When I signed on to work in the service industry, I still had a little hope in me left that what I had read a year ago in the Straits Times wasn't true. Quoting an article from The Straits Times in June 21 2006, "SINGAPORE was placed a dismal 30 out of 35 cities in a Reader's Digest courtesy test, showing it still has a long way to go - even after more than a quarter century of courtesy campaigns." Working for real in the service industry has just cemented that finding for me.

In a span of three weeks, I got told to "go to hell", "jump into the lake", and various other damnations you can think of. I perfectly accept these without complaints if I had, in some way, been rude or abrasive whilst serving these people. But as far as I can remember, I remembered my Ps and Qs, and didn't really make major mistakes. But the thing is, these very people who curse me are those who are disillusioned or pissed at the fact that they were not getting what they want (because they simply CANNOT get it and they are stubbornly insisting on it), and for some reason, cannot remain civil whilst talking to me. The first time round, I was shocked by the lack of civility of these people talking to me. Pretty shaken, I didn't know how to react at all. A few damnations later, I was getting number and number to these unfounded insults. Perhaps you can say it isn't anger we're talking about now; more like bitterness against the unreasonable.

Then there are those who speak condescendingly; speaking down instead of speaking to. Yeah, seriously? Is there a need for that? Sure, I'm plebian. I'm content at that. I'd rather be humbly plebian than hoity-toity patrician.

But I still continue to work in this position, because as frustrating as it can get at times, there are the rewarding moments. Get lucky, and you get an unbelievably understanding person whom everybody's clamouring to serve. All is not lost, because in these 3 weeks I have had people treating me as an equal, and making me feel that I have indeed helped them. That feeling is rewarding. And anyway, this job allows me to interact with people. So ugly (metaphorically) or not, I still have to put up with it if I want to learn something.

In any case, if people want GEMS, then I think it's only fair to reciprocate with appropriate behaviour. All that is required of us is to be civil and respectful to a fellow human being. Is it that hard to accomplish?

And I cannot believe I am saying this, but it's true. I miss school like heck. Minus the examinations and homework of course (but even that was more bearable!). School was a safe haven. The worst sort of trouble you can get into - provided you're not the sort who messes around too much, of course - was a sharp rebuke by a teacher, or meet the parents. Even then, it was a protected environment. When you screw up at work, you really screw up. There's no one to cover for you, no one to say, "It's all right, I'll take it from here."

Interesting, really. I just hope I'm thick skinned enough to hold out till I have learned as much as I ought to.