Awkward!
- By: Qwaider
- On:Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:15:16 PM
- In:Thoughts
- Viewed: (4368) times
- Currently 4.7/5 Stars.
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Rated 4.7/5 stars (81 votes cast)
I left home sooner than usual this morning. Which meant that I didn't have my morning caffeine fix! So I had to head to the cafeteria which sells Starbucks coffee. The crappy brand that I detest, but I had no choice. My eyes were battling to remain open and I needed a jolt of high octane caffeine. Starbucks or otherwise!
The nice guy behind the counter recognized me from across the hall. He turned out to be a nice Egyptian guy that works in the cafeteria.
Beaming with joy, I couldn't help laugh with the guy and spent couple of minutes exchanging pleasantries. Then proceeded to ordering my coffee; Triple-tall-soy-hazelnut-latte. (Aka "the usual).
He asked, would you like to make it 4 shots (since the way most of the espresso machines work is by making 2 shots at a time, which means 1 shot would be lost if I didn't take the fourth), I said, sure!
I grabbed a cheese bagel, and proceeded to check out... To my surprise, he decided to be extra nice to me, and said he'll only charge me for the Bagel. That would be 89c!
I had 2 people behind me, as I reached out to hand him the $20 bill. I was feeling so awkward... This is not how I like things done! Not at all!
I know people like to be generous and hospitable at times. But, for some reason this felt so awkward! I didn't want to take something that is not mine, even if it was someone else who's doing the "taking"
But I was sandwiched, people before me, and after me were looking, and if I start any argument, I would not only harm him for his "nice" gesture, but I would also draw attention to what was going on.
I really don't know what got into me! I mean, I get "free" stuff from coffee folks all the time, I'm a good loyal customer for most. But for some reason, this is the first time I feel awkward about it. Maybe because the guy is actually an Arab and I started to fear for his job if he continues this. But I have no way of telling. I also didn't ask for this. I never wanted to take advantage of it...
I'm not sure what to do next time, I don't like this kind of reaction. Even back home, I would do what my father would do when the store owner is excessively nice and refuses to take the price of something. My father would insist, and tells the vendor this means that he doesn't want him back in his store. But at the end, he would not leave until he pays the full price for it!
I don't know ... that's why it's so uncomfortable and awkward!
Fadi: الله يرحمها و يجعل مثواها بعليين و يجمعك معها بالجنة بعد عمر طويل
بلوجر بالعربي: looks very good
Noura: Different home, but same longing and nostalgia .. it seems we are chasing a mirage , Beirut of my dreams does not exist nor the people i miss .. i don't know if my gains were worth the losses ? I 
price waves repeat: The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken 
Sara: You can say that again!God Bless🕊
ياسمين حميد: كما هي طبيعتنا نحن العرب، عند الانتقال بين منصة وأخرى لا نحتفظ بالأولى بل نتركها ونهجرها. الأمور عندنا خاضعة ل
Qwaider: These possessions are meaningless as you said, but it's still painful to let go :( May Allah grant you all you wish for and unite you with your loved ones
Nicolas: The rapid increase in intelligence within this generation is responsible for completely unforeseen phenomena that academicians are not prepared for.Some of these classic TV shows remained 
KJ-
sara-
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Verbal Alchemy-
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Khaled-
LostWithin-
Princess N-
Roger B.-
jessyz-
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Budoor-
Ali-
Faisal-
hatem abunimeh-
Krystal-
Maioush-
Mohanned-
nobody-
Fadi:الله يرحمها و يجعل مثواها بعليين و يجمعك معها بالجنة بعد عم%
بلوجر بالعربي:looks very good
Noura:Different home, but same longing and nostalgia .. it seems we are chasing a mirage , Beirut of my dreams does not exist nor the people i miss .. i don't know if my gains were worth the losses ? I
price waves repeat:The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken
Sara:You can say that again!God Bless🕊
ياسمين حميد:كما هي طبيعتنا نحن العرب، عند الانتقال بين منصة وأخرى لا نحت%
Qwaider:These possessions are meaningless as you said, but it's still painful to let go :( May Allah grant you all you wish for and unite you with your loved ones
Session=
Memories....
a goofy suggestion to make u feel better : next time you go there , if you have some time to spare y3ni go at the end of his shift and get him a cuppa coffee and exchange pleasantries again with him !
w hek btkoon radetlo 3azemto lol
Assuming this is different in the states, I say u did the right thing by not "making a scene" going back and forth with him on whether to pay more or not, becuz ppl would have given u wierdo looks and complain ur wasting their time queuing behind u. I tend to assume that in cultures like the USA, if i tell u to just pay 89c, then i mean just pay 89c and that would b the end of the story!
Anyhow it's funny how you mentioned that about your dad since I remember that about my dad too, except in his case they wouldn't take his money because he treated them as a doctor. If the guy really refuses absolutely to take money, my dad simply wouldn't buy anything from him again.
"I'm a good loyal customer for most"
don't you see the paradox in that? :P