SO came back from work today, bitching about his colleagues.
He and a few others had gone to the Philippines for work and according to the work culture, brought back snacks topical to the country.
And after taking a few bites, they just left the stuff on the table, drawing ants and insects.
No one bothered to keep the leftovers in the fridge! And this was NOT the first time either! The other time he brought back some food and they left it on the table overnight!
He was so angry as he saw it as a waste of food. They had spent money to buy back stuff from the place and the left overs were just discarded on the table! He felt they were not appreciative.
He told them off, telling them that he would never buy stuff back for them again if they continue to behave like that!
Frankly, it was the same in my previous company. But luckily, we also have a very conscientous cleaning lady that cleaned up after us. And it was also our policy then that whoever brought the food to pack the leftovers at the end of the day.
Okay, back to clearing trays in food courts.
Would I clear my trays after I am done with my food? Sure why not! If the trays collection points are accessible.
If I have to make a special detour just to deposit my used trays, forget it.
Anyway, I remembered that in schools, we were taught to clear our trays after every meal. There were prefects on standby, watching like hawks.
But somehow, once we ventured into working society, we just forgot these habits.
------------------------
The Straits Times
19 Aug 2008
Goodness gracious me
Well-being of people also depends on improving social graces
By Zakir Hussain
SINGAPORE'S men know how to clear their tables and return their trays during National Service. But when they eat at food courts, their behaviour puzzles Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
'I don't understand. Every National Serviceman knows exactly what to do in his cookhouse. Maybe we need more reservist training,' he said, to roars of laughter from his audience of 1,700.
He described the common sight of uncleared trays at food courts when highlighting the need to improve social graces. The well-being of Singaporeans depends not just on bread-and-butter issues but also on how people behave and relate to one another.
At Sunday's National Day Rally, he said there had been 'all sorts of campaigns' from getting people to queue up, be courteous, not spit, flush toilets and give excellent service. 'Sometimes people laugh at us. But actually these are things which we can work on and improve,' he said.
'If we can make people aware of their behaviour and conscious of the impact on others, we can educate them and they can learn new habits. They will respond and our social norms will upgrade.' There has been progress, he noted.
People living here might not notice, but infrequent visitors could see the difference, he said, citing Sri Lankan Doreen Wissmann, who was here recently for only the second time in 40 years.
She was so moved by what she experienced that she wrote to The Straits Times Forum page to say she was met with kindness everywhere she went.
'Shopkeepers gave me water to drink, people waiting for a bus walked with me to the correct bus stop, people helped me cross the street. I have never experienced this sort of kindness anywhere else in the world...Not only is your economy sound but your heart is in the right place.'
Said Mr Lee: 'She must have been a very nice lady. But the people who behaved so well to her flew the flag for Singapore. We don't know who they are, but we should thank them.'
Mr Lee said the Singapore Kindness Movement had conducted surveys of social behaviour considered important, and also showed up some problems areas.
Some things people were good at: Sitting in the cinema and not putting their feet on the chair in front of them; saying 'Thank you' after being served.
But in other areas, like clearing tables and returning food trays, there was a need to improve.
Last month, a bid by Suntec City's Fountain Food Terrace to get patrons to return their trays saw dismal results. 'It's going to take time to change the mindset, because the mindset is, I go to the food courts to eat and not to clean tables,' he said.
He also read out an e-mail from a woman on the issue: 'We should feel quite embarrassed to leave our dirty plates and tables for the next diner. In my mum's house, after eating, we will clear our plates and clean the table. This is a good habit we should adopt outside the home.'
Then, to more laughter, he read the writer's plea: 'Most importantly, no fines, no fines. Dishing out fines hurts relationships and (isn't a) good image for the PAP government.' I thanked her for her good wishes, he said, adding: 'I'll try and find some way before thinking about fines.'
He also cited MediaCorp Radio's Class 95 FM station highlighting the issue by inviting listeners to submit videos of the best and worst habits. The response was 'tremendous', Mr Lee said.
Some of the clips were shown at the rally, to much laughter as people recognised behaviour that included lying down on bus seats to moving ahead of a person to flag down a taxi.
A way to change mindsets, said undergrad Andrew Wong, 24, who was at the rally, was to celebrate 'unsung heroes' like those who helped Madam Wissmann.
