After those near-violence experiences with the cashier, on instructing them not to provide a plastic bag, I now bring my own container for any food purchases. I came to this very famous and popular Southeast Asian-style bakery in the heart of Singapore, with my little reusable food container. I just felt like having some Cassava cake tonight.
Guess what? When I revealed my little box and said that I want my pastries placed in it, both the shopkeepers looked at me, puzzled. Yes, please, I said, I want my purchase to be placed in the box, and no extra plastic bag please.
Guess what? When I wasn’t looking, the elder shopkeeper stuffed two pastries into a plastic bag before placing them into the box! Arrrrrrgh! This time, I made sure I told her repeatedly that I want the other items placed straight into the box, without any bag.
Guess what? She looked at me, “huh? Straight into the box?” I said yes again. She then said, with that where-the-hell-did-you-weirdo-come-from look, “what? No bag? Isn’t that gonna make the box oily?”
What’s the bloody point of me telling you to place food in the box if I want it to be wrapped in yet another layer of plastic bag? Making the box oily? What kind of a question is that? What’s wrong with you humans? The phrase ‘washing up’ does exist for a reason, which is, when you place food in a dish, you wash it when you’ve finished eating. And for your information, I do plan to wash the box after use!
If only I could scream that in her face. But obviously, I only said the last sentence. Even then, it was confusing enough for her little human brain. That's after all, what the Singaporeans care about: cleaning up anything at all, that's why they prefer to have food in disposable containers that don't require washing up.
And guess what? When I went to the check out counter, I was offered yet another carrier for my container. No prize for correctly guessing what I said.
Guess what? When I revealed my little box and said that I want my pastries placed in it, both the shopkeepers looked at me, puzzled. Yes, please, I said, I want my purchase to be placed in the box, and no extra plastic bag please.
Guess what? When I wasn’t looking, the elder shopkeeper stuffed two pastries into a plastic bag before placing them into the box! Arrrrrrgh! This time, I made sure I told her repeatedly that I want the other items placed straight into the box, without any bag.
Guess what? She looked at me, “huh? Straight into the box?” I said yes again. She then said, with that where-the-hell-did-you-weirdo-come-from look, “what? No bag? Isn’t that gonna make the box oily?”
What’s the bloody point of me telling you to place food in the box if I want it to be wrapped in yet another layer of plastic bag? Making the box oily? What kind of a question is that? What’s wrong with you humans? The phrase ‘washing up’ does exist for a reason, which is, when you place food in a dish, you wash it when you’ve finished eating. And for your information, I do plan to wash the box after use!
If only I could scream that in her face. But obviously, I only said the last sentence. Even then, it was confusing enough for her little human brain. That's after all, what the Singaporeans care about: cleaning up anything at all, that's why they prefer to have food in disposable containers that don't require washing up.
And guess what? When I went to the check out counter, I was offered yet another carrier for my container. No prize for correctly guessing what I said.
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