Excuse me, but I'm a bit stupid.
I just had a call from some government office in relation to some red tape issue, which is of no further interest here. What is not only remarkable though, but also quite infuriating is how difficult some of these people are to talk to. Our conversation went something like this:
Woman: I see here that you studied journalism in Australia.
Me: That's right.
Woman: So what kind of diploma would that give you?
Me: A university diploma in journalism. I have a bachelor of journalism.
Woman: What would that translate to in Switzerland?
Me: Well, the same. It's a university degree, like in Switzerland.
Woman: So you studied at university?
Me: That's right.
Woman: How long for?
Me: Four years.
Woman: Ok... I'm just trying to find out what your highest level of completed education is.
Me: It's... a university diploma. A bachelor. They are the same all over the world, really.
Woman: And you don't know what that would be in Switzerland?
Me: I'm not sure I understand your question. I have a bachelor, which is a universally acknowledged diploma. I don't know how else I can explain that.
Woman: Do you have another paper that would show the connection? (She has a a copy of my university diploma)
Me: Only the one that you already have.
Woman: So your highest level of completed education in Switzerland is high school?
Me: Yes. But I have a university degree from Australia.
Woman: You didn't do another diploma in Switzerland?
Me: No.
Woman: Ahem... ok. I will try to see what I can do with this information. It's just a bit difficult, these things.
Me: Sure. Good luck with that.
posted by Bettina at 6:45 PM
18 Comments:
Call back and ask what level of education she received. There is a village out there missing their idiot!
August 28, 2008 at 2:46 AM
Ooohhh....that reminds me of when I was working with some Canadians. Co-workers asked them if they celebrated Christmas. Is this woman from Texas?
August 28, 2008 at 3:55 AM
Mystic beat me to it. You definitely should have asked her the same thing.
August 28, 2008 at 5:47 AM
Well the problem here is simple. This person wasn't required to have anything beyond a high school education to get their job so it's only natural that she had no clue what a higher education is. It's actually a sad commentary on today's lack of real education. Still funny as hell but sad.
August 28, 2008 at 6:28 AM
I was actually watching a show on TV this evening about how awkward the Swiss were to people/ things not from their own country. Guess this is a prime example :)
August 28, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Got my passport application back today (for the US one, I am a dual citizen). The remark was, that I failed to staple the picture (one of two) at the location required. It came back with the check I submitted for payment, stapled on the side of the form. That is sort of lame, to reject an application because the photograph is not stapled on and then staple my payment onto the application and send it back.
I will have to be in Europe (Switzerland) in three weeks. Let's see if they can handle this before then.
August 28, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Oh, by the way Bettina, which part of Switzerland are you from? I am from Regio Basel.
August 28, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Mystic- They can have her back- we wouldn't miss her.
Christy- Did they also ask if they had electricity? Nah, that woman was not from Texas- she was all Swiss.
Larry- I will next time.
Avshar- Well, the sad thing is that there are plenty of people who actually have a higher education but still lead conversations like that. I should know, because I studied with some of them.
SJ- No way- they made a show about that? You're kidding. But it's true, the Swiss do kind of like distrusting things from other places. If it's not certified Swiss (particularly as far as education is concerned), we're not sure what it is.
Zee- I can't believe you're Swiss too, that's so funny! I'm from Zürich. Demfall chönnted mer ja au Schwiitzertüütsch rede, oder? Das glaub ich ja nöd- s' isch ebä doch e chliini Wält.
The passport thing sounds like something the Swiss authorities would do.
August 28, 2008 at 6:03 PM
God...
They are the same everywhere (kind of like Bachelors degrees, not that they would know...)
Apparently my highest level of completed education in Greece (for the public sector) is high school too! Never mind the Masters. It only cost me a couple of years -and thousands- anyway, so not worth mentioning really...
Best of luck with that one sweets..:roll:
August 28, 2008 at 9:15 PM
How DARE you not have completed another diploma in Switzerland! That means the poor woman will have to hunt for that elusive "other" box on the form and (*horrors!*) actually fill something in next to it.
August 28, 2008 at 10:00 PM
That is what happens to you in Europe when you refuse to do things the way everyone else lives life - they don't know what to do with you. And that means you are the problem and not them. Why, you should have just stayed in Zurich all your life and then you wouldn't have these "problems".... you just make more work for the bureaucrats... they have to spend more time with your file..... entsetzlich...
August 28, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Maybe she was just mad because she missed her favourite shows :)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/25/squirrel_switzerland_tv/
August 29, 2008 at 12:38 AM
Gobfridstutz, bin ich den a loeli, oder eifach numme ...
mini lieblingsgruppe vo dr schwytz isch Patent Ochsner, abr das het jo nuet zum sage zum obribe thema. ich ha alli CD's, cha dr oeppis schicke wenn dr watsch - odr au nit.
In any case, the 30's are the most awesome time of your life. A little mature, but fresh and silky as a ripened peach (sweet too :)
Enjoy your party, wish I was there 'cause you sound like a straight forward girl, like almost ALL Swiss citizens are of course (laughing my ass of now)...
August 29, 2008 at 1:41 AM
Imogen- I'm glad we don't seem to be the only country acting stupid like that.
Kyknoord- I know. It's really very inconsiderate of me to ruin her day like that.
EM- I know. I'm an entsetzliche kind of woman.
SJ- Hahaha, yeah, that was a tragedy for Switzerland! I didn't notice because I very rarely watch TV, but apparently it was the longest outage ever. Love the last sentence in the article: How many squirrels would it need to take out Switzerland? I wonder.
Zee- Patent Ochsner han ich au gern- ich han ebefalls einigi CDs und hans au scho e paar Mal live gseh.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to my 30s. I am planning to make them the best decade of my life. So far anyway. Which is not going to be easy, because my 20s were pretty awesome too. But I'm optimistic.
August 29, 2008 at 5:07 AM
Happy birthday Bettina! :)
Actually, join the freak club. I was really looking forward to 30 as well. And 31 isn't so bad either :p Life is good in your 30ies ;)
August 29, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Amazing how beauracy can be the same all over the world! Well hope "she" gets that sorted out, I seemed to understand what you were saying.. lol!
All the best,
M
August 31, 2008 at 8:40 AM
some people say they are doctors in their home country, but have to work in lesser capacity in the united states because their degrees aren't recognised here.
seems a pity to waste all that knowledge.
but yeah, some people are incredibly stupid for seeing nothing beyond their own noses or experience. oop, that describes me too!
September 4, 2008 at 5:18 AM
UNBELIEVABLE !!!
Are You sure You wasn't on Candid Camera? ;-))
September 5, 2008 at 12:49 AM
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