Five Kuai

Tonight we visited one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. We have been coming to this place from the second week we got here. Tonight, however, we were very disappointed in the service and the food. It took forever to get our food and one of our group never got hers. We have a discount card and the bartender, who was evidently in charge tonight, did not give the proper discount and fought giving a free meal to the couple who never got their food. He even ignored Frank when he tried to get our 5K change back. The amount was not a big deal, the fact that he ignored us, refused to give us our ticket to look at, even saying he didn't have it was very rude. He even refused to give us his real name, afraid he would get in trouble. Too late for that because the owner is a foreigner and knows some of us already. It is a shame too, because we really like the place. Our waitress who was really at fault, never came back to our table and the other waiter, a villager who spoke a little English, tried his best to help and practice his English at the same time. That was funny. Our friend was trying to explain that the meal had never arrived and the waiter was looking at the menu. Suddenly he asked, "Are you American?" What? What does that have to do with our food? Then another waiter came over and told us something about the food ordered that didn't make sense, and there was a pause. With perfect comic timing, our villager said, "Good evening everyone!" as if he had just seen us for the first time. It was hilarious. He is worth coming back for. This was my first really negative experience with the Chinese fear of "losing face". The bartender would have lost face if he gave us our money even though it was the waitress' fault. This made him angry and instead of yelling at us, which they wouldn't do, he screamed and pounded the bar at our villager. We really felt sorry for him. We finished up this mess of dinner at McDonald's. Our friend got to eat and Frank soothed his frustrations with a strawberry sundae. It is amazing how icecream can change your mood. All things are bright and beautiful once again. Thanks Ronald!

mandy