Polite Savages (tm)

International Relations: Part 2 Money, Money, Money!

In other parts of the world there are specific customs when it comes to paying your local grocer or the hotel bill.

In France, most retail transactions are handled like this.  Your bill comes to you on a tray.  You pick it up and look at it and then you place your cash or credit card onto the tray and return said tray to the cashier.  The cashier will then return your change or cash slip on the tray for you to take or sign.

In China and many other Asian countries, like Singapore, Hong Kong (OK, technically it's part of China but it's a Special Administrative Region), Taiwan and Japan, the cashier will present your bill with both hands and you should accept with both hands.  When presenting cash or credit card for payment you present with both hands.  It's a sign of respect from one party to the other. 

Unfortunately, here at home, anything goes. 

International Relations: Part 1, Tongue

Save that for some other form of international relations.  What I'm talking about is speaking a foreign language.  When you travel to another country, not England, you should try to speak like the locals.  Don't assume that everyone can speak English.  Even if they can it's still nice to try out the basics.  Need I remind you again?  Hello, Good Bye, and Thank You!

I was in France this past summer with a dear friend of mine who is extremely smart and well educated but doesn't speak French.  Unlike me of course.  In any case, everywhere we went he spoke English to shopkeepers, waiters and strangers as if they could understand.  Sometimes they did, but more often than not, they appeared confused and put off.  Of course they would, can you imagine if someone came up to you and just started speaking to you in some other language?  

A couple of weeks ago, I was in this upscale pet store, zoomies, with my daughter and our little dog.  An elegant, bejeweled older woman started speaking to me in Portuguese.  She was smiling big time so I knew she smiled back thinking,, "Um, yeah, you're in New York so you need to speak English."  I'm not some xenophobic populist.  I just didn't understand what she was saying and didn't think that I really should have to know Portuguese in addition to the three languages I can already speak, quite competently I might add!  When I told shook my head and said sorry I don't understand, she called upon her daughter, also bejeweled and tanned in a very I have lots of leisure time kind of way.  Her daughter, clearly not wanting to get involved, told me that her mom really liked our dog and was wondering if he was some kind of English something or another.  I, not having so much leisure time, explained that he was a long haired chihuahua.  They were less than impressed.  He is rather big for a but I have papers!  Ok, the point is that what if someone came up to you in your hometown and started speaking to you in a foreign language?  Wouldn't you feel a bit put off?  So don't do the same if you have a passport unlike a certain vice presidential candidate (oh sorry, she got one two years ago?) and choose to travel abroad.  Be a world citizen not just an American citizen. 

Oh yeah, for the record, I am a proud and patriotic American.

New York Chinatown Bakeries

I love food.  I love Chinese food and I mean real Chinese food.  Not the stuff of local takeouts that cater to a bland palate.  One of the things that most Americans don't experience about Chinese food is the Chinese bakery.  The Chinese bakery in America is a fusion of Western baking techniques and the Chinese palate.  The baked goods range from sugary goodness in the middle of a napoleon walnut cake, the savory goodness of a pork thread bun and my favorite, the egg custard tart.  Of course there is so much more for sale like roast pork buns, curry puffs, hot dogs wrapped in puff pastry, sweet white pullman bread and the list goes on . . . I could eat at a Chinese bakery everyday. 

A couple of blogs and websites provide fantastic advice on  navigating the menu and ordering etiquette at a Chinese bakery.

Ed Levine provides a detailed guide to New York's Chinatown bakeries.

This is a general New York Chinatown blog.

Fay Da is one of the most prominent and accessible bakeries in New York's Chinatown.

These bakeries typically provide trays, tongs and wax bags.  It's self-service but sales attendants are always ready to help customers especially the ones that look confused.  Please do not use bare hands, put baked goods into the wax bags.  Move from left to right.  Pass your tray to a cashier who will tally your purchases.  Pay quickly and get out of the way.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  Finally as always, say thank you and please and smile.

Enjoy!

Train Vigilante Followup

The New York Times folllowed up on the indignant train passenger who tried to educate his fellow commuters on the etiquette on public transportation. 

While I am sympathetic to his beliefs, I don't agree with him on how to enforce those social rules.  Yelling, physical contact are big no-no's for me.  You end up being just as bad as the people you are trying to correct. 

So here's to you Mr. John Clifford and all that you do.  May you be rewarded in this life or the next.  I wish you the best. 

New York, New York

     The New York Times reported today that Mayor Bloomberg kicked off a tourist welcoming campaign featuring everyday New Yorkers as tour guides.  The campaign's main principle is that New Yorkers are friendly people ready to help.  He is trying to shrug off that storied stereotype that the average citizen is mean and only out for himself.  If it were a movie, we would see a bewildered family from the Mid-West dressed in coordinating shorts and bright shirts turning a map about while tens of people scurry by and ignore their plight.  The end of the scene would probably show a taxi driving by and splashing them.  As with most stereotypes, it's just not true.  New Yorkers are friendly people, too friendly if you ask me.  In the past couple of weeks, we've had two strangers approach us and tell us their history with our house.  It's interesting but it can be a bit off-putting.  Like when the ninety year old man told us that he rented the top floor front room for $17 a month back in 1927 and he a lot of "good times there."  Thanks for sharing.    

     But as for sharing my knowledge of the city, I've always been more than ready to assist.  One of my colleagues who does not live in the city asked me what might be pleasant to do outdoors this holiday weekend.  I suggested the following:

1.     Check out the new Greek and Roman Art Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then head upstairs to the Met's roof garden cafe for a cocktail and a beautiful view of Central Park

2.     Have brunch outside (try the pretty and down to earth back garden at Paradou).  Then go for a wander in the West Village or Meat Packing District and spy into historic houses and browse through tony shops.