I went to a business that prides itself on the fact it's staff speak English today. I encountered 2 things that really niggle me in Thailand.
- I had to queue at the ticket machine that automatically gives you a queue number. The company has gone to the expense of installing an automatic ticket machine. Why do they then feel they have to employ a human to press the buttons for you? It isn't rocket science.
- The European couple in front of us conveyed their requirements quite adequately in broken English to the button pusher. He had absolutely no problem whatsoever understanding their English. Knowing what would happen next, I asked Mrs BB to convey my requirement (OK, it was a bit technical), she refused. I step forward and tell the guy what I want. He looks straight through me, and starts talking in Thai to Mrs BB. Of course, she couldn't tell him. Impasse prevails. Eventually, he turns to me to ask what I want. I tell him I want the same as I asked for initially. Of course, he hadn't been listening because I was stood with a Thai. I then moved him to one side, and obtained the ticket myself.
- Niggle 1 - why install these machines if they don't trust the public to use them? Just buy a desk, and teach the button pusher to use a pen to write tickets.
- Niggle 2 - why, when there is a Thai and a Farang do Thais forget how to use English?