It goes something like this:
| Me: | "Hello, can I speak to Ms —— who is staying in your hotel" |
| T: | "Yes, can you repeat the name for me?" |
| Me: | (repeats the name) |
| T: | "Can you spell it for me?" |
| Me: | (spells the name) |
| T: | (spells out the name using the Tango, Bravo, Charlie, notation) |
| Me: | "Yes, that’s correct" |
| T: | "We have a lot of people of that name staying here. Can you give me the first name?" |
| Me: | (gives first name) |
| T: | "Just checking for you." (pause) "No, I can’t find anyone of that name here." |
| Me: | "How about the Chinese name?" (says the Chinese name) |
| T: | "Can you spell it for me?" |
| Me: | (spells the name) |
| T: | (spells out the name again using the Tango, Bravo, Charlie, notation) |
| Me: | "Yes, that’s correct" |
| T: | Just checking for you." (pause) "How about —— —- —? (says totally different name)." |
| Me: | "No" (repeats name) |
| At this point there are a few different options: |
|
| T: | "OK, Sir, just putting you through" |
| (Phone rings – no answer. Leave voice mail message hoping this is the right room) |
|
| T: | "No, I can’t find that name. Can you confirm.." |
| Me: | "Oh, never mind" (hangs up, exasperated) |
| T: | "OK, Sir, just putting you through" |
| (Phone rings – person answers, but it’s the wrong room) |
|
Needless to say, these phone calls are costing a small fortune.
My wife is in Europe attending a conference with a few hundred of her colleagues from Hong Kong, almost all of whom have Chinese names. Not only do the names sound unfamiliar, but there is the added confusion of Chinese names being structured different (something that often causes problems when names are entered in a database). Who knows whether they have used the official name on the passport or the Westernised style of first name and family name! However, the fact is that the hotel (part of a very well-known chain) is hosting a large event for the company, and really ought to make some effort to sort out this mess.
My wife just called and told me her room number, but of course she is checking out tomorrow!
Ordinary Gweilo 
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