Monday, March 14, 2016

MY VISIT TO INDIA


Before I take you to India, I just want to say that I love Daylight Savings Time. Finally I get to enjoy an adult bed time.

Prior to the springing forward, I went to bed usually around 8:30 and then read for about an hour. Pretty much the bed time of an 8 year old.  Now the clock at least says 9:30 and I still read for an hour so I have joined the adult portion of the world. Ok--I am still an early bedder but at least now it is more respectable.

When people ask me now when I go to sleep, I can proudly say, 10:30. I'm good for 6 months now feeling like a grownup. Love DST.

How are you coping with DST. I know some people loathe it.

Off to India.  This week I got an alarming email from Kindle. I needed to download some updates or lose my ability to use the gadget. That terrified me. I love my Kindle. My pets  being one and two, my Kindle is the third thing I will take with me in case of fire.

What scared me most to accomplish the updates was that I would need access to either wireless or WiFi as I needed to connect my Kindle to one  or the other and let it work all night.

Well I have to drive 4 miles for the wireless connection that I pick up in a church parking lot and have no access to WiFi that I can use all night.  I could have sent my Kindle to spend the night with a friend in town but I thought I would try plan C.  That involved downloading the updates to my computer then transferring them to the Kindle.

I tried but couldn't figure it out---it turned out for good reason--so I hit the "call me now" button on the site.  I was stunned for my phone rang immediately and I was told I had a one minute wait. Wow.  Ten seconds later, Anna came on the line.   As soon as I heard her perfect English with a decided Indian accent, I knew I was in trouble. I had crossed the ocean.   I have a hard time with any accent originating outside of the US.

Anna was very patient and I pushed the phone hard on my ear so as not to miss a syllable and tried not to make her repeat herself too much.  For the next hour and 15 minutes, we struggled as the process was quite complicated.  There were 4 separate downloads that took about 15 minutes each to accomplish and each one had multiple steps. I was drained and I know Anna was too. She was so patient and eventually we accomplished it.

If you wish to update your Kindle, I highly recommend the over night option. The over the phone one is totally draining but if you do choose plan C, I hope you get Anna. She gives it her all.

I don't know why I have trouble with accents.  British TV shows or movies make me struggle. Probably why I am the only American that didn't watch Downton Abbey.  I am always missing the joke on Modern Family when Sofia speaks. Maybe it is a  hearing deficit but this has been with me for all my life.  Probably the main reason I could never learn another language and I have tried. Perhaps I am accent deaf.

Do you have any problems with foreign accents?

47 comments :

  1. It always amazes me when we are in the States how many people don't understand our accents. And even when they do they still ask where I'm from. I thought the British accent was pretty obvious but obviously not. I don't have any issues understand an American accent, but a strong Scottish accent is really tough for me to understand.

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    1. Joey,
      I adore listening to the English, Scottish, French and Indian accents. I just have a tough time understanding.

      Delete
  2. Fortunately for me, I've got internet at home, but I haven't received that update request yet. I think the customer service provided by Kindle is outstanding. I don't have any problem with accents, but my brother when watching Downton Abbey uses subtitles so he doesn't miss anything. He has trouble with accents, too. I guess he's accent deaf, too. :-)

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    1. Djan,
      Now why didn't I think of subtitles? You probably have a newer Kindle and it might not need updating. Mine is an older model.

      Delete
  3. I never thought I had a problem with British accents until I watched "Happy Valley." It was set in the northern part of England where, apparently, they do not speak English--at least not as i know it.
    I just got my very first Kindle two days ago!

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    1. Olga,
      You are going to love it!!! Check out Amazon Kindle best sellers list for the free ones. I have over 200 books on my Kindle. It takes some picking but there are some really good first time authors and also established authors will let an early volume go free to get you interested. Enjoy.

      Delete
  4. Sorry for your suffering, but it makes for an entertaining post. I have trouble with some accents, particularly Irish and Scottish, though I find both can be very sexy. My biggest problem with TV s not the accents, but the whispering. For some reason the "dramatic effect" voice lowering is popular today...I can;t hear a word they say.

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    1. Joeh,
      I have noticed the whisper effect also:( Wish the commercials would learn to whisper. And yes, Scottish I find extremely sexy while Irish I find delightful. Guess it isn't always important to know what they are saying as long as it makes you feel good.

