Mee Siam Mai Hum

Sunday, July 31, 2011

It's quite amazing how much people can be willing to bend the rules for you. So I had $16 of stored value in my xinwang card which had technically expired. With a bit of persuasion I managed to get it back :) In younger days I might have just walked away, feeling kind of upset. But whining a bit at the counter with the occasional pout (okay, i did a natural one, not every facial expression I have needs to be conceived of in extreme terms ;)) did work miracles. After resignedly telling them I would go eat KFC instead to save money, the manager and waitstaff just kind of chuckled and gave in.

Maybe everyone just wants to do someone (especially someone displaying overgrown petulance, it seems) a good turn and make someone's day. And to have the power to make that difference for a stranger even, without much cost to yourself - is a key perk of any job.

It's always worked that way,
whether it's securing rooms beyond your allotted booking,
whether it's opening the welfare room on a Sunday,
whether it's letting people cut corners on a group project with full knowledge you'll have to put those corners back on.

Or extending deadlines for someone,
or not asking certain questions,
or giving the benefit of the doubt.
All of which I think is more gracious than corrupt.

Being on the receiving end of all these little generosities help humanize you. As does fiction, as does contemplation, as does worry, as does imagination, but not quite in the same way.

2L @ 12:42 AM
"Sorry also must exprain"
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Hello Uncle...Bah Chor Mee one. I want chilli plus tur Kwa plus can I watch your CCTV playback of Jeff Lopez...=D