I am standing on Dock 2, the one where everyone gets scrunched between the ship and the dock. There is one small lane for the buses to drive through (to get to Dock One, or to perch just ahead of Dock Two to load) and the little Port Security kids are constantly yelling “Be Cautious of the Buses” meaning “Get the heck out of the road.”
It’s constant because the only way for the passengers to get INTO Ketchikan is to cross the road. They see the signs we are holding, across from their ship about 15 feet, and they just think “Where do I need to go and how do I get there?” and they forget they are walking across a road.
On this particular day, I stood under the overhang from the Ketchikan Visitor’s Bureau with my sign. It was for a Holland America ship though I don’t remember which one. I’ve already given directions to about 20 people, repeating myself each time.
“Hi there, are you with me?”
[Yes we are]
“Great, Do you mind if I check your tickets?”
(Nine times out of ten they point them to me upside down)
“OK Great you are in the right place.”
(From Dock 2 to 3)
“I am going to send you on a 5 minute walk, if that’s okay with you”
Either one of three things occurs: “Sure” “Well where is it?” or “Oh, that is going to be difficult but I guess I don’t have a choice” in which case I offer the van.
“OK do you see a green flag waving in the distance?” OR “Just behind those buses there is a green flag, that’s where you go” OR “Do you see Merek holding the green flag? He will direct you to the boat.”
“Green flag, got it.”
BUT SOMETIMES, people come to me and they don’t have their tickets (usually a man) and they are waiting on the rest of their party (read: wife) who has their tickets.
This particular gentleman looked to be about 67 if I had to guess. He had a hat on, a windbreaker, and an accent which I think was Australian.
He ambled up slowly: “Hi”
“Hi are you with me?”
Tourist: “Yes I think so.”
“OK do you mind if I check your tickets?”
Tourist: “My wife has them”
“OK I will wait for her then.”
Tourist: “Where are we headed.”
“I will show you once I see your tickets.”
PAUSE. He looked at me and confusion and disgust.
Still a pause.
“Sir, is something wrong?”
Tourist: “Well that was quite rude.”
“Oh, was it? I’m sorry, I apologize.”
Tourist: “Yes I think that’s appropriate in this case.”
And he ambled away from me and stood next to a wooden column as he waited for his wife.
When she arrived, he directed her to me and would not walk over to me still. I gave her directions and they walked away together.
It left such an impression on me because it bothered me so much.
I make an effort, a sincere effort, to be pleasant to everyone.
My concern is that if I gave the man directions, he would run off without his wife or to a store. We always lose them in the stores.
And then if he got to the next stop and didn’t have his tickets, he wouldn’t get very far without them..
But to him it was rude, enough for me him to say so and keep his distance.
I hated that I made a mistake, that his visit was wrinkled at all by my curtness.
But at the same time, I repeat directions anywhere from 50-100 times a day and every other time, they get where they need to go with a smile not their face.
So I truly, truly, truly don’t care.