Comments on: A world of small differences

By: Te Araroa, National Cycleways and Recessions | Windy Hilltops

Te Araroa, National Cycleways and Recessions | Windy Hilltops — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:41:33 +0000

[...] on cars for arbitrary and stupid reasons such as not actually having footpaths. Having recently been trapped in a hotel in New Jersey, thanks largely to the state’s design around roads, was a reminder of this, but it also [...]

By: Mike McGavin

Mike McGavin — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:51:30 +0000

Hi Robb. Thanks for the comments.

I think the main part of the tipping culture that I have trouble adjusting to is that when people are nice to me, I like to think that it’s because they’re nice people and not because they just want me to give them money. I have trouble grasping that when tipping is an expectation. In New Zealand if I get bad service at a restaurant, I vote with my feet and I don’t go there any more and I may even tell my friends or the restaurant, but I haven’t usually found this to be a problem.

The whole culture of having tipping as an expectation is something I haven’t worked out to a fluent level, and the tipping culture goes well beyond specific service areas. I don’t feel comfortable standing in some areas here studying a map or looking at an information sign because I’ve noticed it’s almost certain that somebody will come up and offer to help me, then demand money afterwards. Some people will genuinely offer to help because they want to be helpful, but it’s much less clear if they have an agenda and the line’s so blurry that I don’t know if I should talk to them or just say no thanks.

I fully appreciate that this is a different culture, it’s simply an alternative way of doing things, and if I’d been brought up here it’d be very different. From my past experiences, though, it’s the thing I have the most trouble getting my head around. I’m simply used to people actually asking for money if they want money and declaring exactly what they want up-front.

By: Mike McGavin

Mike McGavin — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:08:12 +0000

A couple of days ago I counted that I had exactly 99 cents of shrapnel in my wallet. I now have exactly 88 cents, because the knowledge of what was there made it easier for me to count out exact change in a food court after I was finally told I’d need some amount plus 11 cents.

We have actually figured out part of a nearby bus route now, though, and that’s helping. It should make it feasible to get back into NY again for a while tomorrow and maybe Sunday.

By: Robb

Robb — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:03:41 +0000

Kia ora Mike,
I think you have a better experience when you get into the city and are staying with a friend. Unfortunately that interstate highway mentality is prevelant in the states, and unless you have a car, or someone to drive you, isolation is a real possibility even when amongst millions of people. Too bad you did not get to spend more time in Frisco as it is a world class walkers city and much to see. I once ferried over from Sausalito to the Wharf then walked through to Seal Rocks, then back over the Golden Gate bridge to Sausalito. Took 12 hours but what a day! New York should offer some interesting walking as well. As to tipping, I tip only waiters, cab drivers, and bartenders. A good tip to a bar tender on the first drink should ensure good service, and nominal one at the end as thanks. To waiters, and cabs, I always start at a minimum 10% then go as 20% depending on the level of service. You have to remember two things, one it is a different culture, and two most wait staff, cabbies, ect, are paid a very small hourly wage, much less than here, and depend on tips. I would also say you will find the level of service because of that is generally much higher than here. I often find the service here in NZ to be quite ordinary, even slack. They have nothing at stake, and the still relatively low wages paid here make going the extra mile a bit rare than doing any more than they have to do. Good wait staff in the states can earn big bucks, and the far greatest percentage of that is in tips because of their professionalism, even reputation. But lets be clear, you pay what you think its worth, and if you get shit service, leave a shit tip, or nothing.
In any case Mike, I hope your trip gets better! Have a great day.
Cheers,
Robb

By: Donald Gordon

Donald Gordon — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:49:12 +0000

So you’ve discovered the slightly odd place that is the US? Sounds like you missed chinatown in SF by circling it though

Yeah, the whole cash and tips thing is kind of odd. I also ended up with a wallet full of shrapnel and very little idea of what to do with it.

When I was working on a customer site in Atlanta, the customer assumed I’d want a rental car, and when I explained that I couldn’t actually drive in the US on an NZ restricted license, they told me to just take taxis everywhere and expense them. Including to restaurants. Which meant no ability to wander down a street and browse the available food outlets. Given I was working an 11am-8pm day to have some overlap with NZ, I just stuck with the rather uninspiring hotel restaurant (thankfully they did actually have one) on the days when the people I was working with didn’t take me out somewhere interesting.

Actually there was so little within walking distance that the hotel provided a free shuttle to anywhere within a 15 minute drive. Which meant I could go to the mall and buy iPhones for people.