The bus drivers in Nice are of a strange breed. Within this corps I have encountered some of the most vicious, ill-tempered, and arrogant people in public service positions. The most recent incident took place this morning.
The bus was backing out from its platform, when suddenly there is a crunching sound. The driver does not seem to pay much attention to this. Then a guy enters the bus and says something to the driver, who exits the bus to have a look, then comes back in, says “Putain” 2 times, which translates into “whore”, takes the bus back to the platform and turns of the engine. Shortly after another guy enters the bus and they start filling out papers. Apparently the bus driver had backed into a scooter. Evidently, the explanation for this 25 minute delay was not in our interest as mere passengers on our way to work.
On several occasions, one particularly mean and arrogant specimen has refused to accept 5 € bills. I know he could easily break a 5 € bill, he just does it out of spite, because the bus company has made up some rule, (which probably contradicts the law), that drivers don’t have to except bills. I once asked him if he could give me the change back when I get off the bus, which I do one stop before the final destination. His reply was as simple as it was arrogant. He said “Non”. I asked him why he refused, when at least one of his colleagues had accepted such an arrangement on prior occasions. His second reply was equally simple, yet revealing. He said “Non, je le fait pas”, (No I wont do it). I usually try to counter such behavior with a sort of Zen-like sarcasm, but this time I lost my temper. The very same guy has on another occasion told me to “take the seaside tourist-bus with no roof if it is air you want”, when I asked him to turn on the air conditioning in a very hot bus full of suffering people.
I think a lot of people on the Riviera, (mostly from the older generations), regard their workplace, be it a café, a travel agency, or a bus, as their domain, their second home, where they rule. And when you step into their realm, you do so on their terms. These people’s motto seems to be The customer is always wrong.
The bus was backing out from its platform, when suddenly there is a crunching sound. The driver does not seem to pay much attention to this. Then a guy enters the bus and says something to the driver, who exits the bus to have a look, then comes back in, says “Putain” 2 times, which translates into “whore”, takes the bus back to the platform and turns of the engine. Shortly after another guy enters the bus and they start filling out papers. Apparently the bus driver had backed into a scooter. Evidently, the explanation for this 25 minute delay was not in our interest as mere passengers on our way to work.
On several occasions, one particularly mean and arrogant specimen has refused to accept 5 € bills. I know he could easily break a 5 € bill, he just does it out of spite, because the bus company has made up some rule, (which probably contradicts the law), that drivers don’t have to except bills. I once asked him if he could give me the change back when I get off the bus, which I do one stop before the final destination. His reply was as simple as it was arrogant. He said “Non”. I asked him why he refused, when at least one of his colleagues had accepted such an arrangement on prior occasions. His second reply was equally simple, yet revealing. He said “Non, je le fait pas”, (No I wont do it). I usually try to counter such behavior with a sort of Zen-like sarcasm, but this time I lost my temper. The very same guy has on another occasion told me to “take the seaside tourist-bus with no roof if it is air you want”, when I asked him to turn on the air conditioning in a very hot bus full of suffering people.
I think a lot of people on the Riviera, (mostly from the older generations), regard their workplace, be it a café, a travel agency, or a bus, as their domain, their second home, where they rule. And when you step into their realm, you do so on their terms. These people’s motto seems to be The customer is always wrong.
2 comments:
that's a french motto in general i think! anyway, the custumor IS always wrong! :D
you should see the 2006 Ridley scott movie called "A good year". Marion cotillard explains it better than i do!
Hi Alizée! What has given you this cynical viewpoint? I'm guessing you must have worked in a service position at some point.. ;) I will see the movie, thanks!
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