Navigating a Notary Adventure: A Journey Through Miscommunication
Written on
Chapter 1: The Road Trip Begins
Today marked the start of a road trip with two appointments in Ardsley, a quaint town nestled in Westchester County. My first meeting was with two quantitative analysts, and the borrower, Ling Wong, had a thick Chinese accent that made her difficult to understand. As I hopped into my SUV with the windows and sunroof open, I basked in the beautiful fall day while listening to sports radio.
Google Maps guided me to Stanton Ave, but the street numbers were all out of order. As I searched for house #23, I found myself parked outside an elementary school bustling with parents picking up their children, which only heightened my anxiety as I struggled to locate the signing venue on this narrow street.
Section 1.1: A Moment of Confusion
I pulled over to the side of the road, continuing my quest to find the right home. Eventually, I managed to call Ling, only to learn that Google Maps had misled me about her location. In her broken English, she mentioned that she had sent me a map via text. Upon opening the message, I felt a wave of frustration; the map looked like a complex layout of the Canadian Rockies.
Frantically, I asked her for clear directions, but all she could tell me was to head east. In exasperation, I exclaimed, "I'm not a compass!" I had no clue about north, south, east, or west.
Subsection 1.1.1: Keeping Cool
Section 1.2: Finding Common Ground
Remarkably, I managed to keep my cool. I informed Ling that I was directly across from the school. At last, she connected the dots—she would walk up to meet me. Moments later, I spotted a slender woman jogging toward me, waving to grab my attention. She guided me to park in front of her house, but then I noticed a street sign indicating no parking from 8–9 am and 12–3 pm on school days. It was currently 12:45 pm.
Driving a large SUV, I was hesitant to park illegally on a narrow street, a point I reiterated to Ling multiple times. She insisted that everyone parked there, but I still couldn’t see any cars. With Ling's voice rising, I jumped back into my vehicle.
Chapter 2: The Drive of Frustration
The video title is "Lecture: Biblical Series I: Introduction to the Idea of God - YouTube," which explores profound concepts that can resonate with our personal journeys, much like my own experience today.
After circling the block to gather my thoughts, I called Ling again, this time with a tone of exasperation, asking where I could park legally. After a moment of silence, I finally found a spot in her driveway, thanks to her husband moving their car.
When I reached the open space, Ling shouted, "Let’s get going! I have a 1 pm meeting!" I couldn't help but chuckle at her frantic energy. Ling was muttering in Chinese, likely expressing her frustration with me. I reminded her that we needed to wait for her husband, who was also part of the signing.
Section 2.1: The Waiting Game
Ling continued to pace as we awaited her husband, which felt like an eternity. After over ten minutes of anxious waiting, she called him, yelling in Chinese. I kept my composure, attempting to engage in small talk to ease her nerves. Finally, her husband arrived, parking their larger SUV illegally on the street. We then proceeded to the backyard to finalize the closing.
Ling, with tears in her eyes, apologized to me. I replied gently that it was no problem at all. Interestingly, her husband checked on his SUV several times, worried about receiving a ticket. I found it amusing since the cost of a ticket would exceed my earnings for the closing, so I was cautious about where I parked. We wrapped up at 1:01 pm, just in time for Ling’s meeting. Once again, she expressed her gratitude for my patience and understanding as I drove off, hoping for an easier parking situation at my next closing.
Lessons Learned
Today’s challenges revolved around language barriers, navigation issues, and securing a legal parking spot. Despite these minor hurdles, every adventure provides a story worth telling. I look forward to uncovering what challenges lie ahead. Above all, I must maintain my composure and show respect—always keeping my moral compass in check!
The journey from world exploration to navigating the world of notary services has been a profound experience filled with lessons in reinvention, discovery, and authenticity.