We ended up walking around in search of the elusive restaurant which was still open, which we finally found. We stood outside waiting for a few minutes before a waiter, who did not seem to be a local, finally came to serve us.
Noting the time, I casually asked him before entering the restaurant: 'What time do you take your last order?'
I didn't quite get an answer to that.
The fellow began to mumble in what I assumed was Mandarin. Needless to say, I wasn't able to understand a word he was saying.
So I simplifiedmy earlier query: 'What time do you guys close?'
I never got an answer to that one either.
This was just one of the many incidents here that I have had to put up with when service staff were unable to speak English - and I'm not alone.
A quick look through local forums - both online and in the press - would give you a good idea of just how prevalent the issue is. It is a real issue and one which needs to be tackled in the shortest time possible.
Having front-line sales staff who cannot speak English means that there will be communication problems with customers, which would include tourists.
Communication problems might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings between sales staff and customers. It can get agonising when you desperately need information on a certain product and the sales assistant attending to you is unable to answer your queries in English.
But first, who's to blame for this?
It would be anyone's immediate, almost reflex, reaction to pinpoint foreign wait-staff for their apparent lack of linguistic ability.
However, I beg to differ.
More than the 'foreign talent', I blame their employers, for a very simple reason: The standards of service are maintained by the employer, and the onus is on him to ensure that staff can communicate effectively.
More importantly, the staff should be able to communicate in the official working language of the particular country they are working in - in our case, English.
This is a simple concept. You go to Japan and your waiter can only speak Japanese, it's fine.
You holiday in France and the hotel receptionist serves you in French, it's acceptable.
I understand if hiring foreigners is a better option because they can be more hardworking and cheaper to hire as compared to locals.
But if a candidate applying for a position as a customer service assistant cannot converse in our lingua franca, then the employer needs to do something to address the problem.
Local language centres specialising in basic English language courses are in abundance.
The only question then is whether or not employers are willing to send their employees to these courses.
Sure, there would be additional costs involved.
But it would benefit me as a customer and, in the long run, the service provider who's making my money.
It is disappointing to read in a local newspaper that many employers are not keen on the idea of sending their employees to such courses.
But do we want a society where Singaporeans are forced to speak a language they aren't familiar with to communicate with sales staff? I don't think so.
It is about time employers address the complaints of customers, who form their consumer base.
Don't simply blame the foreigners.
They are just here in search of a better life.
For the record, my friend and I ended up having dinner at a nearby hawker centre, where the 'auntie' who served us spoke a decent smattering of English.
