My Mark Left At The Kopitiam
I've been going to this kopitiam for a while now for my fave 'bak chor mee' (mince meat noodle). I go there at least once a week for my fix; previously on my off days but these days, when I'm lazy to cook lunch. I don't mind the 10-20 min wait 'cos it's the best of the best along the stretch. The mince meat is nice, the fishball is firm & bouncy, they give 2 crunchy shrimps, fish cake and the vinegar in the sauce is just about right.
Since the time I started patronizing the stall, my challenge has been to get the stall lady to smile or maybe exchange some pleasantries with me. I gathered that after seeing me once a week for about a year, she'd recognise me, give me a hint of acknowledgement. Wei succeeded a few times (for the smile), which goes to prove (again) he is an 'aunty killer'.
Her husband is quite an opposite of her. A good-looker at his age, he's recognised me, struck up conversations with me & I call him whenever he's around.
Just the Wednesday that passed, my bowl of treasure came just after a couple of minutes. So I exclaimed to the lady, "Today so fast!" And she said yes, it was a quiet day. Yay, first base!
With my bowl of noodles, I always order a carton of Peel Fresh Mango drink. Yes, I am a creature of habit. The new helper (then) of the drinks stall got my orders wrong the first few times. He twice gave me a different brand. Thanks to him, I now know how to say 'carton' in mandarin to help him along with my order. Either that or he'll give me the orange flavoured ones. I guess my annoyance showed after the numerous mix-ups. I then realised that not being able to read English, the only way for him to recognise the various drinks were by the pictures. At one glance, the mango and the orange can look similar. I chided myself for not cutting him some slack. It altered my perceptions on reality & taught me to think a little bit before letting me emotions get the better of me. So after those initial kinks, all I had to say was "Mango" and he'll know which drink I want.
Today, I waited for him to come take my drink order. The drink just showed up by the side of the table. I was pleasantly suprised and terribly touched. I wanted to give him my biggest of bear hugs. He's got it! He knows me! I slowly have my mark on the kopitiam now.
Now if only I can get the lady to flash me her pearly whites. It can only start with me first.
Since the time I started patronizing the stall, my challenge has been to get the stall lady to smile or maybe exchange some pleasantries with me. I gathered that after seeing me once a week for about a year, she'd recognise me, give me a hint of acknowledgement. Wei succeeded a few times (for the smile), which goes to prove (again) he is an 'aunty killer'.
Her husband is quite an opposite of her. A good-looker at his age, he's recognised me, struck up conversations with me & I call him whenever he's around.
Just the Wednesday that passed, my bowl of treasure came just after a couple of minutes. So I exclaimed to the lady, "Today so fast!" And she said yes, it was a quiet day. Yay, first base!
With my bowl of noodles, I always order a carton of Peel Fresh Mango drink. Yes, I am a creature of habit. The new helper (then) of the drinks stall got my orders wrong the first few times. He twice gave me a different brand. Thanks to him, I now know how to say 'carton' in mandarin to help him along with my order. Either that or he'll give me the orange flavoured ones. I guess my annoyance showed after the numerous mix-ups. I then realised that not being able to read English, the only way for him to recognise the various drinks were by the pictures. At one glance, the mango and the orange can look similar. I chided myself for not cutting him some slack. It altered my perceptions on reality & taught me to think a little bit before letting me emotions get the better of me. So after those initial kinks, all I had to say was "Mango" and he'll know which drink I want.
Today, I waited for him to come take my drink order. The drink just showed up by the side of the table. I was pleasantly suprised and terribly touched. I wanted to give him my biggest of bear hugs. He's got it! He knows me! I slowly have my mark on the kopitiam now.
Now if only I can get the lady to flash me her pearly whites. It can only start with me first.