We spend a lot of time communicating via emails.

I face unique challenges getting through to my clients / suppliers in countries where English is not their language of choice.

The correspondence below is as good (or bad) as it gets.

Please take time to read through it.

(I spent a lot of time taking out sensitive info and changing names of the parties involved in the email track.  It has been colour coded for your easy reference)

 

Scenario: I'm trying help my Bangladeshi agent (he works for me indirectly) book 2 hotel rooms in Singapore.

 

The incident is real.

The people are real.

The exasperation lagi real.

 

Sometimes my mum and wife ask me what I do at work.

I hate to tell them I have to handle these emails as part of the job.

Maybe I should tell them the truth.

Then they'll know the root cause of my receding and graying hairline, and impending stroke.

===============================================================
From: Bangla

Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 8:34 AM
To: Meepok
Subject: Visit

Dear Mr. Mee Pok,

Please book two single rooms for 3-4 nights from XX May 2005 under the
following persons.
(1). Bangla    (2). BoB. (Brudder of Bangla)

We will be arrive XX May2005 at Singapore Airlines.
Awainting your confirmation.

Thanking you,
Best regards
Bangla

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Mee Pok
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 9:34 AM
To: Bangla
Subject: RE: Visit

Hi Bangla,

Katty (our admin specialist) can help you book the room in Holiday XXX.
She will confirm the rates.
Is it for 3 or 4 nights ?

Meepok

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Katty
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 2:45 PM
Subject: RE: Visit

Bangla,

Please see accommodation details as follow:
Hotel XXX, Singapore
Check-in:10-May  Check-out:14-May
Room Type: Standard (room only, if breakfast desired, pls. inform front
desk upon checking)  Room rate: S$XXX + 16%

Confirmation
1) Bangla - #1143   2) Bob - #1145

Let me know if you've any questions.

Katty

 

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your mail. We are confirming you that we have need two single rooms for 3-4 nights from 10th May 2005. We are waiting your further confirmation for the booking of two single rooms for 3-4 nights.

Your kind cooperation will be highly appreciated.

Thanking you,
Best regards
For Bangla International
-------------------------------------------------

 

At 05:04 PM 4/28/2005 +0800, Meepok wrote:

Dear Bangla,
 
Pls SEE ALL the emails attached.
The answers are ALREADY THERE.
 
You need to answer this question.
Are you staying 3 OR 4 nights?
You CANNOT say 3-4 nights.
 
Meepok

 

---------------------------------------------

From: Bangla
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 5:36 PM
To: Mee Pok, Katty
Subject: RE: Visit

Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your mail. Actually we would like to say 3 or 4 nights are staying at Hotel from 10th May 2005.

Sorry for our misunderstanding.

Thanking you,
Best regards
For Bangla International
---------------------------------------------------------------

At 06:12 PM 4/28/2005 +0800, Meepok  wrote:

Bangla….

 
You have 2 options.
 
(1) Three nights
(2) Four nights.
 
You must confirm either option (1) or (2) now.
 
Meepok

---------------------------------------

From: Bangla

Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 6:49 PM
To: Meepok, Katty

Subject: RE: Visit

Dear Sir,

As per your mail we would like to confirm you for 4 Nights staying in the Hotel from 10th May 2005.  Please do confirm.

Thanking you,
Best regards
For Bangla International

 

 

 

I like to start my week with a "Thought /Actionable Item for the week"

Gives me a chance to evoke a positive change in my life (and others around me) that week.

I'm currently reading "A purpose driven life" by Rick Warren.

Would like to share with you salient points of the chapter on restoring relationships.

 

1. Always take the initiative

It doesn't matter if you're the "kena hoot (whack)" or the "hoot-er", you should make the first move.  Schedule a face to face meeting as soon as possible (don't bring your parang, pls).  Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse.

 

2. Sympathise with their feelings

Listen before you speak.  As Dr Evil in Austin Powers would say: "Zip, zip…".

Begin with sympathy, not solutions.

3.  Confess your part of conflict

If you are serious about restoring the relationship, you should begin by HUMBLY admitting your mistake.  This defuses the other person's anger.  Don't make excuses or shift the blame (Singaporeans are damn good at doing that). Own up to any part you played in the conflict.

 

4.  Attack the problem, not the person.

Self explanatory.  But if you're an ah beng, attack the person and not the innocent bystander.  Just kidding.

