I got my next paperwork for immigration. In a couple of weeks I go for a biometrics appointment, which, as I understand it, is just fingerprints and photographs (because the complete set of fingerprints and FOUR sets of passport photos I've sent in so far are apparently not good enough!) The appointment place is less than a mile from Paul's work so that should be quite convenient. Naturally I have anticipated about 25 problems that could occur but I'm still excited.
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Paul enjoyed his restaurant shift last week because he got to see a lot of old friends. He made decent tips until his last table of the night. It was a largish party and Paul was waiting for them to leave when they beckoned him over. They told him how great he and the food both were and called him by name and then handed him the check folder thing. Anticipating a good tip he opened it and saw that on the bill for $138.03 they had left him $138.00. Indeed, the service was so good that they felt they could short him 3 cents instead of leaving a tip. Jerkfaces.
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You're not even going to BELIEVE this one (and don't tell me anymore that Paul should quit, I tell him that every day). There are still a couple of guys at Paul's shop who are 'loyal' to former #2 and treat Paul pretty crappy since, I assume, they feel that Paul was responsible for #2 quitting. Earlier this week, Paul was tired of being treated shitty and when one of the guys asked him for something (after harrassing him about it a million times) he said 'here it is, princess'. Apparently, that was a sore spot because the guy launched himself across the shop and pinned Paul to the wall by his neck and proceeded to choke him. Paul couldn't speak or really move and before he could try to struggle away or get really injured, Keef (yay Keef) pulled the maniac off him. The police were called, the guy was taken away in cuffs and we had to go to court yesterday. Paul is doing his best to try and get the charges dropped because the guy spent a few hours in jail and will almost certainly get fired and that's plenty, but it may be too late to do so. We encountered the guy in the hallway and Paul stopped him and told him that he was going to try and get the charges dropped and the guy apologized and shook Paul's hand so hopefully this will be the end of it. Oh, the DRAMA of our lives!
The courthouse was interesting. We waited with a long line of people to get in and then went in one at a time through the metal detector etc. I forgot to take off my pendant and so they had to wand me down and of course I get SO nervous around authority (especially like this because it reminds me of customs *shiver*) that I forgot to go back and get my purse. Paul saw it though and asked if he could grab it for me. The security guy said 'well, its not really your color, but go ahead' and generally joked with us and treated us with respect.
On the way home I remarked that we were pretty much the only white people in the line to get into the courtrooms. I've said this kind of thing before but its so interesting to me. It doesn't
-matter- that we were the only caucasians, but you do -notice- it, especially when you grew up in a town with NO blacks or asians or any other race. Paul said 'yes, and you'll notice how the guards joked with us and no one else?' He pointed out some other things that the guards (both black and white) did differently for us than the other people waiting and I was once again amazed. I always heard about this kind of thing but suddenly living down here, I see it. Its not the kind of racism I expected. I thought that in the south some people hated black people. And some do, but most don't. Most simply treat them...differently. Sometimes, not even worse, just different. The south is a very strange place.
4 comments:
I wonder if the people at the restaurant weren't trying to be jerkfaces, but (mistakenly) assumed that the tip was included in the bill. I know a lot of places include 15% if your party is more than 6 people (something I personally hate, because then if you get crappy service it's like you are still obliged to tip!). Maybe it was just a case of not paying attention carefully to the bill and figuring that was the case at Paul's place too.
We are always blind to what we grow up with. The exact same things happens back here with natives every single day. Usually at best they are invisible if not treated to open eye rolls or mutterings. I am guilty myself of course but when it's pointed out to you it's shocking.
Reba
Years ago a friend and I had a great meal with a wonderful waitress. It wasn't until we got home that we realized we'd forgotten to leave a tip. I know, wtf?! We should have gone back and rectified it, but we were like 21 at the time and stupid. But I think gourmet sheep's answer is more likely. I see that a lot too.
As for the race thing, I think the fact that people are treated "different" is the key in itself. In Montana it's with Native Americans (who are MUCH more visible than when I was growing up in Arizona). I was talking to a colleague about a newspaper article I just read (about a 20 year old murder where a high school valedictorian was killed). They think now a bunch of high school girls did it.
The woman said, "They're Native American, aren't they?" They were, actually, but just the question made me feel pretty bad. It was exactly the same with the Maori in NZ. Crime? It's a Maori, no doubt!
A Maori crime? Is that what they call a crime of passion in NZ?
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