Are we Malaysians really that friendly?
When I was in my transit to LA from Bangkok, I met a guy from Afghanistan. Well, we talked we asked bout where we are from then he said he knew a few friends from Malaysia as well. He said his friends were nice, Malaysians are very nice. Then I said:
'So you think Malaysians are friendly?'
'Ya, how did you know?'
'Well, because I have heard people talking about it.'
But how come me, as a Malaysian did not feel the same?
I think I know why.
Let me tell you. Did you notice that whenever we queue up at any counter to pay out items (food, groceries, anything) have we ever hear the cashier said 'Hello, how are you?'. We could hardly get any smile too. What happened to the 'SMILE WHEN YOU SERVE' campaign gone?
It was just a momentary thing. Nowadays I always see sour face around. Well, I wouldn't say EVERY cashier is like that, some are, I appreciated them, friendly and with courtesy to serve.
But how many do we actually see this?
I was in the pharmacy in Austin to buy some personal stuff. I heard someone said 'Hi, how are you?' when I was browsing for my items. Well, probably someone saw someone in the store. When I walked up to the cashier, the cashier asked me the earlier question. Well, very friendly she is. This is not the first initiative conversation I have when I'm in Austin. Today is the third day I'm here and I see a lot of people would smile at me when I walked pass them in the airport, hotel jockey would asked what he could do to assist me, Americans will smile at me when I was walking down the road and when I was crossing the streets, hotel managers (or anyone he could be, wearing coat and tie) asking how I am again. That is what friendly is.
I was wondering this when I was walking back to hotel just now. I think I got the answer to this. It's very simple when you think of it.
Do we Malaysians friendly to Malaysian or more to foreigners especially Caucasians?
Definitely the latter.
So it would be the same I guess, we, foreigners in foreign country, treated friendly all together?
What about the 'Hi, how are you?' question to everyone that they asked?
Surely they are friendly to everyone because America is not only resident by Americans but also Hispanics, Caucasians, Asians. Texas is close to Mexico after all. It's almost the same as Malays, Chinese and Indians. So why can't we be like them?
'So you think Malaysians are friendly?'
'Ya, how did you know?'
'Well, because I have heard people talking about it.'
But how come me, as a Malaysian did not feel the same?
I think I know why.
Let me tell you. Did you notice that whenever we queue up at any counter to pay out items (food, groceries, anything) have we ever hear the cashier said 'Hello, how are you?'. We could hardly get any smile too. What happened to the 'SMILE WHEN YOU SERVE' campaign gone?
It was just a momentary thing. Nowadays I always see sour face around. Well, I wouldn't say EVERY cashier is like that, some are, I appreciated them, friendly and with courtesy to serve.
But how many do we actually see this?
I was in the pharmacy in Austin to buy some personal stuff. I heard someone said 'Hi, how are you?' when I was browsing for my items. Well, probably someone saw someone in the store. When I walked up to the cashier, the cashier asked me the earlier question. Well, very friendly she is. This is not the first initiative conversation I have when I'm in Austin. Today is the third day I'm here and I see a lot of people would smile at me when I walked pass them in the airport, hotel jockey would asked what he could do to assist me, Americans will smile at me when I was walking down the road and when I was crossing the streets, hotel managers (or anyone he could be, wearing coat and tie) asking how I am again. That is what friendly is.
I was wondering this when I was walking back to hotel just now. I think I got the answer to this. It's very simple when you think of it.
Do we Malaysians friendly to Malaysian or more to foreigners especially Caucasians?
Definitely the latter.
So it would be the same I guess, we, foreigners in foreign country, treated friendly all together?
What about the 'Hi, how are you?' question to everyone that they asked?
Surely they are friendly to everyone because America is not only resident by Americans but also Hispanics, Caucasians, Asians. Texas is close to Mexico after all. It's almost the same as Malays, Chinese and Indians. So why can't we be like them?
Comments
wat r u doin in LA?
;)