Peace Corps Notification: You've been invited!

!!!! Wonder where I'm going...

A Shout Out To Good Customer Service-Janessa @ Olive Garden in Moreno Valley

I eat out a lot. And I mean a lot, as in pretty much every meal...Actually, I've grown up on eating out. So if you would ask me whether I have a lot of experience with customer service over the years, I would say "very much so".

I've never had any real big issue with customer service anywhere over the years. However, in the past six months, there have been an increased occurrence of finding things that should not be in my food IN my food. Here are four examples of how staff responded when I notified them that there was something in my food.

Example #1: Ten Ren's Tea Time- Walnut, CA

I had ordered the wonton noodle soup. There was a green bug in my soup. When I notified the waitress, she looked at the bug, took the spoon and walked away. A couple minutes later she comes back with the manager. The manager said to me, "Oh, it's just a vegetable bug. From the cabbages."

Just a cabbage bug? Sorry, but I don't want an explanation of what kind of bug is in my food...there's a BUG in MY food. The manager fidgets for about a minute and asks me if I want to order something else. No apology given.

Score: BAD

Example #2: Pho Bistro- Placentia, CA

I ordered the pork vermicelli (which by the way, is the weirdest vermicelli I've had to date). I was provided a bowl of (what appeared to be) charbroiled pork, peanuts, fish sauce and a lot of oil. There was also a fly in the bowl. Even though I (and my friend) were the only two customers in the restaurant, it took a couple minutes to flag down the waitress.

After letting her know there was a fly in my bowl, she just looks at me and turns around and walks away. A couple minutes later, a waiter walks over look at the bug. Seems to think about it for long couple seconds and turns to me and says, "Just a fly. You want another one?". Please be advised, this was not said in a kind manner, more like a damn, I'm going to lose money today if you say yes; please don't say yes kind of manner. I politely declined and he walked away. No apology either.

Score: Terrible

Example #3: Flemings Steak House- Fashion Island, CA

I found a hair in my salad. The waitress kindly apologized and asked me if I wanted a new one. Service the rest of the night went on as normal.

Score: OK

Example #4: Olive Garden- Moreno Vally, CA

I found a hair in my soup. Our waitress, Janessa, immediately apologized and brought me a new bowl. She even mentioned that it was from a new batch (I found it amusing but nice of her to mention it). A couple minutes later she came by to say that she had spoken with the manager and comp-ed the meal.

She apologized and then went above and beyond by comp-ing the meal. She was attentive during our time at the restaurant and we never had to ask for refills. So thank you Janessa for being the best example of customer service I've had in the last half year to year.

Score: Outstanding

Note: Yes, I did notice the trend in Asian restaurants having subpar service compared to American restaurants. But really, an apology isn't that hard and as a mom and pop shop (more or less), shouldn't you try a little harder to keep your customers coming back?

There are no better words.

There are no better words to describe the process or feelings then the following article in the Huffington Post by Ross Szabo:

"Peace Corps Placement Is Like Flying Standby-

I experience a surprising amount of emotions when flying standby. It starts with anxiety from not knowing when I will reach my destination. As time drags by, anger builds -- first at the airline, then some misplaced anger toward the other passengers. I get irritated and mentally judge the guy who keeps going to the desk to see if they will break policy and let him on. Helplessness sets in, as I am no longer known as Ross Szabo. According to the monitor, I am now the acronym "SZA R." Jealousy runs through me as I look up at the abbreviations listed before my name, wondering what makes them so special. Eventually, my emotions build to anticipation, as the names are called one by one. I either make the flight and act out the plans I've been dreaming about for the past two hours, or I'll have to come up with different options that could include being on standby again.

Waiting to find out what country you will be sent to as a Peace Corps volunteer can be pretty similar to flying standby."

To read the full article, click Here

Waiting...

waiting teaches patience
patience tests your dedication
dedication proves you can persevere
perseverance shows your diligence

waiting can seem like forever...waiting sucks

Awesome quote of the day!

I was talking to a good friend and I asked him what he saw in his ex-girlfriend because she's not his normal type. His response:

e: um i thought she was cute and i wanted to do her cuz she looked exotic
in a way i cant explain
its like having a craving for certain food at certain time
e: rofl
me: LOL
e: um sure she wasnt a wifey material my wife cant be short cuz my kids cant be short
me: !
e: etc. genetics
e: looking for genetics for a wife and personality of course but like i really wanted to do her at the time
e: try something new
e: like i wanna do this chick at work
e: shes not particularly hot but shes a race i havent tried and shes got a nice bod but i dun particularly think her face is great but its a passable
me: lol
e: i took a liking to her personality
e: shes sweet
e: shes like a little sister but i dont wanna be with a little sister in the long run
i want someone really driven like me


LOL! boys.

Cuba, here I come!

In exactly 4 hours, I am leaving for the airport....to go to Cuba!

I'll be going there for a swim meet/travel/visit orphanages.

I'll be back in one week...And no, I will not be bringing back cigars.*

* I am against all forms of inhalation (hooka, smoking, etc).

and once again, this blog is for Tony.

thanks (sarcastic) dad!

Wow. My dad just totally did a verbal attack on me....and not even to my face. (I was standing next to James)

Dad: you should go to Cal Poly
James: what about UCR? I can get funded for dorms
Dad: why would you want to go to UCR? you have to drive... (i drive to UCR)
Dad: if you go to cal poly, you can wake up late and drive there easily

James: UC system is a better education than cal state isnt it?
Dad: no smart people come out of the UC system. only useless people and brain dead people. (i'm useless again! tks dad -__-)
James: lots of smart people are in the UC system.
Dad: i haven't seen any.

Dad: You should go to UCI. You can drive there. (...the mileage is nearly the same from UCI or UCR)
Dad: or maybe UCSD.
Dad: you might be able to go UCSD because no one can afford it (now he calls James stupid)