THE Lowly Peon

Sleeping at Starbucks 
13 June 2010, 3:48am

You may have heard me say it before: the biggest differences between America and China are the smallest differences.

I'm at Starbucks, trying to enjoy my Sunday morning, playing on my iPad. I noticed shortly after I sat down that a girl was fast asleep on one of the couches. I mean knocked out cold. I've been in China long enough — I didn't think anything of it.

It's pretty hilarious how many people come to coffee shops or western restaurants — a "western restaurant" in most parts of China mean any restaurant that also serves coffee and has couches — come, don't order anything, and sleep on the couches. I've even seen groups of four or five people taming group naps at coffee shops without any food or drinks on the table. And the most amazing part? The establishment doesn't care. They take up precious table space at busy times of day and order nothing, and the wait staff doesn't care.

Anyway, after about thirty minutes, one of the servers —" baristas"? — came by and started yelling at her to wake up. After about five yells, she started poking her. Still nothing. Then she started shaking her. After a bit, her eye started to peel open.

And then she got on her apron and went behind the counter! Not only is the wait staff okay with people sleeping, but they do it themselves!

I have to say, seeing that improved my Sunday morning quite a bit.