reality check..

every now and then.. there are moments like this that stops me in the tracks and shakes me and shoves the coffee in my face..

i was waiting in an ATM queue at a suburban shopping centre.. whilst thinking how my bank balance is dipping and feeling the financial pinches of studenthood.. and wondering why the ladies in a huddle infront of me is taking so long.. i realised it was a Caucasian lady was trying to help an African migrant lady (with a cute 2 yr old in tow) to use the ATM..

it turns out.. as the Caucasian lady explains.. the migrant lady can't take out any money from her account coz she's got $30 in the balance, and the ATM can only let you take money out in increments of $50 notes..

ARGHHHHH.... guilt, shame, sadness came flooding like a tidal wave.. and i had to resist the urge to hand over my money to her after i made my withdraw..

what a privileged life i lead.. i've never known what it's like to be hungry, cold or homeless, i've never had to even use public transport!! i even had jobs offered to me that i turned down so i can do my phd.. and i had the galls to complain about my dwindling bank balance and bad coffee service.. shame shame shame..

"OH THE HUMANITY!!"

angry rant.. Grr!

what's happening to our service industry? why is perth plagued with bad hospitality staff!??!
why is there so much attitude and angst??

it started with a obviously just defrosted soggy sponge cake from Valentino (which apparently the manager and chef have both tasted and reckons it's 'fine' and 'fresh'.. yeah freshly frozen.. and if that's the standard of their taste test i shudder to think what sort of grub that kitchen is turning out..)..

i didn't realise that when i ordered my coffee from Rocket Fuel drive thru i was gonna get a whole lotta attitude and a lecture with it too! i was on a call while waiting in the car queue.. but the lady insisted that i order immediately thru the intercom. after i finished my call (10 L-O-N-G seconds later) i placed my order.. then when it's my turn to drive up to the window..

i was contemplating may be i should apologise for my behaviour earlier.. then i over heard this..

rude staff: (in a bitchy tone to other staff) ppl needs to be ready to place their order immediately and they shouldn't be talking on the phone. ( spotted me looking at her).. oh she's looking at me..

(DUH.. just becoz you are speaking out of sight doesn't mean i can't hear you!)

rude staff: (murmuring) you take the coffee to her and tell her..

another rude staff: (hands over my coffee) you should be ready to order when you are in the drive way, you SHOULD have you windows down, if not you can come in to the shop to order.

me: (indignantly) but there was no one waiting behind me!

another rude staff: well.. it's an express service you should be ready to order, just you should know (walked off while i'm about to speak)

me: well you are so RUDE.. (yelling after her.. and she's already out of sight..)

*FUMES* (plus angry and a little ashamed that calling someone rude was the best abuse i could come up with.. ARGH! while stomping my way to the office i entertained thousands of other things i could've done, e.g. park the car and walk into the shop to speak to the manager, throw the coffee back into the window, refuse to drive off and block the queue, inform the car behind me of the rude service, hand out boycotting flyers, toilet paper or egg the premise in the middle of the night, rip out their intercom, put a dead rat in their kitchen...whist i drafted a complaint letter in my head..)

why why why???

why are ppl so rude?!?! why do they need to take it out on other ppl and feel entitled they can ruin someone else's day? how much does it cost to be nice? i thought we paid for a 'service'!?!? or why don't i make my coffee at home and get abused for free?!?!?!

i often wondered if i was stuck in a $12/hr job making coffee everyday.. would i have done the same? *hmph*

i really hate being a buddhist some times.. this whole 'put yourself in other ppl's shoe' thing is such a drag when i'm in the middle of my righteous rant and plotting my vengeance..

Talking Pictures: Home Song Stories

been yearning for something cultural or arty farty.. so finally.. i peeled my ass off my couch and went to a ‘talking pictures’ event by Cinema Paradiso with my family..

we saw an Australian film called “Home Song Stories”, it was presented by its writer and director TONY AYRES and followed by a Q&A session.. it's really nice to meet the people behind the scenes, makes it a more intimate experience rather than 'just a movie' when you acknowledge the personal journey of those that is involved in the making..

Ohhh.. it made me cry.. not in mere drops.. but in rivers.. believe you me it was hard to look nonchalant when I’m wiping off tears through glasses with my sleeves..

I’m not usually so fond of sad movies, but this one was so beautiful and inspiring despite it’s traumatic storyline.. I was quite taken with it..

It’s one of those movies that is so beautifully written and made, you are just naturally drawn into the story by the intricately woven narrative..

It was intense and engaging.. I found myself sitting in awe as the credits rolled.. I sat there exploring all it’s layers of emotionality, savouring every little subtlety of suggestive expressions, marvelling at the exquisite experience of humanness and humanity, and a little overwhelmed by all the varying depths and complexities of emotions I felt..

I cried for the tragedies Tony Ayres (since it was based on his life) had to go thru at such a young age, the bond he shared with his sister, the internal turmoil of his mother, the battle of being a family in a foreign land, the heartbreak of unrequited love, the love-hate dilemma between mother and child, and the flawed yet perfect humanness within everyone..

Since I’ve always believed in the philosophy that being surrounded by beautiful things will inspire you to create more beautiful things.. I came home from the movie eager to write a review to match the experience.. I do find myself struggling to find words to do the film justice..

JUST GO WATCH IT LAH!

p.s. joan chen rocks! love the old school glam!