Telephonologie - Swiss Style
How can you speak with your hands, eyes and feet over the phone?
The Telephone was my enemy for at least 3 years. When it would ring, I stared at it, praying for someone else to answer. Sometimes I was lucky, other times I had to bite the bullet and pick it up hoping that my German would be sufficient.
My German wasn't the only problem, I had to learn "Swiss - Telephonologie". Swiss do not answer the phone with “Hello” or “this is Vicki”. No, they answer with their last name. No pleasantries. It reminds me of the Hollywood version of the American Indian "Howe" language.
My husband trained me for about as long as the time it took to say “Gabathuler”.
The phone rang and my challenge began. I checked every corner in the house and even under the couches, no one was around. I picked up the phone tentatively and said “Gabathuler”.
The man on the other end said, “Eggenberger”.
Huh. “Nein, “I said, “Gabathuler.”
My telephone pal was rendered silent. After his confusion subsided he said, “Excuse me, MY name is Eggenberger.”
Oh me. That was not part of my training! Nobody told me that they say their last name too.