No English...No Intercom
Ok…I finally feel motivated enough to write about something I’ve been meaning to write about for a while… God forgive me, but I have a serious problem with half-ass, broken up, three languages in one, non-english speaking foreigners who work at American fast food joints. I feel terrible about this little predjudice of mine, but the more I talk about it…the more I realize I’m not alone…here’s a little story for you…
So, I go to Mac Donalds, and, I already know that I will not achieve complete satisfaction by feasting there..ever, yet I go anyway with a friend of mine. So he and I are in the ever so convienent drive thru, when finally it’s our turn. The person says over an already shitty intercom… “ Amay Iumatake ayourauma aorder” What the? Luckily there was not but one thing she could have said , so I responded. Now mind you, my slight predjudices have started to arise but I clearly remember thinking to myself…”musicgirl, don’t be like that” so we carry on. “zumbersi?” No…number 6. “zithjeans?” NO with Cheese…goddamn. After about 30mins of trying to break the communication barrier, we approach the window. Now, the salad I ordered did not come with a drink, so I get to the window and ask if she would add a “Coke with no ice, please” to the order…From the look on her face you would have thought that I just asked her to strip and run around naked. Her face did this twisty,turny, ripply thing and she said “Cuk? Zi New? Eeece? Then my face did this twisty,turny, ripply thing and I said “C-O-K-E W-I-T-H-N-O-I-C-E-P-L-E-A-S-E.” Then right on the beautiful African lady’s forehead appeared the words “Help me. I have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about. Don’t you know I just got here from another country yesterday.” And as we sat there looking eye to eye with perplexed expressions, the manager walks up behind her. I then repeat myself and the manager had to show her “coke” and “ice”. COME ON!!!! You mean to tell me that you are working at Mac Donalds and you don’t know at LEAST the words on the menu. That’s just ridiculous….
So, I pay for the meal and as my friend and I drive off (he’s driving) I tell him about my feelings on the subject at hand. As I spoke to him I was thinking, I should write about this in my blog…and then I thought that instead of being predjudice, I should feel honored that I live in a city like Washington, DC where all types of people can live, learn,work and, grow together…by golly… I had my predjudice under control, I replaced the negative thinking with positive thinking, and my salad was only half wilted. Life was looking good…
…until I looked at my receipt and that non-English speaking bitch put $19.00 on my card instead of &7!!!!!! GODDAMN IT! Stupid bitch!
Needless to say we had to turn around and drive all the way back. Not only did I tell the manager that I was way overcharged, I brought it to her attention that the lady at the drive through window could not understand the words coming out of my mouth because she DOESN”T SPEAK ENGLISH! Her response…oh, “she just got here.” What the?
I don’t think I’m predjudice anymore. I just want good customer service. I shouldn’t be all stressed out when I’m about to spend my money at your establishment whatever it may be…the gas station, the car wash (oh don’t get me started), the cell phone company (who transfers many of their calls to India), a restaurant! Do you really think that I could go to another country and have them hire me in a customer service position without speaking their language. I don’t think so. France won’t have me serving biscuits instead of croissants...
So, I go to Mac Donalds, and, I already know that I will not achieve complete satisfaction by feasting there..ever, yet I go anyway with a friend of mine. So he and I are in the ever so convienent drive thru, when finally it’s our turn. The person says over an already shitty intercom… “ Amay Iumatake ayourauma aorder” What the? Luckily there was not but one thing she could have said , so I responded. Now mind you, my slight predjudices have started to arise but I clearly remember thinking to myself…”musicgirl, don’t be like that” so we carry on. “zumbersi?” No…number 6. “zithjeans?” NO with Cheese…goddamn. After about 30mins of trying to break the communication barrier, we approach the window. Now, the salad I ordered did not come with a drink, so I get to the window and ask if she would add a “Coke with no ice, please” to the order…From the look on her face you would have thought that I just asked her to strip and run around naked. Her face did this twisty,turny, ripply thing and she said “Cuk? Zi New? Eeece? Then my face did this twisty,turny, ripply thing and I said “C-O-K-E W-I-T-H-N-O-I-C-E-P-L-E-A-S-E.” Then right on the beautiful African lady’s forehead appeared the words “Help me. I have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about. Don’t you know I just got here from another country yesterday.” And as we sat there looking eye to eye with perplexed expressions, the manager walks up behind her. I then repeat myself and the manager had to show her “coke” and “ice”. COME ON!!!! You mean to tell me that you are working at Mac Donalds and you don’t know at LEAST the words on the menu. That’s just ridiculous….
So, I pay for the meal and as my friend and I drive off (he’s driving) I tell him about my feelings on the subject at hand. As I spoke to him I was thinking, I should write about this in my blog…and then I thought that instead of being predjudice, I should feel honored that I live in a city like Washington, DC where all types of people can live, learn,work and, grow together…by golly… I had my predjudice under control, I replaced the negative thinking with positive thinking, and my salad was only half wilted. Life was looking good…
…until I looked at my receipt and that non-English speaking bitch put $19.00 on my card instead of &7!!!!!! GODDAMN IT! Stupid bitch!
Needless to say we had to turn around and drive all the way back. Not only did I tell the manager that I was way overcharged, I brought it to her attention that the lady at the drive through window could not understand the words coming out of my mouth because she DOESN”T SPEAK ENGLISH! Her response…oh, “she just got here.” What the?
I don’t think I’m predjudice anymore. I just want good customer service. I shouldn’t be all stressed out when I’m about to spend my money at your establishment whatever it may be…the gas station, the car wash (oh don’t get me started), the cell phone company (who transfers many of their calls to India), a restaurant! Do you really think that I could go to another country and have them hire me in a customer service position without speaking their language. I don’t think so. France won’t have me serving biscuits instead of croissants...
