Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The "Are You Kidding Me?" Dialogues

As any salaryperson knows, the day just goes downhill at 2pm due to lunchtime fatigue, natural rhythm, etc. I usually try to hold on til 3pm and take a break to walk around and clear my head. Today, I asked the woman who I share an office with if she wanted to take a walk with me. Here is our subsequent conversation. 

Me:
I'm going to take a walk outside to clear my head with some fresh polluted air. Do you want to join me? 


Woman:
Do you think that's allowed? 


Me:
Uhhh yeah. Why wouldn't it be allowed? It's a lovely day and the birds are calling. 


Woman:
Well, the CEO isn't here today so we should all be working. 


Me:
I've been working since this morning. 


Woman:
We should ask for permission. 


Me:
Are you kidding me? 


Woman:
Everyone else is working so we shouldn't just leave our desks. 


Me:
Are you kidding me? I've been sitting since we got back from lunch. This is worse than sitting for 13 hours on an airplane.


Woman:
I'll go with you if you get permission. 


Me:
Fine...I'll tell them to call my cell if anything happens. 


I get a confused look and a laugh from the CEO's secretary when I tell her that I'm stepping outside. I start making small talk with this woman, but then... 


Woman:
We should go back. 


Me:
Are you kidding me? We haven't even gone around the block. 


Woman:
We shouldn't leave the office for too long or people are going to think that we're not working. That's how it works in Korea. 


Me:
If you keep on saying these things, I'm just going to take a walk by myself from now on.


Woman:
How could you say something like that?


Me:
You're frustrating me and I can't clear my head.


Later on, I found out that she used to work in a Chinese factory for six months. That explains a lot. And it makes me want to shake this place up even more.

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