9. March 2009 by student.

While considering what I would do for my Spring break vacation, I weighed out my options and chose work. I felt like I had spent entirely too much money this semester and I needed to “re up” if you will while at home. I am a waitress at a high class pizzeria in Miami, Florida. I have been working there for the past two years and I have been asked the question “do you speak Spanish?” over a hundred times. Over spring break I approached a table with seven hungry people. I introduce myself and ask what they would like to drink and if they are ready to order anything. Everything I say is in English and everything they say is in Spanish. They answer my questions in English but discuss in Spanish therefore making it incredibly difficult for me to understand what they are interested in. After discussing amongst themselves in Spanish for quit sometime the gentlemen looks straight at me and asks “ do you speak Spanish?” and I answered with a smile “ no , Sir I don’t” he looked back at me and his friends ,laughed and said “ you REALLY don’t speak Spanish?”. After being asked that questions several times over the years I didn’t think anything of it but being laughed at because I don’t speak it was appalling to me. Why should I be laughed at because I wasn’t raised or taught to speak that language, especially when I know you can speak English you just don’t care to use the effort? They continued to speak Spanish and answer in English, enjoyed there meal and left me a shitty tip probably for the only reason being I really didn’t speak Spanish. Next time I am asked that question while serving a table I am going to ask right back “do you speak English?”

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9. March 2009 by student.

Have you ever stood in line at a busy fast food restaurant or grocery store and wondered “WHAT THE HECK IS TAKING SO LONG?”
Well, just step around my friend and I bet you’ll find that the customer ahead of you is either using their cell phone or reprimanding an uncontrollable child.

Having been an employee at both fast food restaurants and grocery stores for the past 4 years of my life I have developed an  immunity for ignorance. As a cashier at one of the busiest stores in southwest Florida; the ”monopoly giant” Wal-Mart, my patience has reached an ultimate high, but as a customer to the many fast food restaurants and grocery stores of our town, I have yet to reach that level of serenity.

So I’ve decided to blog on courtesy, because I believe such a subject is one that we all could gain from.

“Treat people how you would like to be treated”, it’s a little cliche I know, but it’s always a safe one to live by.

I think that the people that begin to chat away on their cell phones while unloading products from their cart have the common courtesy, but are so tied down with the “burdens” of today’s society “the dreaded cell phone” that once “they” beckon their eager to answer, not realizing that there is a task at hand that needs finishing. As they converse along with the other end, they begin to move at an even slower pace unknowingly irritating the line of already anxious people behind them.

To these inconsiderate people I say “turn your cell on silence once you get in line”. No one wants to be annoyed with your ability to talk loud and hold the line up all at once.

To the parents who just can not seem to grasp the rest to child ratio, let me help you.

Is is really necessary to bring your 5 year old in the store at 9pm while you shop hours on end? This type of behavior on your part will only make the child restless which will eventually make them either really hyper for candy or really angry for sleep, neither one ending in good results.

To these parents I say, “Please do us all a favor and do your shopping at a more convenient time for you and your child”.

I hope this blog has brought a little awareness to some if not all.

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