Why Singapore’s service standards remains low April 12, 2008

For the longest time, I’ve held high hopes that Singapore’s service sector would one day reach the level of other world-class states such as Japan and Hongkong.

 

Not because I’m a Singaporean, but because I was in the service line myself previously. And I am proud to say that I was never once fell below the standards my managers expected of me, simply because, deep inside, I wanted to serve people in the most polite and efficient manner I could.

 

So, there’s nothing difficult about raising the service level right? Its all about self-motivation right?

 

Well, that was what I thought until I realised that some people simply cannot be bothered. And, unfortunately, these others happen to be foreigners.

 

Ok, I’m not being racist or country-ist or whatsoever. But I honestly do think that if Singapore has to bring in foreigners to boost our service sector, at least hire Filipinos. I mean, at leat they are dedicated and polite.

 

On the other hand, although I am a Chinese myself, I really hate to see China-Chinese (aka ah tiongs) serving me. Why??? Simply because they don’t give a damn about their jobs!

 

Just look at the ah tiongs working in the canteen and cafe in NTU! The kitchen produces food that taste like animal feed and the service staff simply slap the food onto your plates as if we’re really cows and pigs!

 

Ok, you may think its a little too harsh to presume everyone is like that based on NTU’s standard. Then how about Cafe Cartel’s standard? Fair enough right?

 

I just had dinner there and sadly, the restaurant has changed its HR policy and decided to hire ah tiongs. Nevermind….

 

When I was ready to order, this ah tiong came to serve us. First thing he asked?!

“可以讲华语吗?”

 

-_-|| Like, obviously I CAN. I am a Chinese right?!? But I CAN doesn’t mean I WANT TO or HAVE TO right?!?!

 

And doesn’t Cartel emphasise on the fact that they might probably have to speak english while working? Like, duh right?? This is Cafe Cartel at Plaza Sing for crying out loud!! What will the poor ang mohs do?!?!

 

Sighhhh… Nevermind, I was in a nice mood so I let that pass. I had already written down my orders so all he had to do was to (1) flip to the correct page and (2) verify. Such a simple thing right?!

 

Unfortunately, this was beyond him and I had to step in to assist him. So, I had to (1) point at the order I wrote, (2) flip to the page and (3) point at the picture which had the same number.

 

You know what, until today, I had always thought Arabic numerals were UNIVERSAL! Well, apparently they must be using some other form of numbers in China.

 

And after he took our orders, the manager had to come back to us to verify our orders again, which is something I’ve never encountered at Cartel. See?? Duplication of work!! Waste of resources!!

 

Bottomline is, I think Singapore companies really need to reconsider the tradeoff between cheap labour and service quality man. I’m definitely not the only one who’s complaining about their poor service. If they really wanna work, the least they could do is to put in some effort, instead of slacking off and speaking to your customers in Chinese when your manager’s not looking.

 

And please don’t tell me that English is not their native language and cut them some slack blah blah blah. PLEASE lahhh… Look at the Filipinos, Indonesians etc. English is not their native language too! But at least they bother to try right?!

 

So what makes these ah tiongs think that they are in any manner superior to others such that they don’t have to put in any effort? If you ask me, I think it boils down to lazyness and nonchalence when it comes to their jobs.

 

I really hope Singapore does something about it. If not, we’ll soon have cashiers and waiters talking to us in Hokkien and Canto and Malay and Tamil!

Child abuse!!! March 31, 2008

I’m supposed to be studying but I really have to let this off my chest because I really really really think that this ah ma’s horrid action should be publicised!

 

The story goes like this: I was at a friend’s house doing project and on my way back from Rivervale Mall, there was this ah ma with her crying grandson. Nothing unusual about kids crying right?

 

When I walked closer, I saw the ah ma slapping the boy repeatedly on the cheeks! Its definitely not the slap-one-time-just-to-warn-you kinda. She was slapping him left right left right continuously!!!

 

And, of course, the poor boy wouldn’t stop crying. I mean, any normal human being wouldn’t stop crying after being slapped right?! So guess what the ah ma did?!?

 

SHE STUFFED TISSUE PAPER INTO HIS MOUTH!!!!!!

 

Like OMG isn’t that considered abuse?! Worse of all, she covered his mouth so that he couldn’t make noise and couldn’t spit the tissue out!!!

 

I was on the verge of rushing over to scold that ah ma already, but I’m a humchee Singaporean. Doesn’t she understand how serious it could be?! I mean, the boy could have choked!! And being an ah ma, shouldn’t she be experienced enough to know what to do? Zzzzz……

 

What ever happened to kind and caring grannies who would bake you cookies and read you a story?

One day I’m gonna die in a cab March 16, 2008

I was reading the special report on Formula One in the Today paper and I realised something – Why don’t Singapore send our own race team? I even have the perfect candidates. They are none other than our very own taxi drivers.

 

I’m not kidding. Judging from the way those drivers maneuver their cars, I think we have a pretty darn good chance there. I just encountered 1 this evening. He was weaving in and out like nobody’s business (I felt like telling him that weaving back and forth between lanes DOES NOT get you to your destination faster. Its just an illusion. See here.)

