So here is a general guide and some tips on how you can improve not only your very own eating experience, but others as well, because who likes to be grumpy when food is supposed to satisfy our tummy and make us happy. In general, these tips and guides are most relevant to people from the working population. Enjoy.
Do's
1. Queue Up For Your Order To Be Taken
Queuing up to buy food in Singapore is the norm and this isn't a big problem. However, at times, even though there are queues, the queues can GET REALLY MESSY and can go both ways. This happens when space is really cram. Imagine when you would like to queue up for your food, you wonder if you should join the left queue or the right queue. Hmm..? How about the center one?
There could possibly be two queues, one for orders to be taken and another for the collection of food. Please just open your mouth and kindly ask the stall owner which queue you should join for your orders to be taken. And maybe if you're lucky, he/she might take your order first. (;
2. Kindly Give Up Your Seat When You Have Finished Your Food
It's a hawker center, a place for you to EAT, NOT CHILL. If you notice someone (Oh, don't pretend not to please) waiting for the seat, please have the INITIATIVE to give up your god damn seat once you have finished eating or if you are still eating then don't rush but at least don't take your own sweet time as well. And don't give excuses like 'Sorry lah, mouth small' etc. Unless you are a baby and need someone to feed you (which I'm sure you're not), better move your lazy ass and get going.
3. Take Away If You Are In A Rush
Not having the luxury of time because you are rushing to grab a quick bite before attending a meeting or meeting a client means that the obvious better choice here is to take away to eat at the office pantry or just grab some 'Fast Food' because of course they are meant to be fast. Just accept it that you can't have the perfect plan and having the time to find a seat to enjoy your meal just isn't realistic.
Deal with it. Accept it. Move on.
4. Return Your Trays And Dump Your Rubbish.
You are right. Those are the cleaners job. And you aren't a cleaner. Really? Because all I see are EXCUSES. Do you not do cleaning at home? Being a cleaner is far from being easy. It's probably one of the most tedious and low paid jobs out there, on top of long working hours. To think that their job is to only collect trays and dump our rubbish is simply TOO NAIVE. They still have to wipe the tables, sweep and mob the floors and wash all the utensils. It is excusable IF you are in a rush and the tray return station is few kilometers away. But oh come on, Just a few steps away from your seat and you're so lazy to carry the tray to the tray return station while making your way out? You might as well be lazy to return to work because I'm sure it's a longer walking distance to your own office.
Please make this YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
5. Order Only What You Can Finish.
Pretty straight forward. If you are rich and got the habit of ordering lots of food just to try then I suggest you should ASK FRIENDS who can really eat a whale to tag along. Or maybe you can just call me along. I'll do my best. Just don't make me pay. (;
Refer To Point 4 Of The Don't's.
6. If You Have Flexible Working Hours, Try To Avoid Having Lunch During Peak Hours.
This is really the SWEETEST thing you can do for those who just aren't as lucky: those who have employers who are really stringent about reporting back to work punctually after lunch hours. And I think more importantly, you get to find seats easily, avoid long queues and enjoy your meal in less crammed spaces. What's not to love?
Don't's
1. Use Packets Of Tissues To CHOPE (Reserve) Seats.
This is a situation that can only be found in Singapore.
There was once (was at Golden Shoe) I saw this group of tourists (Caucasians) taking seats on a table chope with packets of tissues. After buying and finishing their food. They thought that the packets were there for anyone to use, so they started using them. When the group who had chope the seats returned, they were really furious and started making a scene. It was most probably one of the UGLIEST scenes I've ever seen. Worst so for the Caucasians. Because their most 'enjoyable', 'memorable' and 'shareable' moments happen to be something this interesting. Of course, who would've thought that Singaporeans are this selfish? Great job guys. Definitely their last.
And regarding those times when there's only one piece of tissue in that pack and it gets blown away by the fans or wind, I find them rather hilarious. When you are back and you see the packet lying around on the floor, you kick up a big fuss saying you reserve the seat bla bla bla. Don't give me this bullshit please. Your packet of tissue get blown away, I see a vacant seat, my fault? (you can just make things more convenient for yourself by tossing them on the floor (;)
Refer To Point 3 Of The Do's If You Are In A Rush.
2. Place Your Handbag Or Whatever Bag On An Empty Seat That You Are Not Reserving For A Friend.
Oh come on. It's the peak hours. Don't give me the BULLSHIT that your handbag cost you $1,000. Even if it is $100,000,000, do I look like I give a shit? Everyone are looking for seats during peak hours and yet you are being a selfish prick. Can some kind soul rob this bag so that another poor soul can have a seating space?
3. Cut The Queue Because Your Friend Or Family Member Is At The Front Of The Queue.
Queue cutting in Singapore isn't common and yet I find this really disturbing. It makes you look so bad and I'm sure people will start staring at you or even request you to join the queue from the back. But you can always choose to be smart and just text or call your friend/family member in the queue and tell them what you would like to have from that stall to avoid unnecessary conflicts that could possibly happen. Or well, you could just get your lazy ass up and join the queue from the back.
4. Food Wastage.
This point definitely isn't just limited to eating at the coffee shop or hawker centers. Wasting food is a really bad habit as there are many people out there who have BARELY SUFFICIENT FOOD to eat and yet how can we have the heart to leave food unfinished. And that actually isn't the sole problem. Have you ever thought of the hygiene issues that could result from this? Think you're being kind by leaving food behind for the crows? Unless you would like to have some free additional 'Ingredients' in your food, I suggest you better THINK TWICE.
Food For Thought?
1) Whenever I see an elderly or disabled aunty/uncle passing by and selling tissues, I tend to give them a dollar occasionally without accepting those tissues. The times I do, I enjoy leaving behind the packets of tissue with a note that says: 'Feel Free To Use'. CARING IS SHARING, So why not? The only problem here is that it might not actually work as intended because we all think we know why the packets of tissues are there for. But do we?
2) If I am a regular customer of a particular stall and I feel that the standard of the food has raised or fallen, I like to give compliments and feedback to the stall owners as a form of respect and appreciation. It DOESN'T COST YOU ANYTHING to give compliments so why not be generous with them? Maybe you'll get a free meal. (;
Conclusion
Each and every small and considerate act really goes a long way. You never know how much your positive actions can influence others to be positive as well, after all, everyone's common intention at hawker centers is to have a pleasant meal. I believe there are more points to add on to the ones I've already mentioned so feel free to leave comments or feedback. Thanks for reading! (:
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