"Please Wait"

Our top priority when we arrived here was to find a good doctor and hospital for the twins. I started to inquire about it and was informed not to worry—the Board of Management’s brother is part owner of Pantai Indah Kapuk Hospital. A Canadian teacher also referred us to his Indonesian wife’s OB at PIK Hospital. She had both of their girls there via c-section.

The day of the appointment (07 July 2011), Dennis went down to the lobby at 7:45 am to tell person on duty that we needed a taxi at 8 am. When we got down to the lobby, there was no taxi. By 8:15, we were getting anxious. Dennis’ inquiries was always answered with a smile and “please wait”. So we waited. Taxis would drive by but did not stop, and we couldn’t figure out why none stopped for us.

When 8:30 and 8:40 rolled around, we knew it would be nearly impossible to make it in time for our 9 o’clock appointment. Dennis stood outside waiting—protesting each time a taxi drove pass and practically running after them. He was getting frantic, and I think he was beginning to scare the staff that kept telling him the same thing: “please wait”.

At one point, he was talking to the girl on duty with his eyes glued to the front doors. When he saw a taxi drive by, he rushed to the doors slamming his body against the glass and cursing as the taxi kept driving away. I thought he was going to lose it, and for the sake of completely freaking out the sweet girl at the desk, I went to ask her about the taxi myself.

I ask her if the taxi is coming.

“Taxi have people inside. Have to wait for no people. Please wait.”

Makes sense. I tell her Dennis came downstairs at 7:45 to get a Blue Bird taxi. Why hasn’t it arrived?

“Taxi have people inside. Have to wait for no people. Please wait.”

Okay—I got that part already. I ask her if she ordered the taxi. She takes out a ledger with all kinds of telephone numbers on it. She points to the one that says Blue Bird taxi.

“So you didn’t order the taxi?”

“Blue Bird taxi,” she says pointing at number.

“Okay—so I have to call to order taxi? You did not order the taxi.”

“No, Miss. Have to order.”

Dennis was visibly upset when I tell him the taxi was not ordered. It was 8:53 by the time the taxi arrived to pick us up. Fortunately, the taxi driver knew the exact location of the hospital. We took the toll and arrived at the hospital at 9:07—probably record time.