Op-Ed Piece 20040606

A million of these! Okay, not quite, the glasses were white and taller. The amount of rinsing I had to do. OMG.

Anyway, helping out for a wedding in the kitchen area is not one for the faint hearted. You could be staring at embers and bubbling oil, cooking the meat slowly. Or you could be tasked with cleaning the dishes and leftovers, now that's tough. Or you could be like me, in charge of drinks and rinsing.

One can learn much through this, as evident by tales by aunties and grammas. They will ask for hot drinks, while relating to you how their bones ache if they drink too cold a drink, or how Nasi Briyani goes well with Limey Drinks. They said it works like soap, countering the oil from the dishes. Strange.

Another skill which you can pick up is the picking-up-girls skill. The serving of dishes are usually done by girls, or ladies, or aunties and sometimes if you're lucky/unlucky, grammas. Thus the kitchen staff, usually helpers will try to pick up the girls, asking for their numbers and stuff. It can blow in your face, or not. Depends, as evident by my colleague's attempts. haha. Impressive.

It seems that Hindustani or Bollywood songs are SUPER popular, a must at non-Chinese weddings, something akin to Yam Seng or how many course dinner at Chinese weddings.. I have yet to encounter one that does not play the mentioned songs..

And remember to smile! Do not help or work looking like you have no emotions, even if you're kitchen staff. Even if it might be misconstrued by others just smile! Words of wisdom by the kitchen people. Huummm..