It appears that spring has sprung and we’re on the fast track to summer, so it’s time to de-winterize the pool. Or whatever you call it.
Last week, I asked the relocation people to phone the pool guys who winterized the pool to schedule a time when they could un-do all their hard work. The woman at the relocation place sent me an email saying she’d left them a voice mail and my phone number asking them to call.. but speak slowly. Well, I could have done that.
When the guy called he did talk slowly, but I still got confused at the end about what time of day they were coming… morning or afternoon. So I just resigned myself to stay home all day at wait. Turns out, he’d said afternoon. Which after lunch means 2:30 or so. Just about the time I was ready to give up hope!
They rang the doorbell and when I answered they politely shook my hand and said bonjour, madame, comment allez vous? Which is so formal they are the only people I’ve ever even heard say it, other than the people on my learn to speak French CD (that I bought at home). I answered and managed to have a very short conversation and they were so thrilled. Their faces lit up and they declared vous parlez francais!
It was a bit of an exaggeration but it sure was a much needed ego boost.
Now I hope I understood all their instructions for the pool chemicals… since they gave them in French.