Star Crafty

Example Number One: my shift at the restaurant today was going great, it was a steady flow of people coming in and we managed with just six servers (ideally, we should have nine). My good mood was ruined at ten minutes before I had to leave, and the graveyard (late night) staff was coming in, meaning the 3 o'clock servers were cut, leaving the floor with just three servers (until the 11 o'clockers came in). A couple came in and I informed them it would be 5 minutes for the next table because I had just sat my three very tired servers. Two other small parties came in and I told them the wait would be 5-10 minutes. I also offered them seats at the full-service bar if they were in a real hurry and because one of the ladies saw an empty floor I explained to them the situation with the just three servers and why I can't double seat them, etc.

This upset the lady at the front of the line. With a very rude and defensive attitude, she demanded to know why I didn't offer the bar or explain to her the situation like I did to the people on the back of the line. Among the billion things I tried to say, like I always offer the bar to the people on the back because I know they will be waiting a long time or The lady actually asked why there were so many empty tables and still had to wait 5 minutes or Ma'am I apologize for that, you will actually be sat in just under five minutes in a nice comfy table so I felt no need to offer you the bar or Ma'am I apologize, I did not mean anything by it, you are also more than welcome to seat at the bar if you so desire, and so on and so on. I glanced at her companion several times to see if there was any reaction from him, any indication that he was going to tell her that it's okay, we'll just wait/go to the bar. But he just stood there, partly watching the TV set above the bar seats while the "lady" treated me oh so gently.

And here I regret to mention the very insignificant fact that the couple was black. While she was ratting on me, I tried to pinpoint the reason why she was behaving like so. It could've been either,

A) she was upset I didn't offer the bar, because she actually wanted the bar, even though she was at the front of the line and was going to be sat momentarily and also the bar was open and she didn't even need to ask me for a seat;

or B) she was offended that the people on the back were sat before her, even though they opted to seat at the bar and I was going to seat her at a nice table, or, OR, who knows, even a comfy booth;

or C) and Dear God, I hope this wasn't it, she thought I was favoring the white couples on the back of the line because, well, she was black.

You know, maybe I'm the one being hyper sensitive in assuming that her anger stemmed from such a ridiculous social discrimination. But you know what? In the three weeks I have worked in this hotel restaurant, I have witnessed and experienced so much discrimination, not directly towards me, but towards our customers and other employees, that I can't help but assume option C). And I (partly) apologize to the lady if this wasn't the case at all.

Example Number Two: Last week, a server told the other host working with me that If they (customers) have an accent, don't send them to my section. I hoped she had said this in jest, but no, she was dead serious. In part this behavior can be reasoned because it is known that many foreigners do not understand the "tipping" system in American restaurants, thus tipping very low (if at all, I've been a server, trust me, I know). But it is absolutely unprofessional, and ridiculous, to reject a party based on their accent or nationality. First of all, you're a server, you don't chose your tables. And you know what, bitch, I have an accent. Had I come to this restaurant with my family speaking our native tongue, automatically we would've been mistreated by her. Needless to say, she got fired. And I'm glad. I do not tolerate that crap. I lived in Savannah, Georgia for five years where 57% of the population is black, and the majority live in poverty, and I never, NEVER heard such crap.

This city has certainly been a culture shock. Perhaps it is only a few people at work who behave so disgustingly, perhaps it's everybody. I will, of course, give it a second chance. I am too much of an idealist, and dare I say, naive. I believe in doing good for others, always. This job is just something to get by, I need it. But I am going to treat like if I was the president of the company. Why? Because I honestly want people to have a great experience, to finish every single crumb in their plate, to speak wonders about us wherever they go. I believe in great customer service. Even when you might think people don't deserve it.