Back to my old tricks.

That was a nice little vacation. Now I'm back at work, like nothing ever changed. One thing I noticed during my adventures out west is that, no matter where I went, food service was slow and uninspired. I know what you're thinking- that service workers (myself included) are underpaid and underappreciated, the work is dull and dirty, so why would I expect enthusiasm from the young dude serving me coffee in the morning? I'll tell you why- because where I come from, if you fail to go that extra mile for each customer you serve, or if you show signs of laziness or that jaded coffee shop worker attitude you are toast. With all the training and effort we at Nasty put into cultivating superior work ethics in our employees, it's nearly impossible for anyone to last at the job without becoming just as psychotically obsessed with customer service as I am. Those that can't live up to the responsibility are quickly weeded out. Why do we even bother? The competition between hip, independent coffee houses around here is so minimal that I'm sure we'd still have a following even if we gave shitty service. But out west, I'd think it would be a different story. Isn't that where Starbucks was birthed? The shortage in efficient and friendly service extends beyond the coffee industry though. Fast food, nice restaurants, ice cream shops, they were all guilty in my brief experience in San Diego. I'm curious just how fact-based my assessments are. Mind you, I was only there for five days. But perhaps that fast-paced New York vibe radiates outward from the city and infects the entire eastern seaboard with its frantic energy. Maybe things are just different out west, and I have to learn to accept that. I don't know.