Electricity is an incredible thing. I don't think about it often, but when I do I am always amazed. Then I get to thinking about what would happen if electricity were to suddenly stop working. Man, would we be in for some problems. Anyways, electricity isn't the topic for tonight's narrative but rather those little things we plug stuff into: outlets.
This is weird, I know, but whenever I was in the states and I went to pull a plug out of an outlet I could here my mom's voice in my head telling me to go pull the plug directly out of the socket instead of reaming on the cord half way across the room until it came out. How lazy was I that I would rather struggle yanking chord than walk 10 steps to pull it out (but I know you've all at last contemplated it before). Growing up, my mom always insisted, with good reason, that we gently pull it out. Her reasoning was that jerking it out could bend the prongs and it would ruin the plug. Now that I'm an adult (or at least pretend to be sometimes) I still feel guilty if I don't walk over and gently tug it out. Mom, I blame you.
So, you're probably wondering how this relates to Colombia. Well here goes: you can't yank cords out of plugs in Pereira either. I know because I tried. It was the end of class and I was rushing to get everything put away (this is starting to be a common thread in my stories). My laptop was plugged in and the chord was a whole 4 steps away. I grabbed the chord to pull and then paused. I swear I heard my mom from half way around the world, "Leeee - Aaanne." Then I sat there deliberating if I should heed her advice or just go for it. When I was young I acted on impulse. A lot. I made my parents nervous. Now that I'm old, I have this really cool ability to think things through a little more (don't ask my parents, they may not agree - but I assure you I DO have this skill). Too bad I don't always listen to the voice of reason.
WHAM!!! I jerked the chord in a swift motion. Out it came, drawing the entire outlet out of the wall with it. Drywall went flying and low-and-behold my chord was still plugged into the socket. Fail. Oh no, oh no, oh no. I jumped up, ran to the wall and shoved the outlet back into the gaping hole. My head swiveled in all directions as I anticipated a swarm of Colombian maintenance men to attack. 10 seconds passed and then I focused my attention back on the outlet. Luckily I ripped it out of the wall in a relatively clean manner and you could barely tell what had happened. Let's just say that won't be happening again.
Next time I know to heed my mother's advice and take care in unplugging chords from Colombian outlets.
This is weird, I know, but whenever I was in the states and I went to pull a plug out of an outlet I could here my mom's voice in my head telling me to go pull the plug directly out of the socket instead of reaming on the cord half way across the room until it came out. How lazy was I that I would rather struggle yanking chord than walk 10 steps to pull it out (but I know you've all at last contemplated it before). Growing up, my mom always insisted, with good reason, that we gently pull it out. Her reasoning was that jerking it out could bend the prongs and it would ruin the plug. Now that I'm an adult (or at least pretend to be sometimes) I still feel guilty if I don't walk over and gently tug it out. Mom, I blame you.
So, you're probably wondering how this relates to Colombia. Well here goes: you can't yank cords out of plugs in Pereira either. I know because I tried. It was the end of class and I was rushing to get everything put away (this is starting to be a common thread in my stories). My laptop was plugged in and the chord was a whole 4 steps away. I grabbed the chord to pull and then paused. I swear I heard my mom from half way around the world, "Leeee - Aaanne." Then I sat there deliberating if I should heed her advice or just go for it. When I was young I acted on impulse. A lot. I made my parents nervous. Now that I'm old, I have this really cool ability to think things through a little more (don't ask my parents, they may not agree - but I assure you I DO have this skill). Too bad I don't always listen to the voice of reason.
WHAM!!! I jerked the chord in a swift motion. Out it came, drawing the entire outlet out of the wall with it. Drywall went flying and low-and-behold my chord was still plugged into the socket. Fail. Oh no, oh no, oh no. I jumped up, ran to the wall and shoved the outlet back into the gaping hole. My head swiveled in all directions as I anticipated a swarm of Colombian maintenance men to attack. 10 seconds passed and then I focused my attention back on the outlet. Luckily I ripped it out of the wall in a relatively clean manner and you could barely tell what had happened. Let's just say that won't be happening again.
Next time I know to heed my mother's advice and take care in unplugging chords from Colombian outlets.
hahaha, this whole story had me nodding my head (as we have already discussed---our mothers are the same person) and then. I laughed so hard at the end. I am, too, going to be much more careful!
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