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  5. It's been a long time since I've talked with someone who had an accent. I think it must have been when my computer crashed, and I had to get started with a new hard-drive and install all my stuff from a back-up. I had to talk with someone very far away who walked me through some of the issues of old hardware and new applications. He had remote control of my computer. It was a fun experience! I don't like DST. I like how the daylight grows longer on its own, the way the planet starts to tilt north in its daily revolution. Adding an hour at the end of the day that we cut from morning is a crazy trick of clocks.

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    1. robin,
      I think you are in the majority. The original reasons for DST are no longer viable. Still I kind of like all the daylight hours even if it is an illusion.
      I had someone take over my computer also. That is really weird.

      Delete
  6. I have a hard time with some accents, especially when I am speaking to someone in India and other far away country's where the accents are often difficult---and partly it is the bad phone reception---I actually have asked to speak to someone in the U.S. when I find it impossible to understand the person I am speaking with. It is hard enough having to call Amazon or The Cable Company or even some Banks where you are already crazed about whatever problem you are calling about....I just don't have the patience OR the energy for it all anymore...I don't have a Kindle but I do have WiFi, Thank God.

    Closed Captioning, my dear, it is FABULOUS! I use it a lot because of the "whispering" and some accents----it is really wonderful. And it helps to be able to hear things better somehow---I can't explain it but somehow the combination of reading and hearing makes it all work so much better---It is really terrific! If Downton is repeated you should try CC! I think you will be amazed, my dear.

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    1. Naomi,
      I can't believe I never thought of closed captioning. Wonderful idea. You and Djan are so smart. I can't wait to try it so I don't miss anything or have to replay to get the drift.
      I enjoy accents, just not when I am trying to follow directions or a story. It can be really tiring.

      Delete
  7. It depends how thick the accent is. Most of the time I don't have a problem, but I was once in St. Louis and I encountered a man with a Cajun accent so think I couldn't understand a single word.

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    1. Stephen,
      That is true. Some are almost impossible to understand. I do remember one time when traveling in Georgia and asked directions. No one in the car understood deep south. We just nodded and went on.

      Delete
  8. Did you read this? http://fishducky.blogspot.com/2015/11/can-you-speak-english-so-it-sounds-like.html

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    1. Fran,
      Thanks, I missed that one as I think I was getting my stent then. I feel you pain.

      Delete
  9. I tried to upload the updates via the USB connection to my computer, but it just didn't work. Arrrghhh! I think I'm just going to let it go. It's working fine anyway. Have you noticed a difference since the update?

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    1. Kay,
      My understanding is that if you don't get the updates that you will no longer be able to download books to your Kindle after the cut off date. I say bite the bullet and go for it.

      Delete
    2. Thanks so much for motivating me to try again, Patti. I did it and this time the update worked. I guess I was using the wrong update for my Kindle. Sheesh! Now we'll have to try both of Art's Fires. Yuck! It's not easy figuring out which Kindles we have. There are so many! I'm not so sure I like the changes in my screen. Hmmmm.... Sigh... I guess I'll just have to get used to it.

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    3. OK... Did it (the Fires)! Thanks again, Patti!

      Delete
  10. OH YES----I have a horrible time with accents--including British.. I do NOT watch Downton Abbey or most other shows like that. Hubby loves Perot Mysteries --so we watch that sometimes. I am always asking him what they said... ha.... I'd rather watch Columbo since I can understand him.

    Glad you got your Kindle problem solved...

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Betsy,
      So glad I am not alone here. Wonder if it is because we were raised around southern accents. Think I'll try that closed captioning.

      Delete
  11. I had to call KIndle and got excellent service. I also got India but managed to understand the young woman who called herself "Apple." I do sometimes have difficulty with accents - possibly my loss of hearing. I haven't gotten a notice about a Kindle update - I hope all goes well when I do. I'm dependent on my electronic books. I have to remember DST when I call my friend in AZ who is not on it.

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    1. Barb,
      Perhaps since you haven't heard yet it is because you probably have a newer Kindle. I was very impressed with the speed and care of the service Kindle provided.
      There are a few states that do not participate.

      Delete
  12. Glad you got your Kindle updated. I struggle with some accents but I'm sure they struggle with, or laugh at, mine.

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    1. Gail,
      Ha ha, It can happen. I had a lady in the Bronx ask me three times to repeat the address I was looking for.

      Delete
  13. I also have difficulty with accents and I blame some of it on my partial hearing loss. However, some of it is due to the other person speaking too quickly. I try to "see" what they are saying and I get lost.

