業者「ピンかパッドはある？」ヘアピン的なものが必要なのだろうと想像したが、そんなの無い。てかパッドって何のパッドだ？
私「ペンならあるよ」
業者「ピンかパッドだよ。お前料理しないの？ここ開けたら水出てくるから」
ああ、フライパン(pan)か鍋(pot)ね。それで汚い水を受けるのか？絶対嫌だ。
私「ないよ。西洋系の料理作らないし」もちろん嘘。
業者「コップは？水飲むだろ？」
これは逃れられない。
私「あるけど嫌だよ。レジ袋あるよ」
業者「ならペーパータオルある？それで受け止めるよ。で、その袋に捨てる」
ちなみにパイプから出た水は普通に透明だった。業者は見た目からも話し方からもラテン系だった。普段大学の人たちと話していると、全然違う話し方の人と話すのは難しい。
あと、業者に指摘されたのが「これ(パイプ洗浄剤)使ってる？これは酸性だから金属とかパイプを傷つけるから使わないで」
私はパイプが詰まってからDrano Max Gelで復旧を試みていたのだが、良くないらしい。CVS(アメリカ最大のドラッグストアチェーン)で普通に売っているのだが。
それにしても、もし家にいなかったら彼はどうしていたんだろうか？鍋とか勝手に使われたりとか、考えただけでも恐ろしい。
Plumber: "Do you have a pin or pad?" I imagined they needed something like a hairpin, but I don't have anything like that. And what's a "pad" anyway?
Me: "I have a pen."
Plumber: "I said pin or pad. Don't you cook? Water will come out if I open this."
Ah, he meant pan or pot. So, they catch the dirty water in those? I absolutely don't want that.
Me: "I don't have one. I don't cook Western dishes." Of course, I was lying.
Plumber: "How about a cup? Don't you drink water?"
This one I can't avoid.
Me: "I have one, but I don't want to use it. I have plastic bags."
Plumber: "Alright, how about paper towels? Use them to catch the water and then throw them in the bag."
By the way, the water that came out of the pipe was perfectly clear. The plumber seemed to be of Latin descent, both in appearance and speech. Talking to someone who speaks so differently is challenging when you're used to conversing with university folks.
Also, the plumber pointed out, "Are you using this (pipe cleaner)? This is acidic and can damage metal and pipes, so don't use it."
After my sink clogged, I had been attempting to unclog it using Drano Max Gel, which is readily available at CVS (the largest drugstore chain in the U.S.), but apparently, it's not a good idea.
Lastly, I wonder what he would have done if I weren't home? The thought of him using my pots and pans without permission is terrifying.
