Shu mfakkirni?

I can’t help but wonder why here in Jordan (is it the same in other parts of the Middle East?) males are supposed to sit next to the taxi driver and not in the back seat!!! Why is such an insult to the driver if the guy chooses to sit in the back seat? (Ok I don’t remember seeing a guy actually do it!) “Shu ana choffair 3nd abook??” probably reflects the driver’s attitude (what am I, your dad’s chauffeur??)

It sort of brought to my mind the fact that people here are not service-oriented… we have yet to grasp the concept of customer service and raise the motto that “the customer is always right”! Of course there are signs of positive change in many places around Amman… I love how the operators of Jordan Telecom now respond with an amazing friendly attitude (required by the company for quality assurance purposes, a good thing that came out of privatization and competition I guess :) )

Still, many people in service-jobs take it too personally when faced with a demanding, irritating, or angry customer… ya 3ammi it has nothing to do with YOU, and it doesn’t compromise your dignity to apologize, and re-apologize, for any inconvenience to the valued customer and offer to compensate in whatever way possible!

I guess patience and cheerfulness is not the general characteristic around here… Oh I love it when I enter a store or restaurant and I am met with someone helpful, nice, and not too-pressuring, I love it when they go the extra mile to give good service and exceed my expectations… it plays a big role in making me go back there again and again!!

On a similar note - There’s something about our culture that gives people in certain jobs an inferiority complex (well, the Freud in me!!!) Many parents still wouldn’t allow their teenage kids – daughters in particular - to get a job in a restaurant or café; “Shu bidhum y2oulu el nas??” (What would people say about us??)

It’s so ironic how all those Jordanians who go study abroad have no problem working in any part time job… washing dishes, serving tables, sweeping floors… and in no way does that label them or disgrace them, but the moment they’re back here, such a thing is unthinkable because family reputation would be at stake!!! (again I don’t want to over-generalize because there are mild symptoms of change)

So Back to the taxi issue… I suppose guys enjoy sitting in the front seat and chatting to the driver! Like Naseem said, taxi drivers should have blogs!! Well why should I fuss about who sits where, right?? Because... I find it very unprofessional, and because I feel it reflects deeper issues in our culture, the attitude problem may be… I don’t know.