Newcomers to Taiwan often are taken by the friendliness of the people here. Not that I disagreed with them, but sometimes I thought the newcomers were just making a big deal out of the friendliness of the people here. Sure they are friendly, but not that extraordinary; until I experienced the exception friendliness and helpfulness 2 weeks ago.
I was at a computer / electronics store looking for a memory / flash stick. I went to the computer department on the 2nd floor, looked around and could not see what I wanted. So I asked a sales person and was told I needed to go to the 1st floor. I went to the 1st floor and as I was looking for the item, another sales person came by to try to help me, and she told me I needed to go to the 2nd floor. Up I went again to the 2nd floor, and again I was told to go to the 1st floor. Down I went to the 1st floor, and the sales person on the 1st floor was surprised to see me. I told her I was asked to come to the 1st floor. So she asked me to wait while she talked to a young woman next to her. This young woman, who happened to be a customer, sensing that my English was better than my Mandarin, used her broken English to find out exactly what I needed. Then she accompanied me back to the 2nd floor, talked to one of the sales person, took me over to the right counter, asked for the different models, and explained to me the differences between the models so I could make a better decision.
Once I made my choice, she explained to me how I needed to pay first and then come back for the item. So she accompanied me back to the 1st floor to pay the cashier. When I was standing in line, she asked me if I had a membership card, and of course I didn’t have one. So she used her membership card on my item, allowing me to receive a discount. Then we went back up to the 2nd floor to claim my item. It was when I actually had the item in my possession that she left the store and went on her way.
Yes, I too am taken by the friendliness and helpfulness of the people here.
