The Toilet Paper Crisis

There seems to always be a shortage of toilet paper at our office (or more broadly in South America as a whole). One day, I decided I'd had enough and I bought a giant economy pack of toilet paper for the office. I walked all the way down the street carrying this huge package of toilet paper and presented it at the office with pride, saying "look you guys! Toilet paper for everyone!"

Then, feeling like Santa Claus, I made a point of putting one roll in each bathroom. Later, when I went to the bathroom, the roll was GONE. It could not have been used that quickly. I talked with my supervisor about it later, and to my surprise I learnt that some people steal the toilet paper rolls! Unbelievable! "That's why there is always just one roll," she said, "because otherwise people will steal it!" Then, I saw the locked room where there was plenty of toilet paper in stock, and I found it unnecessary that I had bought mine. The secretary said that they appreciated that I bought it, so I left it.

I feel like there is an unspoken expectation from us to provide certain things for the office, such as toilet paper, soap and maybe some things for the afternoon tea. Although this was never directly said to us, I heard it through the grapevine. Since then, I have tried to buy things here and there, but sometimes I feel like my efforts are unappreciated, or I wonder if what I heard through the grapevine is really true. I am getting mixed opinions. For example, I left coffee and powdered milk in the office kitchen to share (I thought that was the right thing to do), and then after our meeting, it was GONE. I have no problem with people drinking my coffee, but I have a really hard time believing that they drank all the powdered milk. When I asked one of my co-workers, she said "no, you should keep that stuff in your desk! For yourself! Otherwise everyone will drink it!" I thought that was the point? Anyway, like I said, I am getting mixed views on these things. It would be easier if they actually told us what they would like us to do! I feel like I have to pry feelings out of them sometimes. I try to go with the attitude that even if they don't say they appreciate it, they actually do.