18/10 – How hard can it be? #2 – Just want a car and a ticket, or at least one of the two.

Take a deep breath, start counting, focus, have a look around – no punch bags to use, continue counting past 10, try to smile to make yourself feel better, continue counting, close your eyes, focus harder, more counting. This is getting really hard now. I need to use all my efforts to convince myself that I’m not 5 years old. And therefore, it would not be a good idea to lie down on the floor and cry while kicking the floor with my legs and waiving my arms at everyone and everything as much as I can in a hysterical manner. That would probably just cause even more frustration in the end, after being taken care of whomever who thinks that that’s not how a 31 year old is supposed to behave at an airport.

You would think booking a rental car and buying a ticket would be peanuts in the cyber world we’re living in. Nah…not there yet really. All variations are possible, or impossible. Cannot book on the internet with an international credit card, cannot pay at the airport because you need to book on the internet, cannot book at the airport if picking the car up at Copacabana, cannot pay with VISA, cannot book without a Brazilian CPF, cannot pay with points, cannot pay at all. What the…? Can I just buy a complete plane somewhere? With a sexy pilot? And steal a car perhaps? After spending 2 hrs collecting frustration and feeling even more like a 5 year old after getting both hungry and tired as well, I finally manage to complete one of the missions – Fortaleza, here I come!

15/10 – A winning concept, which stumbles and falls just before crossing the finish line.

They were so close to having me, only an easy downhill transport stretch before the finish line. The music, the interiors, the atmosphere, the looks of the guys behind the bar, their clothes, the sofas, the design of the black board menu, the content of the menu, the name of the drinks – everything. They could have turned on the autopilot and just relaxed, let the everyday routine actions take care of the rest and they would have arrived safely and had me in their pocket.

Then this unexpected obstacle was thrown in front of them on the track, and it could easily have been ignored if it wasn’t for my honesty. The honesty that was triggered mainly because of that they were still on a straight scoring path at this point and had almost claimed this little box in my “me like” part of my brain.

– That’ll be 38 krona for the juice please.

– Hm…I thought the 16 oz. ones were 50 krona?

– Oh…yeah, they are…hm…sorry…

– But now I will of course get it for 38 since I pointed it out, right?

– Of course, my mistake, thanks for highlighting it though.

Here we’re still fine, couldn’t be better, even climbed an extra notch on the ladder thanks to the last reply from behind the bar. Then, the manager suddenly drops his attention from the mixer, turns his head to the cute guy behind the counter and quickly puts an end to this silly customer service and goodwill manners. If it says 50 krona, 50 krona it is. Basta!

The winning concept comes to a full stop on the course, stumbles, falls and makes a massive face plant. So close, so not necessary. In no time they’ve lost me, when they could have had me.

11/10 – Interpreter needed – English to English please.

Anyone ever come across these high tech gym equipment called “Fixed Bar” (aka Wall Bar) or “Dumbbells”? They seem to be extremely advanced, at least based on the instruction notes.

Think I need some help explaining what I’m supposed to do with them, especially the moving of the “uncountable fibres” and “nervous connections”. And what do I need to protect my hands from?

Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate that they’ve taken the effort to translate all the signs and information for all us foreigners. I would probably still be at the 6th floor trying to figure out how to use the dumbbells if I had to figure in Portuguese.