Notes » September 2005

Bigotry Benefit

In busy dim sum restaurants, it's not uncommon for the hostess to seat separate pairs at a table for four.

The bills never get mixed up, and the menu acts as a natural divider. When I first moved to Hong Kong, the concept weirded me out; I didn't like strangers eavesdropping on our conversation.

Nowadays I'm used to it and don't give it a second thought. The table can get a bit crowded, but it's no big deal.

This is where discrimination comes in handy. Some folks don't want to share a table with a foreigner, such as the two middle-aged fellows the hostess brought over while I was waiting for Mabel to arrive.

They refused to sit and insisted upon being relocated. Some people would have been offended, but I wasn't.

More room for us.

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