Table clearage

Here’s something that mildly peeves me about Singaporeans; that so many people just won’t return their trays. When Ling and I started going out years ago, I made it a point to get both of us to return our trays when we finish dining at foodcourts and fastfood restaurants.

On our part, it’s not really about being considerate towards our diners waiting for a table (we’ll clear our own table regardless of how packed the foodcourt is), but rather this feeling we share that don’t people find it embarrassing to have an old uncle or auntie retiree clearing after your mess. So, it’s a little encouraging to see an article in Tuesday’s The Straits Times that the Suntec City foodcourt is going to encourage its diners do return trays.

I also remember my Chinese teacher during my secondary school days. This fellow was the discipline master, and a really scary figure who wore a perpetual scowl on his face. I recall, if vaguely too, that he looked a little like Adolf Hitler (no kidding). I remembered that this teacher was disliked both for the merciless way he enforced discipline—which I accept was part of the job—but also that he had a massive ego to boot. On one occasion during class, I recalled he proudly stated as a matter-of-fact that he refuses to return trays in McDonald’s restaurants because to him because he resented all things ang moh, and by extension McDonald’s was an ang moh thing for him.

Still, school is resolving to get students in the faculty to do the same in the canteen too. Unfortunately, a couple of students are either trying to be funny or they seriously need an ethical wake up call. One fellow in my caregroup cheekily said that if we all return our own plates, the retirees will be all out of jobs. I now know what to say in his testimonial – hur hur hur! :)