As I was sitting inside a Dunkin' Donuts this morning, sipping a cappuccino with 6 packets of sugar and chewing on a cinnamon raisin bagel, I noticed something. (The cinnamon raisin bagel had cream cheese in it. But, that's not what I noticed. Thing is, I've always sworn to never eat this kind of bagel with c.c. because it's so good with butter. I just can't figure out how to ask for butter in Korean. I don't think this Dunkin Donuts has it. I asked the first day and it seems like they either have cream cheese or olive oil?? I don't know.)
Anyway, the thing I noticed was how differently Koreans treat their jobs than Americans.
Let's use a Dunkin' Donuts establishment and their employees as primary examples.
Establishment:
In America, most people don't even walk into Dunkin'. A drive-thru is much more convenient and cuts down on any awkward, social interactions. There's no pressure to ask anybody how their day is going or even mutter a simple "Hello." You yell a number into a machine and they give you a very muffled price number back. You yell again and hit the intercom with your hand. Eventually, the machine's static breaks up and you get your cash amount. You get to the window to pay and give them the money. They give you your coffee and donut. And you're off. You don't even have to look at the person if you don't want to. It's the food you want. Who cares about greeting the person who made it and gave it to you? They are inconsequential. A nameless hand that brings that donut ever closer to your drooling mouth.
In Korea, there are no drive-thrus. At least, here in Chuncheon there are none. Reasons could be because the city-setup does not allow for one, or for the fact that meal-time should not be rushed. It should be a time of rest and should be treated with both courtesy and time. You walk into the Donut shop, and are automatically greeted with a hello, service and a smile. You place an order and are given a tray with your coffee, donut or bagel promptly. The woman or man working hands you the tray with two hands and voices some more Korean phrases (I hope they are not cursing at me). I have also never really seen a customer take food to go. It's really frowned upon here. So, I generally sit and enjoy my food instead of eating it on the run or bringing it into my classroom. When I leave, the employees say goodbye and thank you.
Employees:
Dunkin' Donuts' employees in America can usually be found out by the back dumpster smoking a cigarette. Many times they are high school dropouts, young baby mamas or too cool to take their job too seriously. This last part is a characteristic true of many customer service jobs in America. I was like this when I worked at both Quassy Amusement Park in CT and the Botanical Gardens in Da Boogie Down. I had to pretend like I hated my job, because it just wasn't cool to like it. I'd forget my name tag on purpose, untuck my shirt or not wear part of my uniform. I had to pretend like I was above driving a tram or untangling fishing poles at the Frog Pond. It's the American way. These types of jobs are seen as low-class and bottom barrel to the general public and I, the guy who was actually working this job, thought of it in a similar fashion.
I was 15 years old at Quassy and 20 at the Gardens. Should I really have been working somewhere else? That's the age where you do that type of work. Why couldn't I just have
accepted that and done a good, conscientious job?
Taking my job seriously at NYBG :
In Korea, it seems to be an honor to work at one of these customer service shops or stores. The women at Dunkin' or Paris Baguette or E-Mart are all in the same uniform. At Dunkin' they all have name tags, small pink caps and matching blouses/shirts/pants. They also seem excited to be at their job and show respect to any individual that walks through the door. Pride is something taken very seriously in any job here in Korea. There is no complaining, groans when a new customer walks through the door (something I did constantly at Quassy) or excuses. This may be because the general public in Korea do not look down upon these jobs. Employees are employees. A job is a job. It is respected by both the worker and customer.
These employees are always rushing to help someone with an order, make a cup of cocoa or greet a new customer. Their jobs are important to them and they look important because of this strictly bidness attitude. This is refreshing to a US customer who is generally not given this type of service back home. Coolness is not really in the Korean lexicon when it comes to the workplace. It's about doing things with great consideration. It's about doing things with great dignity.
Shit. That's cooler than cool...Ice cold.
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