He and a few others had gone to the Philippines for work and according to the work culture, brought back snacks topical to the country.
And after taking a few bites, they just left the stuff on the table, drawing ants and insects.
No one bothered to keep the leftovers in the fridge! And this was NOT the first time either! The other time he brought back some food and they left it on the table overnight!
He was so angry as he saw it as a waste of food. They had spent money to buy back stuff from the place and the left overs were just discarded on the table! He felt they were not appreciative.
He told them off, telling them that he would never buy stuff back for them again if they continue to behave like that!
Frankly, it was the same in my previous company. But luckily, we also have a very conscientous cleaning lady that cleaned up after us. And it was also our policy then that whoever brought the food to pack the leftovers at the end of the day.
Okay, back to clearing trays in food courts.
Would I clear my trays after I am done with my food? Sure why not! If the trays collection points are accessible.
If I have to make a special detour just to deposit my used trays, forget it.
Anyway, I remembered that in schools, we were taught to clear our trays after every meal. There were prefects on standby, watching like hawks.
But somehow, once we ventured into working society, we just forgot these habits.
------------------------
The Straits Times
19 Aug 2008
Goodness gracious me
Well-being of people also depends on improving social graces
By Zakir Hussain
SINGAPORE'S men know how to clear their tables and return their trays during National Service. But when they eat at food courts, their behaviour puzzles Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
'I don't understand. Every National Serviceman knows exactly what to do in his cookhouse. Maybe we need more reservist training,' he said, to roars of laughter from his audience of 1,700.
He described the common sight of uncleared trays at food courts when highlighting the need to improve social graces. The well-being of Singaporeans depends not just on bread-and-butter issues but also on how people behave and relate to one another.
At Sunday's National Day Rally, he said there had been 'all sorts of campaigns' from getting people to queue up, be courteous, not spit, flush toilets and give excellent service. 'Sometimes people laugh at us. But actually these are things which we can work on and improve,' he said.
'If we can make people aware of their behaviour and conscious of the impact on others, we can educate them and they can learn new habits. They will respond and our social norms will upgrade.' There has been progress, he noted.
People living here might not notice, but infrequent visitors could see the difference, he said, citing Sri Lankan Doreen Wissmann, who was here recently for only the second time in 40 years.
She was so moved by what she experienced that she wrote to The Straits Times Forum page to say she was met with kindness everywhere she went.
'Shopkeepers gave me water to drink, people waiting for a bus walked with me to the correct bus stop, people helped me cross the street. I have never experienced this sort of kindness anywhere else in the world...Not only is your economy sound but your heart is in the right place.'
Said Mr Lee: 'She must have been a very nice lady. But the people who behaved so well to her flew the flag for Singapore. We don't know who they are, but we should thank them.'
Mr Lee said the Singapore Kindness Movement had conducted surveys of social behaviour considered important, and also showed up some problems areas.
Some things people were good at: Sitting in the cinema and not putting their feet on the chair in front of them; saying 'Thank you' after being served.
But in other areas, like clearing tables and returning food trays, there was a need to improve.
Last month, a bid by Suntec City's Fountain Food Terrace to get patrons to return their trays saw dismal results. 'It's going to take time to change the mindset, because the mindset is, I go to the food courts to eat and not to clean tables,' he said.
He also read out an e-mail from a woman on the issue: 'We should feel quite embarrassed to leave our dirty plates and tables for the next diner. In my mum's house, after eating, we will clear our plates and clean the table. This is a good habit we should adopt outside the home.'
Then, to more laughter, he read the writer's plea: 'Most importantly, no fines, no fines. Dishing out fines hurts relationships and (isn't a) good image for the PAP government.' I thanked her for her good wishes, he said, adding: 'I'll try and find some way before thinking about fines.'
He also cited MediaCorp Radio's Class 95 FM station highlighting the issue by inviting listeners to submit videos of the best and worst habits. The response was 'tremendous', Mr Lee said.
Some of the clips were shown at the rally, to much laughter as people recognised behaviour that included lying down on bus seats to moving ahead of a person to flag down a taxi.
A way to change mindsets, said undergrad Andrew Wong, 24, who was at the rally, was to celebrate 'unsung heroes' like those who helped Madam Wissmann.
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