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Londoners do themselves proud by respecting travelers
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One day last month, I went to a theater in London to watch 鈥淧hantom of the Opera.鈥 Theater staff reminded the audience not to take pictures during the performance.
I obeyed. I did, however, take some pictures during a break, when the stage curtain fell. Still, a theater staff member came to me and said this was also forbidden. He explained that everything related to the performance in the theater was patented. I obeyed, again.
His warning was professional. He did his job, and did it well.
Another time, I was returning my two Oyster cards at a Metro station in London, before I would fly back to Shanghai. A smiling Metro attendant came and asked: 鈥淒o you want to keep a card just for memory?鈥
I did not know how to answer, so I stuttered and smiled back.
Sensing possible confusion, the attendant explained to me in an ever broader smile: 鈥淵ou will get a full refund, and you can still keep the card. Anyway I will throw it in a dustbin if you don鈥檛 keep it.鈥
鈥淥k, great! Then I will keep one for memory!鈥 I replied, rejoicing. In Shanghai, metro travelers can either keep their card or get a refund 鈥 not both.
I鈥檓 not making a judgment about which system is better. What impressed me, though, was the way in which the attendant went out of her way to help me make an informed choice. She didn鈥檛 have to tell me that I could keep the card. But she did, and did it with a smile.
Good conscience
That was more than professional.
From these two stories, I learned something about what it means to be British 鈥 people do good things for each other out of good conscience.
Such stories were numerous during my recent six-week stay in London during a group-study tour. Wherever I went, I met people who went out of their way to serve my best interests and exceed my expectations.
I went to the Albert Hall several times, sometimes standing in the arena to enjoy a classical concert for just 5 pounds (US$7.73). Before I could buy a ticket, I would have to line up to get a numbered piece of paper, which identified my slot in the arena.
The man who distributed these numbered paper pieces would kindly remind me, and many other audience members, each time he gave us the paper: 鈥淏efore the concert starts, you can go to the Royal College of Music opposite to the Albert Hall to listen to a BBC interview with the composer whose work will be played this evening. It鈥檚 all free.鈥
So I went. The interview session was like a mini concert. What a bonus!
Like most Chinese travelers to London, I appreciate its effort and achievement in preserving ancient architecture and promoting high-brow culture.
But London is more than architecture and history. More deeply, Londoners excel in the art of serving others.
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