freebird not free from discrimination
On a lazy Friday afternoon after a full morning of apartment hunting, I decided to check out this new bar and grill called Freebird on Street 240. Many times previously, ever since I saw an ad in the Post about free wi-fi (a rarity in the city), I made attempts. This time around, with time to kill before my 7:30 dinner, I was determined to find the place.
Surely enough, I found without breaking a sweat. As I walked inside, two Khmer ladies at the bar greets me with the signature warm Khmer smile.
"Suasdey," said an attractive young girl in her early twenties.
"Baht, suasdey. I heard this place has wi-fi, is it true?" I asked in broken Khm-english.
We made several more exchanges and she led me to a high table.
Though a bar doesn't fit my "ideal" working environment, I decided to try it out.
"I'll have two scoops of vanilla ice cream with two cherries," I ordered. I may be frugal, but no cheapskate.
An hour into my websurfing and e-mails, I noted the near extinct bar pick up customers. All were middle-aged Caucasian males.
I minded my business, concentrated on the work in front of me while enjoying my Sissamouth jams off my iPod.
About five were to the right of me toasting a cold one. Two of them had previously used their laptops for internet before joining the group at the bar counter.
I also observed a Caucasian male inside the bar counter serving drinks to his patrons. In retrospect, he's likely the owner.
Anyways, I tuned out my surroundings.
Another hour has eclipsed. I am now working on my UN proposal using Word document program. My internet browser on KhmerConnection (www.khmer.cc).
Then and there, the man behind the counter sneaks from behind and taps me on the right shoulder. He said little, but diverted his finger to a little table sign that reads, "Free internet for e-mail and websurfing only."
"Yes, I can read the sign," I responded in a very mild-mannered, non-confrontational tone.
He went away.
About five minutes later, a male Khmer staff stands right next to me. I wanted to pretend that I don't see him.
"Our free internet is not for chatting," the nervous young man speaks in English.
"What chatting do you see on my screen?!?" I smartly shot back. Though a bit disgusted now, I was still pretty chilled.
Speechless, he left just as fast as he entered my circumference.
I wasn't deterred to leave, the obvious objective from the Freebird staff. About 10 minutes later, they threw the last punch.
Their internet service mysteriously disconnects.
It was obvious that this was their final attempt to get me out. I was the only customer using a laptop at that hour. The only Khmer customer in the building among 10. I left the joint disgusted. Paid my $3.50 for drinks and dessert and left my business card on the table which read: "Thank you for the warm hospitality."
Though I was bittered about my experience that afternoon, this post is no way an attempt to foul mouth Freebird Bar & Grill or to sour their reputation. Instead, I'd like to use this entry to open up a discussion about discrimination -- in a place like Freebird -- where its foreign catered. Many of Khmericans in Cambodia have shared many similar stories with other establishments.
If you have any personal stories or experiences to share, I would value them.
Surely enough, I found without breaking a sweat. As I walked inside, two Khmer ladies at the bar greets me with the signature warm Khmer smile.
"Suasdey," said an attractive young girl in her early twenties.
"Baht, suasdey. I heard this place has wi-fi, is it true?" I asked in broken Khm-english.
We made several more exchanges and she led me to a high table.
Though a bar doesn't fit my "ideal" working environment, I decided to try it out.
"I'll have two scoops of vanilla ice cream with two cherries," I ordered. I may be frugal, but no cheapskate.
An hour into my websurfing and e-mails, I noted the near extinct bar pick up customers. All were middle-aged Caucasian males.
I minded my business, concentrated on the work in front of me while enjoying my Sissamouth jams off my iPod.
About five were to the right of me toasting a cold one. Two of them had previously used their laptops for internet before joining the group at the bar counter.
I also observed a Caucasian male inside the bar counter serving drinks to his patrons. In retrospect, he's likely the owner.
Anyways, I tuned out my surroundings.
Another hour has eclipsed. I am now working on my UN proposal using Word document program. My internet browser on KhmerConnection (www.khmer.cc).
Then and there, the man behind the counter sneaks from behind and taps me on the right shoulder. He said little, but diverted his finger to a little table sign that reads, "Free internet for e-mail and websurfing only."
"Yes, I can read the sign," I responded in a very mild-mannered, non-confrontational tone.
He went away.
About five minutes later, a male Khmer staff stands right next to me. I wanted to pretend that I don't see him.
"Our free internet is not for chatting," the nervous young man speaks in English.
