2006/12/15

my favorite people-Robin

Robin is one of my favorite co-workers. I work in the GRO (Guest Recognition Office). Altogether there are 4 of us...Rose (our boss), Rainbow, Robin, and me. Rainbow and Robin work alternating shifts, but it just works out that he and I work together more often because he and I both work more evening shifts than Rainbow or Rose.
Robin used to work on a cruise ship in Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore, so not only is his English great, but he has a good grasp of foreign culture as well. I think his English is the best of anyone at the hotel so communicating with him is fun and easy. But, he still makes mistakes sometimes and even when there's no mistake, he's just down right funny sometimes. Here's a list of some of my favorite Robin quotes:
1. We have this really important frequent guest (Chinese, not foreign) who owns a bunch of companies and is really rich. I should know his name, but I just always refer to him as the guy with the big eyebrows. (I don't mean this as an insult to the guy, it's just a distinguishing factor). So one day Robin was telling me some story about this guy and I wasn't sure who he was talking about so I said, "Do you mean the one with the big eyebrows?" He says, "Yes, right. Exactly. Just like a monkey." I pause. He pauses. We both crack up laughing and he says between laughs, "Why did I say 'like a monkey?'" I don't know why, but it was funny.
2. Our GRO computer doesn't always work properly. I often have to ask for help doing stuff because the operating system and all the programs are completely in Chinese. So one day I was like Robin, can you help me, it's broken again. He says, "No, not broken. Just retarded." I thought it was a great use of the word retarded. I'm not sure how to explain this, but even those with good English here don't normally use any kind of slang, so it made me laugh. He also told the printer, "Come on little baby, you can do it." And today he cussed at the computer in English when it froze just as we were finishing translating a 6 page document.
3. One day I was really excited about something (I don't even remember what it was) and I came into the lobby and he was standing there and said, "Why are you so happy? You are shining in your face."
4. This one is from today. I haven't been feeling well and I had just taught 2 hours of English training, eaten dinner and had just come back in the office. He asks me, "How are you?" I say, "I'm ok." He says, "No. I don't think so because you have vegetable leaves stuck in your teeth." Thanks for being discreet about that. :) But, I did appreciate him telling me before I went to the lobby to mingle with the guests.
There are so many more, but I need to get to bed. I'll also work on getting a picture of him for you.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope you're feeling better, Jilly!
-Aubs

Anonymous said...

I am laughing my head off! Great stories.

dara

Jill said...

Oh man, his best comment ever was just the other day...I'll post it soon.