1/24/2007

That's Mr. Foreigner to You




I ordered a pizza from Dominoes tonight. This is the label that they plastered to the box. It reads for "Mr. Foreigner".
I've been here in Taiwan for some time, so language wasn't really an issue. The cashier asked me what kind I wanted, if I would be having the thick crust or thin crust, if I'd like to try one of the newfangled crust fillings or if I wanted chicken wings. He asked me for my phone number, said I'd have to wait 10-15 minutes and that I was Number 28.
Only he couldn't bother to ask me my name. I was just "Mr. Foreigner" to him.

15 comments:

Prince Roy said...

well, at least it he didn't use 老外先生.

Anonymous said...

Hope you send a complaint to Dominoes. This is the kind of thing that belongs in blogworld too.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

This post was a thing of beauty, Mr. Foreigner.

Anonymous said...

They do the same in Starbucks when they write names on cups

It's cute, I think.

Anonymous said...

Don't get me wrong. I love my new nickname. Suddenly everyone is calling me "Mr. Foreigner".

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Cowsill,

Many of our Customer Service Representatives in Taiwan are not fluent English speakers, and thus work from a dialogue sheet to take orders. Apparently the CSR speaking with you took a short cut and did not ask for your surname. We have taken further measures to ensure that our CSR team ask for surnames of all our customers that place orders.

Please ask our apologies; we will be sending a free pizza coupon for your troubles.

Thank you,
Scott Oelkers / President

Anonymous said...

As already explained on this blog, the cashier was speaking Chinese. Why on earth would he need a "dialogue sheet" to speak his own language? In fact there was no "dialogue sheet" to help him speak Chinese.

More than I want that free pizza (and it sure sounds good), I want Dominoes Pizza to stop prejudicing against me when I go in there. According to Chapter 1, Article 5 of the General Provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan): "There shall be equality among the various racial groups in the Republic of China."

How does this disclude me?

Patrick Cowsill said...

I have been here for ten years, so I hardly think it's destroying me. "Lighten up?"

Funny, I thought the post was funny.

Anonymous said...

No worries about this being funny. You certainly made my day: I found it damn funny. Is it still "amusing" when people in the states call porkbarrel's kiddies "breed" or "Chink". He will appreciate your effort more when it happens. So carry on, my friend.

Anonymous said...

There's no need to tell me how many millenia have passed since we started getting the shrift. I've made the point several times on my blog. I made it on the Bad Visa post and also here: http://patrick-cowsill.blogspot.com/2007/01/racism-is-imported-to-taiwan.html

What's this comment really about?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Foreigner, what is the latest on this? I bought pizza today and there was no name on the box. Looks like there was a change in policy, as promised by Mr. Oelkers/President.

Anonymous said...

I bought a pizza a month ago and they printed a tag to say I was "Mr. Chiao." I explained I was "Mr. Frey," so they crossed "Mr. Chiao" out and wrote in "Mr. Frey" on the tag. During Chinese New Year, I bought a couple more pizzas, and now they're not printing any names on the tags anymore. Is this the same for Taiwanese I don't know.

Patrick Cowsill said...

The sent a manager over to make sure that this got straightened out, finally. But there's a Pizza Hut next door now - right next door - so who cares? Pizza Hut has those yummy crusts stuffed with cheese.

Anonymous said...

And cheese powder from Mainland China, laced with Melamine resin.

Constance Collier, Osoyoos, B.C.

I looked up Constance Collier (1878-1955). Born in Windsor, England, Collier was "known to be very tall with a big personality." S...