Why I am Always Friends with the Receptionist

I got a funny call from someone claiming they were a Mah Jongg teacher. The women did not ask my name, but jumped right into her pitch. “This is (fill in some random Mah Jongg name) and I am wondering if you want to offer mah Jongg lessons at your club?”

My response was, “What club do you think you are calling?”

With a lot of doubt in her voice she says the partial name of a club I have been teaching for years.

I ask her if she meant XYZ club, giving the full name. She says, “Yes.”

I probe a little more, asking her how long she has been teaching.

She gave a vague answer.

I decide not to torture her any longer.

“This club has been offering Mah Jongg lessons for years, and I am the teacher.”

She stumbles and back tracks and only then asks my name. I give it to her and she says, “Oh, yes. I know of you.”

She hangs up. I look her up. I taught her Mah Jongg.

I called the receptionist at the club. She tells me she thought it would be more fun for me to tell her that the club already was well taken care of in the Mah Jongg world.

There are many people who are good mah Jongg players, that does not make them mah Jongg teachers. I have taught a lot of people how to play, who go on to teach. Teaching beginner mah Jongg is teaching rules. That is the easiest thing to do. Making it fun is the trick. Then teaching people strategy and how to think are the real skills for a mah Jongg teacher. That and being friendly with the receptionists and club managers.