 

5.  Cooperate as much as possible

Especially after you kena arrested by the police for gang fight …. I digress (as usual).

 

6. Emphasise reconciliation, not resolution

It is unrealistic to expect everyone to see eye to eye about everything. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem.

 

If you believe in God, there is actually a step 0:  Talk to God first before talking to the person.  Ask God for wisdom in handling the matter and that the needs of both conflicting parties are met.

Action plan for the week 

Is there someone whom you'd like to reconcile with?

Pick up the phone and make that call.

Dudes and dudettes,

I've attached another letter to ST forum.
Sent it 2 days ago.
You'd have realised by now that I'm thick skinned enough to never give up.
Foolhardy ...... as my buddies will put it :-)

Was supposed to go on hols in Melbourne with my wifey from 29 April to 9th May.

Got a response from the Straits Times (see below)
My letter will not be published.
A simliar letter was published the day after I sent mine.
Boo hoo hoo !!!
Wonder if the gahmen will respond to that email.

Sob ! I'll be back ......

===============================================

Thank you for writing to us. We do appreciate your making the effort.
We receive 70 letters on average each day. Limited space means we can
publish only about a dozen every weekday.
This means having to make often difficult editorial judgments on which letters to publish.

We regret we are unable this time to publish your letter, and hope you will appreciate the constraints on space we face every day.
We hope you will continue taking an interest in the Forum Page.

Yours sincerely
Ms Noor Aiza
for Forum Editor
The Straits Times

Please see attached story
With a community and gian-png spirit like this, how can we possibly lose out to the best of global talents in Singapore or anywhere in the world ???  :-)
=====================================================

There once was a very good old barber in New York.

One day a florist goes to him for a haircut.
After the cut, he goes to pay the barber and the barber replies: "I am  sorry. I cannot accept money from you.  I am doing community service."

The Florist is happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting at his door.

A policeman goes for a haircut and he also goes to pay the barber after the cut.
But the barber replies: "I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service."

The cop is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning the barber goes to open his shop; there is a thank you card and a dozen donuts waiting at his door.

A Singaporean software engineer goes for a haircut and he also goes to pay the barber after the cut.   But the barber replies: "I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service."

The Singaporean software engineer is happy and leaves.
The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, guess what he finds there...

A dozen Singaporeans are waiting for a free haircut!

"Hi, my name is Otard Tan, nice to meechew".

Wouldn't such an intro cause you to sit up and say, "Hah?". 

Otard, what kind of name is that? Isn't that the name of a brand of hard liquor?

Fancy meeting Hennesy Lim Chew Kwee in a bar.

Anything also can 

Parents have chosen to name their kids after hotels (Ritz, Regency), footballers (Owen, Beckham), musical instruments (piano, organ), chemical entities (proton, electron), food (noodle, mango, prata, soya), famous brands (Canon, Sony)and other outlandish names.

Crazy as it may seem, this whacko mentality is ACTUALLY catching on.

 

Million Watt Personality (not!) 

My A-level chief invigilator was called Atomic Leow. I thought it was a joke when my teacher mentioned his name.  There is absolutely nothing electric about his personality. He was one of the driest and most boring invigilators I've come across. I guess he was just doing his job.  Trust me, he's damn good at it.

Kannnot Spel 

Seemingly misspelt names are in vogue too. Janifer, Elison, Netashar, Ehdrian..... you name it, they've misspelt it. Their Engrand not too good leh.

Don't sabo your children 

Parents, please spare a thought for your children when you name them.  Check to make sure the name sounds right in English, Mandarin (and its dialects) Malay, etc.  Else your kids will be the butt of others' jokes. Some names that come to mind are Nina Boo, Nina Beh, Tay Su Su, Tay Peng, Loo Poo Kee.  I have a friend who has a meaningful Chinese name bai3 sheng4 (hundred victories).  His English name is Bai Seng.  The unfortunate thing: his surname is Chee.

Common sense must prevail 

When I have kids of my own, I'll stick to conventional biblical Christian names: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Dinah, Sarah.  (For gals, names like Delilah and Bathsheba are out).  Yes, these are boring but I can be sure my kids won't grow up hating me.

 

Will you name your child Dracula, Toyota or ipod?