department and they say "yes" He asks what we told them and they say that we said we didn't have it. He told them that if we said that, then we didn't have it...and they started with the whole "husband call addrress" thing. They finally left after him telling them numerous times that we didn't have it.
My question is: how the hell is this woman going to read the book, let alone take the test when she speaks NO English at all. If she is allowed and interpreter, that is not right. I think that you should have to know the language of a country beofre you become a citizen. Sweet Jesus!
This week we sold out on Tuesday and the warehouse is out so we can't get any of these books in at all. Now, everyone who came in and asked believed me and listened when they were told that we could not get them in for some time. The test is next month, so they wasted no time arguing and went on their merry way. One customer wasn't so easily persuaded though.
She came in with a child (her daughter, I presume) and she had a sheet of paper with her. She comes up to the till and her daughter (who can't speak English too well) starts to ask if we have "The Journey to Citizenship.....". Straight away I know what she is talking about and say "sorry, we're sold out and can't even order them". The daughter and mother look at me very funnily and the daughter continues to ask. I repeat myself saying "yes, I know what book you are looking for, but as I said, we don't have it and can't even order it". This repeats 4 more times (I kid you not). Finally the mother shoves the paper she is holdong under my nose and says "husband call.....address"? On the paper is the address of my store. I say "yes, this is the correct address, but we do not have the book. I've already told you so many times". She says again "husband call address" and is pointing to the paper. All I say is "I'm sorry" and shake my head. She looks at the girl and at me and the girl says "the book is Life in the Uk......" I say "yes, I know that, I have told you we don't have it" They look angry and confused. The daughter then says "test is in next month..we need THIS book". UGH!!!!!!! I say "I am sorry, try another shop"
So, they leave with confused expressions on their faces. Not 10 mins later Daniel, a co-worker, comes downstairs and says that they just came upstairs and asked him! He told them that books were downstairs and they asked him again. He asked if they have been to the Books Department and they say "yes" He asks what we told them and they say that we said we didn't have it. He told them that if we said that, then we didn't have it...and they started with the whole "husband call addrress" thing. They finally left after him telling them numerous times that we didn't have it.
My question is: how the hell is this woman going to read the book, let alone take the test when she speaks NO English at all. If she is allowed and interpreter, that is not right. I think that you should have to know the language of a country beofre you become a citizen. Sweet Jesus!
I AM the evil bastard!
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