Normally, I’m not racist, sexist, homophobic, ageist, or anything like
that. I’m completely for equality, and I’ve been told that shows
through my serving, as I treat everyone the same.
But, sometimes, people just prove the stereotype that makes people
biased, and even I can’t help but generalise sometimes. Of course,
there are some that disprove the stereotypes, and keep your faith in
individuality strong, but quite a few don’t.
One table I had was like that. They were Pakistani, I believe, all
nine of them men, and they seemed to believe that since I was a woman,
I should be at home, with a husband, barefooted and pregnant while
making dinner for when said husband comes home. Now, don’t get me
wrong, I’d love a family of my own some day, but that life isn’t for
me.
So, pretty much the second I walked up to them, I got an intense
feeling that they really didn’t like me. Regardless, I put on the
biggest smile I could and treat them the best I can, despite the
obvious glares. Unfortunately, they seem to think I was their slave
and ran me ragged, the second I got back to their table I got ‘asked’
for another drink refill, more garlic bread, etc, etc. And I use the
term ‘asked’ loosely since they usually just grunted ‘Bread’ or
‘Water’.
Since it was a slow night, and almost closing time, I was the only
server left and they were my last table, meaning that each time they
‘asked’ for something, I couldn’t make the excuse I was busy, and they
knew it.
Finally, after what feels like hours (In reality it was only 45
minutes), they finally ‘ask’ for the check. Their bill comes to a
whopping £200 (About 300 USD, which, as a 9 top table was still a
pretty large bill, but not all that surprising with how many drinks
and garlic bread refills they asked for.)
And then, there was the tip. I was hoping that, by some miracle, I’d
managed to give a good enough service that they’d at least somewhat
consider a large tip. No such luck. My tip? £1.50. Not even 1%. I was
furious. I’d been running around like a slave for them for 45 minutes,
and they didn’t even give me a 1% tip?
It’s tables like these that give me that little voice inside, which I
hate, that always says that a colored group will give me a bad tip.
It’s quite often proven wrong, but sometimes, it’s proven right.
If you don’t want to be stereotyped, don’t act like the stereotype,
please.
- Lizzie
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