Remember how “chope!” used to be our favourite word when we used to play with our friends as kids? Btw, for the non-Singaporeans, “chope” is some word which someone coined to mean “to reserve something for myself” or when playing catching as kids, we used to say “chope!” just before the catcher caught us. Saying “chope!” is akin to having some protective shield. The catcher is not allowed to catch you, but you’ll have to stand at that very spot and wait till some free person comes round and taps you before you’re allowed to run again. The poor catcher then has to go chase some other person. It was a bloody exhausting game, but at that age, we had the energy and stamina for it…unlike now!
As an adult, I see instances of “chope!” every work-day when I go to lunch. I’ve no idea who came up with the system of “chope-ing” seats at hawker centres and food courts by placing packets of tissue on the seat or on the table. It’s bizarre. Most times I comply with the rule, but one day I feel like acting dumb and feigning ignorance. I swear I’ll be labelled a bitch after that. heh. It’s like some unspoken rule. I don’t think it’s fair actually. If you want that seat, I think you should get someone to reserve the place for you.
Something else which irks me about Singaporeans is that they take chairs from other tables just to put their bags. I think this is perfectly fine when there aren’t any others looking for seats to sit on, but not otherwise. A month or two ago, I went to this small neighbourhood Hakka eatery with my family. The place was packed, but we managed to get a table. However, there weren’t the normal chairs (ones with backing) available because people at other tables had taken two out of the four chairs at our table to put their bags. The waitress wanted us to sit on stools instead.
My sister and I refused, and told the waitress that she should take those chairs back for us and give those stools to them to put their bags. And she goes “No lah, bu hao yi si (it’s not nice to do it) “. We were prepared to ask the people ourselves, or even walk out, if she didn’t finally decide to take those chairs back for us.
Well, call my sis and I difficult or whatever, but I think we DO deserve to sit on more comfortable chairs since we’re paying to sit inside and enjoy the food. I refuse to be deprived of my comfort for some inanimate objects like bags!