Germany is a highly industrialized country. It produces top brands
like Benz, BMW, Siemens etc. The nuclear reactor pump is made in a
small town in this country.
In such a country, many will think that its people lead a luxurious
life. At least that was my impression before my study trip.
When I arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues, who works in Hamburg,
arranged a welcome party for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the
restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty. There was a
table where a young couple was having their meal. There were only two
dishes and two cans of beer on the table. I wondered if such a simple
meal could be romantic and whether the girl will leave this stingy
guy.
There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served,
the waiter would distribute the food for them and they would finish
every bit of the food in plates.
We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to
the dishes we ordered. As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered
more food for us.
As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there
were other activities arranged for us, we did not spend much time
dining. When we left, there was still about one third of unconsumed
food on the table.
When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us. We
noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the
restaurant owner. When they spoke to us in English, we understood that
they were unhappy about us wasting so much food. We immediately felt
that they were really being too busybody.
"We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we
left behind", my colleague told the old ladies.
The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her hand
phone out and made a call to someone. After a while, a man in uniform
claiming to be an officer from the Social Security organisation
arrived. Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50Mark
fine. We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50Mark note
and repeatedly apologized to the officer.
The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME,
MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY
OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO
REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES”.
Our faces turned red. We all agreed with him in our hearts. The
mindset of people of this rich country put all of us to shame. WE
REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON THIS. We are from a country which is not
very rich in resources. To save face, we order large quantity and also
waste food when we give others a treat. THIS LESSON TAUGHT US A LESSON
TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS
like Benz, BMW, Siemens etc. The nuclear reactor pump is made in a
small town in this country.
In such a country, many will think that its people lead a luxurious
life. At least that was my impression before my study trip.
When I arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues, who works in Hamburg,
arranged a welcome party for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the
restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty. There was a
table where a young couple was having their meal. There were only two
dishes and two cans of beer on the table. I wondered if such a simple
meal could be romantic and whether the girl will leave this stingy
guy.
There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served,
the waiter would distribute the food for them and they would finish
every bit of the food in plates.
We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to
the dishes we ordered. As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered
more food for us.
As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there
were other activities arranged for us, we did not spend much time
dining. When we left, there was still about one third of unconsumed
food on the table.
When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us. We
noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the
restaurant owner. When they spoke to us in English, we understood that
they were unhappy about us wasting so much food. We immediately felt
that they were really being too busybody.
"We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we
left behind", my colleague told the old ladies.
The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her hand
phone out and made a call to someone. After a while, a man in uniform
claiming to be an officer from the Social Security organisation
arrived. Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50Mark
fine. We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50Mark note
and repeatedly apologized to the officer.
The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME,
MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY
OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO
REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES”.
Our faces turned red. We all agreed with him in our hearts. The
mindset of people of this rich country put all of us to shame. WE
REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON THIS. We are from a country which is not
very rich in resources. To save face, we order large quantity and also
waste food when we give others a treat. THIS LESSON TAUGHT US A LESSON
TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS
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