If you haven't figured it out by now, pena ajena
is
that uncomfortable feeling you get when someone else does something embarassing.
Whether it's a restaurant owner arguing with a customer, package of shrink-wrapped
beef in one hand, or the pseudo-english of a radio stations so-called disk
jockey,
pena ajena makes you feel squeamish and kind of uncomfortable.
Ace Hardware Pena Ajena
She wanted a little brush that she had seen in the Plaza Dorada Ace Hardware location (the main one in Merida) some time ago and, since she wasn't seeing it on the shelves at the little branch store, wanted to know if they could order it in for her so she wouldn't have to drive all the way back to Plaza Dorada.
The employee, while a little puzzled at first, eventually captured the essence of what was being asked of him and stated with some degree of confidence that he couldn't order it since he didn't know exactly what it is he should order, hell - he didn't even have a part number! A brief and more detailed description of the brush in question followed, which didn't seem to click any buttons in the employee's cobwebbed mind, so this client prepared to leave, frustrated but understanding that the employee would be going way beyond his job description if he was to pick up the phone, call Ace's main store and try (just try) to figure out what the hell this client was asking for.
But the best part was yet to come. In a sudden flash of inspiration, the employee helpfully suggested that the client go to Plaza Dorada Ace Hardware (the main store remember) and find that brush, make a note of the part number and then bring it back to him, whereupon he could then with all due efficiency, order said brush from the main store without any confusion!
Now that's brilliant!
Ace Hardware was once located across from Plaza Dorada in that lovely area called Pensiones. You could ask for directions for getting there, but they're closed now anyway, so why bother.
