Being
brought up in Japan, a country steeped in manners, my kids are appalled by the
services they received from service staffs in Singapore, particularly those at
the Hawker Centers. I cannot blame them. Even I, a true-breed Singaporean,
after living in Japan for more than 8 years, find the hawkers rude.
When
we were there for a week’s holiday in August, my kids and I took our breakfasts
and/or lunches almost every day at Hawker Centers. When I ordered drinks at the
drink stalls, I could not help but feel annoyed by the ladies working there. I
never got a reply from them when I ordered “Kopi-O koson” or “ice Milo”. I had
to assume that they had heard my orders because the next thing after I
completed my orders, they would be whipping up the orders I placed. Without as
much as a “Here you are”, the drinks would be slammed down in front of me. Then
the lady would stretch out her hand and demand for money. If I dared ask “How
much?”, I am bound to get an irritated stare by them, as if I should know better!
The most ridiculous thing was that at the end of each transaction, I was always
the one to mumble “Thank you”! As if I should thank these ladies for even
bothering to sell me drinks!
Ordering
food at the food stores and then having the store holders bring the food to me
was even more humouring. When it was my turn to order, the hawkers would almost
always say “Uh, what?” If I even dared to take my time to think, I would most
definitely get a lashing out from them to hurry up or worst, they would have taken
the order of the person behind me first. If you are familiar with Hawker
Centers, then you will know that when you have placed your order, the hawker will
ask “Eat?” “Taboa?” “Chilli?” For the benefit of people not familiar with the
Singapore Hawker Center, let me explain: the hawker is asking if you are eating
in or taking away and if you want chilli added. It really is funny how hawkers
only speak in monosyllables.
Most
Hawker Centers nowadays are self-service types. However at some places, hawkers
will still bring the food to you. Or when your order takes time to cook, they
may bring your food to your table. My kids and I would exchange looks each time
a hawker brings us our food. He would literally throw the plates onto the
table. Most times, the hawker would not even bother to say a word or even look
at us. He would just walk away as if we had inconvenienced him.
The
sad thing for me is that this lack of service is not just seen in Hawker
Centers. I find restaurant staffs and store assistants lack of manners too. Except
for the high class and expensive shops and restaurants, most places are filled
with service staffs who are down-right pitiful. In Japan, such service level is
unthinkable. Japanese service staffs are very polite and courteous. They greet
you once you step into the shop, serve you with a bow, and say thank you
loudly. In Japan, shop assistants and hairdressers are known to send off their
customers right up to the doorstep!
As
part of my work, I always tell foreigners that all Singaporeans speak English.
Although not all of us can speak good, fluent English, at least foreigners
would not have problems getting their way around in Singapore. Our taxi-drivers
speak English. Our hotel staff speaks English. BUT, the last I checked, not all
waitresses and shop assistants speak English! Service staffs are the first
persons foreign tourists come into contact with. Thus, all service staff must
have the minimum training in manners and the English language. It will be a
shame if foreigners leave our country thinking that they have just visited an
expensive, rude and non-English speaking nation!
The
courteous manner in which we treat people should not just be restricted to
serving customers or foreign tourists. A courteous manner should be a part of
our life. To be a gracious society, we must first learn to be courteous to each
other. I don’t expect Singaporeans to start saying “Hello” to people they meet
on the streets like the Japanese. But as a start, we should start by not
talking in monosyllables. I believe if we speak in proper sentences, be it in
English or another language, others will be prompted to answer us properly. A
sentence will definitely sound more polite than a monosyllable. Changes can
only start from us. Let us all try and make our nation a more gracious society
for our next generation.