Paying a Bill

Today i spent over an hour waiting in line to pay the electric bill. I thought it was a total waste of my time until i reflected on what i learned in the process. First of all, you need to understand that bills are paid in person, here. No such thing as, "cheque's in the mail." For one thing, it could get lost and then you are stuck. A few people do pay by cheque, but they have to go to the office and put it the box. So, you gotta go stand in line.

This morning i passed by the local electric office, but there was a handwritten paper sign saying that it was closed. "Go downtown to pay bill there." So i quickly dashed downtown along with dozens of other people to find a small mob there. Two lines of folded (no one wants to expose their name in public) papers on the counter. Everyone standing around. I placed my electric notice in line behind countless others.

The line wasn't moving. Something was holding it up. The clerk was adding up the bill of some guy who owed 3 months and found the cheque written out didn't match it. 5 other clerks came over to watch him. Why is it that things don't happen unless several guys join in the experience? I waited for 15 minutes. Nothing was happening. So, i decided to leave. I had other things to do. I looked for my bill, unfolding several papers to check the name and address.

But, i couldn't find it. Shoot! Where was it? Someone took it by accident. No sense crying over "spilled milk", so i left emptyhanded.

This afternoon, i passed the local electric office and lo and behold - it was open! So i rushed inside only to find it filled with people. I saw something new - sex segregated lines! Women in one line, men in another.

The wait was longer than expected. I counted 24 men in front of me, but there was also 24 women in the other line, meaning 48 people in front of me!

A man in a yellow baseball cap paid, walked out, and then returned 2 minutes later complaining about his change. He was 10 rials short (about 5 cents US) and he was upset! The clerk explained that he didn't do it on purpose, but the guy was livid! He made a scene, all while 59 of us stood waiting in line! A lady at the counter said, "OK, calm down, it's OK. You got your coin." But, the yellow cap guy had to be macho. "You cheat! You dumb clerk!"
The clerk gave him the 1/2 dirham coin.
Still, the guy was mad! He threw it back at the clerk. And all of us in line were watching this idiot rant and rave over 5 cents. The man stormed out. A few men in line commented, "That guy is so ridiculous! Getting upset over 10 rials and yelling, wasting our time waiting."
15 minutes passed.

A tall man dressed in a red shirt and baseball cap walked up to the counter while 60 of us are eyeing him. Oh, he was with his friend already standing there. He wanted to check his bill. It took forever; the computer was frozen. People got impatient.

A lady remarked, "That guy is just sneaking in and wasting our time. Who does he think he is?"
Another 10 minutes passed. Finally he was done. He strode up to the talking woman and scolded her in a loud voice. "You shouldn't say anything if you don't really know what's going on! Just shut up!"

After 55 minutes i made it to the counter behind 2 other men. Off to the left, an old wizened man, dressed in brown jellaba and white skull cap stumbled up front, cutting in front of everyone. "Please, may God have mercy on your parents," he began addressing the clerk. "May i pay this bill?" (i.e., cut in front of 70 people).

The clerk said nothing, but took his bill, punched in the computer and collected the fee. No one said anything. Everyone let the elderly man through. Respect for elders.

When the fellow in front of me paid his bill, he got 4 dirhams (45 cents) change. He pushed it back to the clerk. "Forget it. Keep the change."

Finally, it was my turn to pay.