Island time? Why do we accept this excuse?

[Ghost95]

Island time is not just culture. Many times it's a way to show disrespect to Americans, tourists, outsiders, whoever.

Next time you find yourself dealing with "Island Time" look to see if any locals are there and if they're getting more prompt service. If it is noticable then there's a real possibility that that is someone's way being disrespectful to you. Take your business elsewhere.

Maybe they're doing it because of how you acted. Maybe they're doing it because they're tired of dealing with the ugly American sense of entitlement. Maybe they just don't like the way you look. It's not just a cultural thing though.

Island Time doesn't mean you're ignored for long periods of time waiting on a message but rather that they're cleaning the fresh caught fish or lobster that you might have ordered. Prepping the meal takes longer because it's not all pre done. While you wait though, with good service, you are still attended to with drink refills and waiters stopping by to chat.

If you're being ignored that's disrespectful not island time.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

Whaddya say you and I open up a Poutine place in Bonaire? I love that stuff!

How an earth can anyone eat poutine in a hot climate? Seriously.

 

[Lorenzoid]

But there are different cultural expectations of service. I find some US restaurants intrusive when they keep asking you if everything is alright. If it wasn't, I'd complain, otherwise leave me alone.

Ha ha. Yes. Our stereotypically American restaurant service, where the server introduces himself by name, wants to be your new best friend, and fawns over you up until you overstay your de facto allotted dinner slot, is one reason I enjoy vacationing elsewhere.

And to start my own rant, Bonaire restaurants suck in general. But I don’t go to Bonaire for the dining, which is at its best on par with mid-range places in any small city in the world. Our best meals on Bonaire have been when we cooked for ourselves. We look forward to the snack shacks, as that’s sort of uniquely Bonaire. Other than that, when we have to eat out on Bonaire, we resign ourselves to the inevitable mediocrity. Poor service is not even the major issue.

 

[Steelyeyes]

Are we seriously comparing human rights violations with waiting 20 minutes for a beer?

I don't know. Bringing me water when I don't want it isn't quite waterboarding but it's a waste of H20

 

[Steelyeyes]

Island time is not just culture. Many times it's a way to show disrespect to Americans, tourists, outsiders, whoever.

Next time you find yourself dealing with "Island Time" look to see if any locals are there and if they're getting more prompt service. If it is noticable then there's a real possibility that that is someone's way being disrespectful to you. Take your business elsewhere.

Maybe they're doing it because of how you acted. Maybe they're doing it because they're tired of dealing with the ugly American sense of entitlement. Maybe they just don't like the way you look. It's not just a cultural thing though.

Island Time doesn't mean you're ignored for long periods of time waiting on a message but rather that they're cleaning the fresh caught fish or lobster that you might have ordered. Prepping the meal takes longer because it's not all pre done. While you wait though, with good service, you are still attended to with drink refills and waiters stopping by to chat.

If you're being ignored that's disrespectful not island time.

I try to engage them as people. Look them in the eye, smile, greet them etc. I'm pretty sure if you act entitled you'll get a colder shoulder than if you treat them like another person instead of "staff". I have found that no matter the culture I get better drinks at the bar that way.

 

[flyboy08]

I try to engage them as people. Look them in the eye, smile, greet them etc. I'm pretty sure if you act entitled you'll get a colder shoulder than if you treat them like another person instead of "staff". I have found that no matter the culture I get better drinks at the bar that way.

It’s all about the pour! Well said

 

[Ghost95]

I try to engage them as people. Look them in the eye, smile, greet them etc. I'm pretty sure if you act entitled you'll get a colder shoulder than if you treat them like another person instead of "staff". I have found that no matter the culture I get better drinks at the bar that way.

Yes, you are absolutely right about this. Most of the people I see get "Island Time" bring it in themselves.

 

[doctormike]

I'm not fond of it. I'm from the other side of Canada. But we could probably figure something out.

OK, salmon poutine...

 

[doctormike]

Are we seriously comparing human rights violations with waiting 20 minutes for a beer?

Not sure what all of us are doing, but I certainly didn't do that. I was just making the point that saying something was a "cultural difference" isn't a free pass.

 

[doctormike]

But there are different cultural expectations of service. I find some US restaurants intrusive when they keep asking you if everything is alright. If it wasn't, I'd complain, otherwise leave me alone.

Also the always bringing water thing is very American. Why would I want that when they could be far more usefully getting me a beer?

Right. But the whole point of this is that "Island Time" or "Inshallah" is used as a response to any complaint. And the OP was saying that in his experience, it wasn't used to explain a cultural difference, it was used to justify poor service, where he couldn't get beer OR water...