A Chinese waitress

If you finish reading my writing “10-dollar salary”, keep on the following words about a Chinese waitress. I wandered in Dixon streets in a cold night and couldn’t forget that girl standing the whole night that night. I don’t know how much that girl and other inviters along Dixon street earn a night but their job is surely not an easy job.

Being a restaurant’s inviter

Standing in Dixon street of Chinatown is a great way to see people and smell the food. But standing for the whole night as a restaurant’s inviter in a winter night has no entertainment. With a typical Chinese face and long curly hair, the waitress of Hingara Chinese Restaurant looks thinner in her long dark coat to protect her against the cold wind from nearby Darling Harbour. Looking tired and without a smile, the girl in the age of 20s offers tonight dishes on a plastic menu to the passers-by.

I try sitting on a chair near the girl to test her and my durability. 15 minutes have gone but she can’t persuade any customers. She must have been standing there when her night shift starts 5 pm. After a quick turn around the restaurant, she puts one foot on the nearby chair to relax before hurriedly approaching a middle-aged couple with 2 children. The couple looks at the menu and then leave. It’s getting much colder. In the restaurant with closed grass doors behind her, customers sit chatting and enjoying hot Chinese food. 10 minutes later, the family group returns. The inviter smiles, brings them in and immediately return to her outside position. Maybe, the girl does this job every night: standing and convincing customers.

One hour has gone and I decide to quit sitting in the middle of Dixon street. It is too freezing now and I can’t wait until the restaurant closes at 1 am.