Patricia Dávila

Interpreted by
Patricia Dávila

I need a job. That is my priority. I am an expert on Information technology, an Analyst Programmer, etc. At the moment I am doing some little jobs, a bit of cleaning here, a bit of painting there, but I have not got enough money to survive if I do not find something to do.

On the other hand I have to practice my English so I can be inserted in my real environment, the one I spent 7 years preparing for. I know I am needed in this country otherwise they would not have let me enter. I want to contribute to the economy of New Zealand with my skills.
Information is the key, so I went to one of the organizations that are set up to help migrants. They are not- for- profit and apparently they get help from the government to do it, and apparently they are successful in getting people into work.

First I needed to know if they had a request for a very smart young Argentinean, well presented, smooth on the eye I will say, smooth of manners too and with three Diplomas on Information Technology, a Webmaster, etc. and with 15 years of experience on top. I took time off from my much needed English as a Second Language (ESOL) course to go to……

There, I was attended to by this Hindu person, as I call people from India to show them some respect, as in my country the word “Indian” is the name used pejoratively by the dominant class for the native, People of the Land, First Race or whatever name one gives to the legitimate owners of the American Continent that is divided into South, Central and North America. This person was really very nice to me. He gave me some information and he invited me to a seminar to be held on the 15th of … on how to look for a job. I was really interested, I thanked him profusely, as much as I could manage with my very recently acquired English language skills, but really, I could not miss another of my ESOL classes so I did not promise to come but I left my phone number with him all the same just in case he received a call requesting a person like me, smart, good looking, with computer skills, lots of experience, you know what I mean.

I almost forgot the whole episode when, on the 16th, as I checked my voice mail-I hear this very heavily accented voice apparently telling me off for not attending the seminar in question. I could not really understand all of what he was saying, I am not that good at understanding people on the telephone, I think you know what it is like not to see people’s lips enunciating. A nightmare-I was desperate- What did I do wrong?

I never signed any agreement that I was joining any scheme, or paying for any training. What did he mean by his message?

I asked my flatmate to translate it. Yes, he was telling me off-

 “What do you think you are?" "Do you think I´ve got all the time in the world to be waiting for people like you all day?" "Do you know how many hours of extra time I put into this job? etc. etc."

I felt awfully guilty- How could I be so insensitive to the needs of the people that help migrants? I rang him back to most humbly apologise. I left him a message-... I never intended to hurt you, Sorry,... I did not know... I never said...!

But a friend that works on the field told me my fault was not having signed the form……………. ……THE FORM…!!! ...Please, sign the form for all these people. They will never insult you over the telephone…you will be All Right………………Puff, if I had known, I would have signed all the forms he wanted…Sorry…!