Knowing Your Oignons...

Ah French waiters... parodied and championed in equal measure, they know their soufflé, their Sartre, and of course their oignons.

However, one French waiter based in Vancouver, Guillaume Rey, has found himself jobless after being fired for being "rude and disrespectful" to patrons. Last week he filed a complaint with British Columbia’s Human Rights Tribunal against his former employer, claiming “discrimination against my culture”. Adding that French culture just “tends to be more direct and expressive”.

I obviously haven't witnessed any of the alleged behaviour, but it certainly got me thinking about how British, or more particularly, English culture differs. Where as Guillaume likes to be "direct" the English can be indirect to the point of saying one thing, but meaning something completely different.

The Classic "Thank you" is the perfect example. Sometimes it is said with the intention to truly thank, at other times it is said with the intention to "stop coming to the table to fill up my water!" and at others the intention to "take my food away it was average - is that a nose piercing?"

What's the alternative? Be a touch more direct like Guillaume?

I will certainly try (intention: On ya bike mate!)