Race, Service & The Single Black Female Traveler

[Seveen]

my friend Lily is still off on her travels and blogging

after being a press photographer at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival

she hit the road for Grenada

her recent blog regards race, service and the single black female

- what kind of service do you receive when traveling alone?

- does it have to do with race or being a single woman traveler?

- are things different when you travel with your man or kids?

read this and tell me what you think!

http://www.sunshineandstilettos.com/2010/02/race-service-the-single-black-female-traveler/

[mountaingal]

Re: Race, Service & The Single Black Female Traveler

i think part of the issue is cultural. the blogger assumes that because she says a bright good morning that will open doors for her, but maybe a bit less extroversion may get her further. west indian women (or at least, jamaican) are more reserved, and a quiet demeanour when dealing with them i find works for me when i'm "touristing" back home.

[tsophra]

Re: Race, Service & The Single Black Female Traveler

I trod by myself all the time and very rarely do I feel anything but love from the sisters..especially when they find out I'm jamaican...and I definitely come across all bubbly and outgoing....i usually chalk it up to looking for tips..but honestly de way dem look out for me I don't mind tipping as much as i can..

and yes MG..that reserve is usually there... I can see at first they're not quite sure what to make of me ..but dem ususally warm up in no time..

Relative to the usual warmness..the occasional 'tude is insignificant..(even dat time in May Pen hospital )

[CeaBee]

Re: Race, Service & The Single Black Female Traveler

when we guh country i usually get decent service..but then i'm not usually by myself..dunno if that makes a difference.

in kingston, i will get bad service from time to time, but i think that is more a function of the person/store than it having anything to do with me being a woman....










;

[rudemonk]

Re: Race, Service & The Single Black Female Traveler

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jaded</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I trod by myself all the time and very rarely do I feel anything but love from the sisters..especially when they find out I'm jamaican...and I definitely come across all bubbly and outgoing....i usually chalk it up to looking for tips..but honestly de way dem look out for me I don't mind tipping as much as i can..

and yes MG..that reserve is usually there... I can see at first they're not quite sure what to make of me ..but dem ususally warm up in no time..

Relative to the usual warmness..the occasional 'tude is insignificant..(even dat time in May Pen hospital )
</div></div>

you and lilly would get along very well I think.

[tsophra]

Re: Race, Service &amp; The Single Black Female Traveler

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: monk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jaded</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I trod by myself all the time and very rarely do I feel anything but love from the sisters..especially when they find out I'm jamaican...and I definitely come across all bubbly and outgoing....i usually chalk it up to looking for tips..but honestly de way dem look out for me I don't mind tipping as much as i can..

and yes MG..that reserve is usually there... I can see at first they're not quite sure what to make of me ..but dem ususally warm up in no time..

Relative to the usual warmness..the occasional 'tude is insignificant..(even dat time in May Pen hospital )
</div></div>

you and lilly would get along very well I think. </div></div>


why do you &quot;think&quot; that?

[Seveen]

Re: Race, Service &amp; The Single Black Female Traveler

the blogger is ethiopian and very attractive

and loads of woman are &quot;catty&quot; all over the world

i can barely make it into my office without the once over

[Magician]

Re: Race, Service &amp; The Single Black Female Traveler

I think your friend should travel to India. The people there are very nice, but when it comes to communication, there's no such thing as &quot;read-back&quot;. So if you ask them for something, they will just nod their head sideways (what to us looks like a no) and walk away. You never know if they'll come back and with what.

So I think the more she travels the more she'll understand the nuances of different cultures and countries and will be more at ease. As far as being out going and saying hello to everyone, that also has it's time and place.

I know that if I say a nice warm Good Mawnin! How is your day, to a hotel staff in Tanzania or Ghana, it will be reciprocated and a few minutes of small talk will ensue. Now trying the same in South Africa, Thailand or Libya will result in a timid Hellp or Good day. Now I won't even do it in Switzerland, England or Australia because I know that people will look at me like I just got released from Bellevue.

So she really shouldn't be looking at herself, as a single black woman, she should be considering the people who she's addressing and how best to deal with them to get what you want.

[tsophra]

Re: Race, Service &amp; The Single Black Female Traveler

well thank goodness being very unattractive has some advsntages

[Laurel]

Re: Race, Service &amp; The Single Black Female Traveler

BOAL ... Jaded ~

same here - they want me outta anywhere quick so I get what I want fast ~ and move along.

[tsophra]

Re: Race, Service &amp; The Single Black Female Traveler

ugly ducklings unite..yes

[Marielle]

Re: Race, Service &amp; The Single Black Female Traveler

That was an interesting read, Seveen, thanks for posting the link.

By the way, it's not just black women who get the cold shoulder from another woman with a man. I've had the same from a white woman.... her man started talking to <span style="font-style: italic">me</span>.
I'm not into attached men anyway, so no worries there. She only makes herself look ridiculous.

I worked in many restaurants and one thing one boss said which I don't think these people realise, or can't be bothered, is don't forget who is paying your wages. i.e. the customer.

Service is terrible here too tho. You walk into a cafe and the bar staff look at you and continue chatting.

Your friend should go to Ireland. The friendliest people in the world (and it's official LOL).

Oh, and having waitressed myself, I think the service she got was dreadful. I would be horrified to work in a place like that.

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: Race, Service &amp; The Single Black Female Traveler

I remember when I was in Ochie in 2000 or 2001. There was a black American family (some of whom came from Boston) in Ochie for a wedding. Three adult siblings all wore dreads. One guy was a judge, one was guy an architect (married to a doctor). The woman was a nurse practitioner. She said something one day about how it really ticked her off the the waiters jumped when her brothers wanted something and made her wait. The funny thing she said was that she was the better tipper of 3 (said her brothers were cheap)