Expat Expectations 2

I remember being in Sydney a few years ago at a very high end hotel near the Quay complaining to the day manager (probably all of 25 yrs old) that they needed to improve their service.  His doorman the night before when asked by my husband where he could find a cab (it was 10pm) that it was a bit late to be going out SIR.  The cab rank was a mere 20 yards away and in full view of the lobby.  I was talking to the day manager because the lass at the breakfast bar was not coping – her supervisor was not responding to pages by her.  She could not offer me ham and cheese sandwich on bacon and when it arrived there was tomato on it something I had not ordered. She wanted to take it away but I suggested that a 1/2 wait was long enough and I needed to go and pack in any event. You might think I’m crazy but having lived in a country where service is only offered in the more expensive hotels and department stores I have nothing to complain about.  But in truth service is lacking here so often that when I don’t get it in a place I expect it I get even more irate.  My bank probably has little notations about crazy expat wife likely to yell at you on my account.  I am so used to using the magic words here “MY HUSBAND SAID” – it is amazing what doors that phrase opens for me here in Asia.  I usually get service in the building I live in the moment I use that phrase or at the bank or to the computer guy. 

Hello world!

This is where it will all start again the Expat World according to Sass.  A number of years ago as a family we moved to Hong Kong right after HK was returned to China.  We lived there in an ideal expat world with a maid and loads of activities that only expat take advantage of.  Sometimes though that same ideal world would and can be frustrating.  Learn about the trials and tribultions of our family in this site.