Differences

So I bought a refrigerator in Lilongwe at Game. I was happy to see
that they could deliver it. They said it would take two or three days,
maximum a week. Its now been close to two weeks and still no
refrigerator. So I called up Game. After several callbacks I learned
that it is in Mzuzu but the delivery truck is broken. So I ask when I
will recieve my refrigerator. The lady working for the delivery
company proceeds to go into a long explaination about why the truck is
broken but assures me my refrigerator will arrive the following day.
It doesn't.
This is of course frustrating but also interesting, maybe, culturally.
From my (Western) point of view explainations as to why I have not
recieved my refrigerator which do not include a specific ( and
believeable)date when I can expect to recieve it are not comforting,
and indeed decrease my confidence in the company's competence.
But perhaps from a Malawian perspective explainations and appealing to
reason, rather than fulfilling obligations is seen as more important.
Certainly my impatience with hearing such explainations was not
recieved well by the lady on the other end of the phone.

Differences