Service... or a lack of it

Why does service in Singapore suck so much?

Go to any normal restaurant, and the only time you see the server is :
a) when he takes your order
b) when he brings your ONE measly cup of water
c) when he settles your bill (after much desperate hand-waving and assorted other gestures to get the server's attention)

And yet, we have come to expect this kind of service, even in fine dining establishments. And to top it all off, the restaurant charges us a 10% service charge. Only in Singapore can we get foul service, pay a 10% surcharge and deal with it, yet complain about everything else under the sun ^^

Maybe part of the problem is that servers here don't get to keep the tip, unlike in the US, where up to 80% of a server's wages can come from tips alone. Over there, I've never had to stare down waiters for water, never had servers give me blank looks when asking about the soup of the day, never had to literally pull servers by the scruff of their necks to the table to settle the bill.

Ok, so maybe Singaporeans are stingy, and don't like to tip so that they can keep their bills down. Fine. Then why charge a 10% service charge when there is. Literally. No. Service? Yeesh.

Rant done. Over and out.

You know you're a geek....

when you ....

1) play Dungeons and Dragons in your late 20s

2) wore HUGE black plastic glasses as a teenager

3) lindy hop

4) squeal watching mildly scary movies

5) can't wear UFO pants without looking silly

6) are a video and computer game addict

7) act so spastic that your staff call you an "idiot" (in a good way) :D

8) are insecure

9) are described by a friend as a "white-bread momma's boy" (and M, you know who you are)

10) get WAY too excited over a chocolate buffet

It's been a while....

wow, haven't blogged for a while. so many things to blog about.... where shall i start?

Well... SEAJAM was just over, and it rocked! Even if my feet felt like solid knots of pain by the end of the camp, it was worth it :D Going to lindy hop camp always gives me new insights about my own dancing. Bee and I won the competition (free SEAJAM next year), but i realised from everyone's comments that i need to have more energy in my dancing. Something to think about over the next year.

Work has been good, and I like the culture in my new job. Still trying to adjust to the fact that i report directly to a politician. I spazzed out when i realised that there was no immediate superior in the office to turn to for guidance.... but am over that now. Now, I'm just trying to figure out how i can best value add to the organisation given how directly hands-on the politician can be... But hey, one insecurity at a time, yes? :)

WoW!

Been playing a ton of World of Warcraft.... it's a fun game. And WAY too addictive. Something about orcs doing the breakdance and female bulls (called Tauren) doing riverdance routines when u do the /dance command just rocks my world. Zug zug zug...

Long distance small distance
Had an interesting conversation with Fred the other day about relationships. When H and I end this long distance relationship and move together, there will definitely be some issues to sort out. For one thing, one or both of us will need to uproot and leave behind our current social networks. On this trip, I realised that our mutual friends have now moved away, and H and I have formed different social networks. This made it harder for me to connect with H's friends at times. Compounding this will be the fact that one or both of us will be looking for jobs....
That said though, I am quite confident that our relationship can withstand the stress. In some ways, being in a long-distance relationship has made me more appreciative of what the two of us have.

Guess that's all for now. I wanted to rant about credit cards and their insane annual fee charges, oh and the complete stupidity of the 10% service charge in Singapore restaurants... But i guess that can wait for later :)

Well actually...

I did have another thing to blog about.

Gonna be moving to another job in a month or so. I was telling H that I feel lucky. For the challenging job that i've held, for the wonderful staff and colleagues that i've worked with, and for the chance to have had an impact on peoples' lives at so young an age.

That probably came off as platitudes but it's true. I feel a great deal of responsibility to the people that I work with, precisely because they have to deal with new bosses every 2-3 years, which is never easy. That's why I still kick myself everytime I miss something and fail to give proper guidance. It's not easy, leading or managing a team. Give too much direction, and you stifle your staff. Give too little, and you end up asking where your own value add is. That said, as I look back on the past 2.5 years in this job, I do feel like i've grown more adaptable, learnt new skills that will stand me in good stead.

That seems like a good way to end it.

Cheers.

I'm Leavin' On a Jet Plane

Dear blog....

1am now and i can't sleep. too excited. leaving in 5 hours for Michigan, where I get to spend 2.5 weeks with H. Did i mention i was excited???

Spamalot!!!!

Ahhh... i'm so excited! Just found out that Monty Python's Spamalot is having its WORLD premiere in Chicago the week that i'll be there. H is trying to book tickets now!

For those not in the know, Spamalot is a Broadway version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail... only one of the funniest movies ever. Vorpal Bunnies, the knights who say "ni"... the list goes on.... And this musical stars David Hyde Pierce, Tim Curry AND Hank Azaria!!!!!

Crossing my fingers that we can get tickets.... ok going to bed cos it's late, but too excited and had to blog