 

Me (to my bf): “I think got high possibility I might die in the cab. He likes to cut in and out.”

Bf: “Then you must buckle up your seatbelt k”

Me: “I buckled up so long ago le. From the moment I heard him listening to “Piece of Me” (Britney Spears) techno version I buckled up le.”

 

Not that buckling up helps. Ever since I got my licence and became a driver myself, I feel damn uncomfortable sitting in the back seat. I can’t sit still and every now and then I peer over to see how close he is from the car in front. All that goes through my mind is ohmygawdifthatcarjambrakeswe’redead and ohshitohshitcanhecutintothatlane and i’mnotgonnamakeithomealive. Most of the time its the last thought. Throughout the whole ride my heart was jumping as fast as the meter and by the time I reach home,  I feel like throwing up from the tension and lack of oxygen. This is really called paying money to suffer man. Zzz……

Rule #1 – Don’t be a cheapskate March 13, 2008

Watched Rule #1 with dear this evening.

 

 

 

 

I was quite reluctant to because the trailer really spooked me out. Yes, I realised that the older I get, the more of a scaredy cat I’ve become. But the show wasn’t that scary and it had an interesting twist. A commendable effort by Kelvin Tong, I must say! 

 

 

What was odd about the movie was the pairing of Shawn Yue and Fiona Xie. I don’t know if its obligatory for the director to put a Singaporean in the show but I don’t see the purpose of Fiona Xie. She was dubbed by someone with a really squeaky and yet raspy voice. In her first scene, she was hugging Shawn Yue after he returned from the hospital and she was giggling and moaning (???) so much that I swear she was just plain horny. Interestingly, the next scene showed them in bed. -_-

 

And to think she was supposed to be a school teacher! From a convent school somemore!! The irony of it……

 

Oh but the highlight of that evening was not the movie, but the “live” show that was taking place in the cinema itself! Apparently, some secondary school kids are so poor and so cheapskate that a whole bunch of them can only afford TWO tickets. So, in order to share their riches, they decided to spend everything they have on the TWO tickets, let TWO people enter the theatre and then get them to open the exit door so that rest enter! Wow…. What an ingenious method right?

 

But lo and behold, Eng Wah people are not dumb afterall. Halfway through the movie, 2 malay guys came from the backdoor and asked to check their tickets. Of course, they could only produce 2, so they were brought to the staircase well to “talk”. Apparently, they can pretty much see everything and everyone from the screening room. Anyway, after the movie ended, we see the kids still there. With our friendly neighbourhood policeman. HAHA!

 

Moral of the story: Don’t be so cheapskate. Crime does not pay.

Marina Bay Countdown 2008 January 1, 2008

WordPress ate my post, again.

 

Went for my first countdown ever. Lol.

 

Had planned to stay at home for New Year’s Eve until Zonghe asked us (me, my bro and sis) if we had any plans. Since neither of us had anything on, we decided to meet up. Went to Changing Appetites at Marina Square for dinner.

 

To those who used to like Changing Appetites: It is no longer the fusion restaurant it first started out to be. It has now been converted to yet another “All American restaurant” except for the minor fact that its serving portions are nowhere near American. Honestly, I could get nicer and larger steaks at Botak Jones at a cheaper price man. The only item that was worth the money was Zonghe’s Barbarian Burger, which had two 200 grams beef patties, a piece of grilled chicken and a piece of grilled dory all packed into a single burger. Largest burger I have ever seen! But other than that, the food was pretty much mediocre. Disappointment.

 

After dinner, we went to the Esplanade and after much shoving, we settled on the Esplanade Drive bridge. Played cards while watching other people trying to shove their way through from both directions, although I have no idea where they are trying to go. Police were trying to maintain the flow of human traffic with their loud-hailers and flashlights, but to no avail. Haha. OH! There were ALOT of Bangladeshi workers!!! And they were SUPER HIGH!!! I have no idea why they were so excited but they were whistling and shouting and jumping about. Not trying to be racist or anything, but I really felt uncomfortable being surrounded and shoved about by so many of them. The big “Let your hair down, not your guard” banner which warns us of molesters only made me even more paranoid.

 

The highlight of the event was, of course, the fireworks. And as soon as that ended, the crowd cleared immediately. I kinda felt that the spirit was missing as compared to countdown parties overseas. Although I have never been to an overseas countdown party, the news coverage of places like Times Square and Taipei always portrayed such a joyous and crazy party atmosphere where everyone just hangs around to sing, dance and have fun! Over here? The moment the fireworks were over, everyone made a mad rush to the MRT station to beat the others. OMG…… The walk to the MRT station was seriously the worst part of the entire night. People literally PUSHED their way through. I mean, I don’t mind being nudged a little while being shuffled along, but you don’t have to push someone forcefully right? I mean, I was being pushed from all directions man. And people push others regardless of gender can?!?! Sheeessshhhhh……….

 

The conclusion? This will be my first and LAST countdown party ever. Period.