Left side drive and broken equipment

Last week the accountant consultant who was in the office was telling us stories of how computer, fax, cell "technologies" have only been in South Africa for the last 7-10 years. She told a few stories of farmers using fax machines wrong....well I laughed outloud on Saturday when I experianced a story much like the ones she told.

Let me first say, Saturday I DROVE into town by myself. Keep in mind that we drive on the LEFT side of the road and it is about a 30 minute drive into town (dirt and paved roads). So, it was a big deal for me to go in by myself, not get lost and obey all of the traffic rules. So, I decided to go to one of the busier grocery stores because I needed to buy some drinking glasses for my house. This place was a mad house on Saturday as everyone did their shopping. So, after getting my THREE items, I stood in line for about 20 minutes.

I finally got up to the register and the dialogue went something like this:

Me " It is a hot one today, isn't it?"

Cashier (while she begins to fiddle with the cash register), "It is."

Me "Technology sure can be a pain sometimes".

Cashier- doesn't say anything, just proceeds to REBOOT her cash register becasue it has a "Printer Error" message on the screen. After about 5 minutes the cahsier tells me that the register is broken and I must go to another line. So, I move to another line and her manger comes over.

He looks and low and behold the paper roll is OUT. So, he replaces it and the register works GREAT. As he replaces the paper, I look at the guy behind me in the previous line and look at him with a crooked smile to see if I can get back in my place.

He did let me go ahead.

So that was my day, shopping in Harrismith!