Hijabi VS. The Post Shop Woman!
Thursday, September 10, 2009 Read more → funny conversations, hijab issues, muslim professions, racism and prejudice, states of ignorance, Zahra-Shah In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
Maybe I over reacted... I really don't think I did.
I was polite, I didn't get angry, I didn't raise my voice, and for the first time in my life I was able to say what I wanted, when I wanted in a very straight forward and calm manner.
You know those times, where someone says something really mean, or just plain stupid, and 4 minutes afterwards your able to think of the perfect rebuttal, and then later in bed you have the whole situation worked out in your head? For once I reacted, had the perfect rebuttal, and never ended up wishing I handled it differently.
Yesterday I went to the Post Shop, they have IRD applications, you fill them and hand them in to be able to work in this country.
On the front page of the application it says you need one form of ID from Category A and one from Category B, simple enough. However Category B is quite narrow, it reads to say basically either a drivers licence (this country or over seas) or a student card or proof of study.
Well I don't drive and I'm not a student.
I went to collect the form and ask a few questions...
Post Shop Woman (from here on known as PSW) : NEXT! (horrible expression on her face as if someone had just ran over her dog and she wanted to take revenge)
Me: Good Afternoon! Could I please get an IRD application form?
PSW: *doesn't respond and gets form.*
Me: Thank you, could I ask you a quick question about the application?
PSW: ...Ok
Me: In category B it says provide a drivers' licence or student card, is there any exception?
PSW: *sighs then makes a weird grunting noise* I will read it for you...(reads out Category B description)
Me: Thank you I can see that but I don't drive nor do I study; can you use any other form of identification, maybe a Canadian health card with my picture and signature on it?
PSW: *now raising her voice and speaking in an annoying tone* Obviously you do not understand! SOOOO I willll Repeatttt this in the ENGLISH LANGUAGE so try to understand me... I will speak slowwwwwlyyy so you cannnn understand.... I'm not going to repeat thisss since it's simple and young children could understand!
(I turn to walk away annoyed, but then stop myself and turn back to the Post Shop Lady)
Me: I do understand english, apparently it's you that has the difficulty in understanding a simple question, so what "I" am going to do is repeat it slowly in the ENGLISH language so that you can understand; now I will say it slowly, so that hopefully you can catch on, because it's quite a simple question that even young children would understand.
The Post shop woman scrunches her face and looks quite furious even though I never raised my voice unlike her nor did I speak in a harsh or rude tone, she motions to me and says:
PSW: I just wasn't sure if you could hear me through that scarf.
Me: It's quite easy to here through a thin piece of cotton, a little more difficult through a thick scull... Please answer my question with either YES, NO or I don't know, and I will be on my way.
PSW: I don't know, I can't understand what your trying to get at, this is what it is, just accept what it is.
Me: That's fine, can you point me in the direction of someone whose mental capacity is more then that of a gold fish, so that they can assist me, because I fail to believe that everyone in this country is either a driver or a student, while working and failing to be either will not allow you to work in this country...
The PSW points out the un marked IRD office on the opposite corner.
Me: Thank you very much, I knew that wasn't here, I appreciate your help, or lack of. Enjoy the rest of your day.
PSW: welll thankkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk youuu tooo! ( angry voice grr)
*lol*
Now maybe I sounded harsh, but I can reassure you I was quite polite, well it may not have seemed like the post shop woman said much but also bear in mind the tones of voice people use.
I was quite hurt, I could have jusifiably got angry, but figured I wouldn't waste my breath
My mental compacity is not determined by my head scarf and I wanted to make that clear.
I spoke calmly and slowly and smiled, I think that may have annoyed her the most.
*~* ZAHRA - 1 ~ POST SHOP WOMAN - 0 *~*
I am the Winner! I am the Winner! NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH! ...Anyways...
After going across the street to the IRD office my assumption was confirmed that there are other forms of ID you can use, the list was just a guide line, and that if she would have flipped through a little book given to the post shop by IRD she could have figure dthat out.
Oh well now I have my IRD number, due to the difficulty that woman gave me IRD marked my number as urgent and got it back to me less then 24 hours later as apposed to 3 weeks.
Alhumduillah I'm starting work next week...finally... yay.
And who knows maybe it happened for a reason, otherwise I would have waited to start work and maybe would have been unable to take this job since they needed someone urgently.
Allah knows best.
Anyways I'm still smiling at my ability to stay calm and without letting it get to my head, say what I needed to in a way I felt fit.
Has anyone ever had a similar situation of ignorance?
Let me know! Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day!
Asalaam alaikum wa rahmatulla
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