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:
well, at least it he didn't use 老外先生.
Hope you send a complaint to Dominoes. This is the kind of thing that belongs in blogworld too.
This post was a thing of beauty, Mr. Foreigner.
They do the same in Starbucks when they write names on cups
It's cute, I think.
Don't get me wrong. I love my new nickname. Suddenly everyone is calling me "Mr. Foreigner".
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
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?
I have been here for ten years, so I hardly think it's destroying me. "Lighten up?"
Funny, I thought the post was funny.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
And cheese powder from Mainland China, laced with Melamine resin.
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