Last weekend, my daughter and I went to a department store in Orchard Road to buy some gifts.
We were told there was free gift-wrap service at the customer service department on the fourth level, but we could not find it.
We asked a salesgirl for direction and all we got were giggles from her.
I repeated my question and she shook her head. So I asked her if she understood me - she shook her head again and smiled.
By then, I had become quite upset about the communication breakdown and I asked if she was a foreigner. She nodded and smiled.
We decided not to waste time trying to get her to understand us, and we went in search of the customer service department on our own.
Frankly, I do not mind having foreigners working in the service industry but I have a simple request: Please understand that this is a country where different races live together.
People like me and Mr Nanayakara are not able to converse in Mandarin.
If the service staff cannot speak or understand English, how are we going to communicate with one another?
Please ensure that all foreign frontline staff working in the service industry are at least trained in basic English.
Even the 'aunty and uncle stallholders or helpers' at the neighbourhood coffeeshops can communicate with us in English.