    Thankfully we don't change our clocks here in Saskatchewan. DST always confuse me as I'm never sure what time it is somewhere else.

    As for being on a child's schedule, I'm usually in bed by 8:30 or 9 p.m and read for a half hour or so. I'm out of bed by 5:30 as I have to be at work by 7 a.m. Of course, I was also the teenager who went to bed by 9 p.m. I've always needed my sleep!

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    1. Eileen,
      I hadn't thought about how it would mess up people who don't change. We have a couple of states that don't so they must be confused also.

      Delete
  14. Because we can go to bed and get up when we want to, at least most mornings, adjusting to DST is not nearly as difficult as it was when we were working. It is nice to have daylight until 7:00 now.
    I have a Kindle, but mine is always connected to wifi here at home, so it does updates when it feels like it. Or at least I think it does. It appeared to be doing updating when I was reading yesterday and my book disappeared for a few minutes.
    I did have my own struggle with trying to introduce a new iPod to my computer. My conputer corrupted the iPod. It took hours over several days, a trip to the Apple store for another iPod, and finally switching to my laptop instead of my desktop. Fortunately I did not have to go to India.
    Yes, I have a great deal of trouble with accents. I have taken to using closed caption on the TV, and as you know, I will soon be getting hearing aids.

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    1. Linda R,
      It is easier now that we are retired and are not locked into a schedule. I never had a problem even when I worked adjusting but them I am someone who enjoys change.
      Lucky you having the Apple store where you can do a face to face. That must be so much better.
      Think you all have sold me on closed caption for foreign films. Can't wait to try it.

      Delete
  15. Yes, I hear you. I do not hear accents well. For that reason I no longer buy season's tickets to our local theater performances. I don't understand old English. I have to be very careful when choosing a doctor for Bob. Amazon's whole staff must be located in India.

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    1. Linda,
      Know what you mean about doctors. In Florida we had a really high percentage of doctors from India and when it comes to our health, we really need to understand what is being said.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  16. As a response to your comment on Daylight Savings, I loved Kay of Musing's post with this comment: "When told the reason for Daylight Savings Time the Native American said, "Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of the blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket."

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    1. So true, but we still get more usable daylight which tickles me.

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  17. I must admit I have an unreasonable prejudice against Indian accents. Don't mind any others but somehow the Indian accent bespeaks job outsourcing.

    I had no problem at all with the Kindle updates. In fact, they updated themselves, perhaps because they are all connected to Wi-Fi and I never download from my computer.

    Include me in the "hate" daylight savings time. In reality, I don't hate daylight or standard time, I merely hate the switch and would prefer we stay on one or the other year around.

    BTW: You have absolutely no need whatsoever to be apologetic about your bedtime, no matter when it is. So stop it. Just follow your own Circadian rhythm now that you are retired and can do so.

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    1. Carolyn.
      You are definitely in the majority regarding DST. If it came to a vote, I'd be out of luck.

      Delete
  18. My granddaughter gave me a Kindle 3 years ago and I have used it hardly at all. I just could not use it for reading books...I need a book in my hands or I'm not happy. I'm amazed at your tech savyness !!

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    1. Ginnie,
      You are not alone. I felt that way at first and now I find an actual book cumbersome. I love being able to carry 200 books in one hand.

      Delete
  19. It all sounds too involved for this old broad. Anything techie scares me silly. You are much more accompolished in that than I would ever be.
    Yes I have trouble decoding accents. Another thing to add to my silliness. LOL

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    1. Manzi,
      I am way less tech savvy than cheap. I hate to pay for someone else to do something for me unless I try first and don't succeed.

      Delete
  20. Uh oh! Kindle has an update? I guess I better plug it in and check! Happy Saturday!

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    1. Terri,
      If you have wireless or WiFi it is really simple. Just plug it in, turn it on and it will do it automatically. Good luck.

      Delete
  21. I need English with no accent or clear English with an accent when I am on a help line, trying to figure out something complex like your Kindle situation. Clear English is not too much to ask.

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  22. Terra,
    Welcome to TNS. I know what you mean. Following technical directionless is hard enough with out getting all the words. My gal had perfect English, but a heavy accent.

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  23. Terra,
    Welcome to TNS. I know what you mean. Following technical directionless is hard enough with out getting all the words. My gal had perfect English, but a heavy accent.

    ReplyDelete

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