SO, apparently in addition to the need for hospitality training (see prior blog here), people need to be informed of how to give directions that actually bring people to your house. Today we trekked two hours away to visit DH's mother's sister's neighbors' son and his family. Convoluted, yes, but the short story is this woman is a longtime friend of MIL, she and her husband were visiting their son who also lives here (relatively speaking), and they insisted we come to visit them with the kids, since their kids are the same ages. Ho-kay.
DH asked for directions a few days ago, and we received an email with a link to an online map, but no actual address (hmmm) and the added information that "no search engine we've found" has been able to properly map their address. Upon reading this forwarded email from DH, my brow wrinkled momentarily but I figured we would get the address and then see for ourselves what we could turn up.
Today we piled into the car hurriedly, as we were leaving about 20 minutes later than we thought we should, and even though the Irish are notoriously lax about timing we didn't want to assume that courtesy (or lack thereof!) extended to the unknown expat son and fam. So we were in a rush and I didn't print up the map. DH had his Blackberry, he could pull up the email, and besides we had the hand-me-down GPS unit which my parents gifted us with on their last trip. No problem.
So the first problem was the GPS unit did not recognize the house number and street which we entered in, which DH had pried from the son in a last minute email yesterday. Ok, we can wing it, right? Second problem was DH's Blackberry could not load the online map which was contained in the email. Apparently it does not have the right interface for Blackberry (I could hint as to what corporation provided this online map system but I will be polite and refrain, as the aforementioned neighbors' son works for it). Gee thanks.
DH used a GPS program on his Blackberry to locate the general vicinity to which we were headed, and we picked a random address that the hand-me-down GPS unit recognized in the same neighborhood and just went with that. The hand-me-down unit started failing us due to the incorrect address, and then we relied solely on the Blackberry's GPS program. We got to the correct, supposedly last street before the turn-off for their street, and drove up and down it for five minutes before concluding that we would require their assistance and rang.
That is when we were told that we had to look for Xth Street, and turn onto that street before we turned onto THEIR street. Ah, you see, that is a critical bit of information. If the last street before you turn onto your street is in fact, the second to last street, don't you think it would be polite to mention that to guests? Would you not have noted down the name of this street in the, oh, seven years you've lived there? So you can tell people how to get to your house without issue?
Oh yes, and what is wrong with using some other recognizable landmarks? Such as, the clearly printed name of your subdivision which is visible from the name of the road you DID give out as the "last street" before you turn onto the street which your house is actually on? When that "last street" is really the second-to-last street? Hmmm? Or even saying, "It's a very quick right onto Xth Street, then another very quick right"? Is that so very difficult to do?
I guess we are just odd. We give directions in terms of right and left, as well as compass directions (north, south, etc), and also give some clues as to landmarks (near this store/gas station/strip mall; up the big hill, etc). Basically, when we invite people over to our house, we sincerely want them to arrive on time and having been able to easily find us. We don't like to find frazzled guests on our doorstop, late, and irritated by the hassle of trying to decipher poor directions to find us at long last. But I suppose it's yet another indication of thoughtlessness at best and apathy at worst!
Now we are going to reciprocate with an invitation for them to come to visit us soon, but I don't know if they will come. The connection being tenuous at best, coupled with the 2 hour drive, makes it a bit of a stretch under the best of circumstances. However, we do feel obligated to do so, and I'm sure MIL and her friend will be badgering both of us (both families) to "get together again soon". So we will invite them and we will be happy for them to come. I doubt there will be lifelong friendships born, but it is always nice to have a touchpoint for DH in terms of a fellow countryman who knows what life is like in a big, nosy Irish family. That is worth some bungled directions, I suppose. *LOL*
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2 comments:
"another indication of thoughtlessness at best and apathy at worst"
Perhaps not. Have you ever known people who cannot seem to tell a story? It's simple. "Give me the pertinent details. Leave off the color of the house that you don't seem to know, are arguing about with yourself, and doesn't matter at all. It's not that hard." Still, they ramble on incoherently and I don't get the story.
Some people don't know how to put themselves into others' shoes and, therefore, don't know how to explain things to others. It may be thoughtlessness or even apathy, but also may simply be a "missing link" (so to speak) in the brain, a particular skill they lack.
That, of course, doesn't make it any more enjoyable for the ones who have to deal with the outcome, I know.
It may be thoughtlessness or even apathy, but also may simply be a "missing link" (so to speak) in the brain, a particular skill they lack.
Very true, and one I am willing to admit in the (early) light of a new day. However, when arriving home after dealing with it, well, one's uncharitable and selfish heart is inclined to blame thoughtlessness on the part of the other person. Typical, I know. :)
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