Friday, September 28, 2012

LOST COST IN TRANSLATION


All inclusives….
It’s a concept with hotels…
When the cost of the room includes everything.
And there are many 'all inclusives' here in Mexico
Too bad this concept doesn’t work with doors.
Ya see…
While building my home here in Mexico
I’ve discovered that the American concept of doors…
Doesn’t translate.
“How much is a door?” I asked my builder.
“About $64,000 pecos (approx 500 bucks), he says.
“Wow.”
“Remember, they’re all handmade and you design them.”
(handmade carpentry is one of the cool things here)
“And the wood?”
“Solid mahogany. You can make them any size you want.”
OK, that sounded better.
Until the other day.
“Where are the doorknobs?” I asked.
“Oh, they're extra."
Who would have thought to ask that?
And then there are windows…
By now I’ve learned
“Does the cost include the glass?” I ask.
“No,” he answers.
“So what am I paying for?”
“The labor to make the frame.”
What about the metal. Is it included?”
Si,” he said looking at me like I’m a loca.”
Trust me...
If I ever decided to self-pub...
I'd never attempt it here in Mexico
Because I can see it now...
“So?" I'd ask the publisher...
"I'd like 10,000 copies…
Does that include the paper and cover?”
“Si.”
“Phew, just wanted to make sure.”
And then I’d get my book back and—WTF!
“There are no words in the book,” I’d scream.”
“Words? Oh you wanted printed words? That’s extra.”
Yeah…
Some costs and concepts...
Definitely get lost in translation.

Always, Em-Musing

6 comments:

Gossip_Grl said...

Definitely a good comparison to shopping and your book, especially having to make sure what each and every detail is included and what is extra. :/ I saw a pic floating around the internet this week that shows a pic of the 747 carrying the space shuttle and it says "If this plane can carry a space shuttle, why do they make ppl pay extra fees for baggage?" Loved the post!

Shay Lacy said...

LOL. How funny yet sad. Their written bids must be as long as encyclopedias, or as thorough as legalize.

Intangible Hearts said...

Oh ink is very expensive. LOL

dolorah said...

This is what I needed tonight Leigh. And Cindy; your comment made me laugh too. Thanks to both you ladies for a good night :)

........dhole

Lubaina E. said...

HAHAHAHHAHAHA. Your post got me laughing! :D

A Beer for the Shower said...

My wife's Mexican grandmother recently got me a handcrafted barrel to brew my beer in. It's even got words engraved on it. I'm loving the handmade stuff. As for the books, though, I'll leave that to Amazon...