"What chatting do you see on my screen?!?" I smartly shot back. Though a bit disgusted now, I was still pretty chilled.
Speechless, he left just as fast as he entered my circumference.
I wasn't deterred to leave, the obvious objective from the Freebird staff. About 10 minutes later, they threw the last punch.
Their internet service mysteriously disconnects.
It was obvious that this was their final attempt to get me out. I was the only customer using a laptop at that hour. The only Khmer customer in the building among 10. I left the joint disgusted. Paid my $3.50 for drinks and dessert and left my business card on the table which read: "Thank you for the warm hospitality."
Though I was bittered about my experience that afternoon, this post is no way an attempt to foul mouth Freebird Bar & Grill or to sour their reputation. Instead, I'd like to use this entry to open up a discussion about discrimination -- in a place like Freebird -- where its foreign catered. Many of Khmericans in Cambodia have shared many similar stories with other establishments.
If you have any personal stories or experiences to share, I would value them.
(Comment this)
Wanna (Comment this)
that's tough to be in situation like that. Oh man.....that really hits the steam. I hope that I don't encounter that in Cambodia because I get fouled up when these situations of discrimination rise up like that. Stay true!
sameth (Comment this)
I am glad to talk about discrimination in the society and in the whole world. Discrimination exists in everywhere to everyone. It is just more or less. I think everyone has their own story of discrimination. Your story and others show obviously that most Khmer people consider foreigners good, knowledgeable and respectful people. I still wonder why people become like that. Even me myself sometime I still discriminate against others. I can only think of three points that make people like this: power, money and sex. But what is more serious is that Caucasian extremely discriminate against poor people (black people) in the third world countries. (Comment this)
I really liked this article. It's not everyday that you hear about discrimination but at the opposite end. I'm sorry that you had to go through that, I know I would have been reall upset as well. But it seemed like you handled yourself in a very 'la-awesome' way. I don't know how I would have reacted. Sometimes I am composed and calm, and others I'm irrational. It just plain sucks that people are like that. All I could say is that Karma will come their way.
As for myself, I haven't yet had that experience. The times I visited have all been either short or just with family. I know I know, I need to get some adventures of my own. I know they are out there though. At least I have one experience to learn from. Thanks for sharing as always. I hope you are doing well. Take care dude.
Soph (Comment this)
I don't like it and i'm sure many Khmer dislike it too, same shit in Thiland.
(Comment this)
Derek, sometimes I've been taken aback by the level of arrogance or ignorance I've witnessed in barang(tourist or expat) while I have travelled in southeast asia, but your experience in this story is especially disturbing.
on a slightly different note, on my last visit to Cambodia, i met a khmer-canadian medical student who had come to PP for a month to observe medical practices in a hospital I won't name here, and she mentioned that the (barang) director frowned upon her fraternizing with the local khmer doctors, to the point that he berated her for going out for drinks with her peers after their rounds.
I had trouble wrapping my head around that one. (Comment this)
Although I found your blog well written and appreciate your point of view I have to say that not all of your comments were exactly true. How do I know this? I was there and I remember the "incident" you attempted to describe.
Although the Freebird is obviously focused on catering to "barangs" as their primary customer base, I know for a fact that they have a solid local Khmer customer base so the idea that you were somehow "discriminated" against by the owner and/or staff for the sole reason that you are a Khmer is totally fact less.
I distinctly remember the owner approaching you and showing you the posted sign concerning customer internet usage and politely asking you not to use the service for chatting (as the sign clearly stated). I also remember that the "Word" document that you described looked a lot more like a chat room than any Word document I have ever seen. Besides, why would you need to be connected to the internet to be working on a Word document?
Different nationalities getting along anywhere in the world will always pose difficulties and I for one will never understand why someone would bend the truth in a public forum to make it even more difficult.
At the end of the day; business is business and if you are doing something in anyone’s establishment against clearly posted rules and then asked politely to stop, and you still don't comply, then any owner has the right to turn off or refuse that service to you.
Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but facts still remain facts. And to post something that accuses an establishment of some sort of discrimination and using anything other than facts to do so is pretty damned sad in my opinion.
I know what I witnessed that afternoon so if you are still unclear on the facts why not check the establishments server data to see if your facts are really straight?
Can't we all just get along?
Regards,
Present at the time
(Comment this)
PS: KhmerConnection [www.khmer.cc], the website I vividly recall logging on, does not have a chat feature (Comment this)