To tip or not to tip

With theatre-person happeningfish heading for Canada this week (bon voyage, h:fish), I have been reminded once more of my own North American adventures over the summer.

One thing that I really had difficulty getting a handle on was tipping. The people in Canada were just so wonderfully and sincerely friendly that it seemed on the verge of rude to then pay for the service relationship with a waiter or tour guide. I think I even offended a couple of bar staff by suggesting that they should add the cost of a drink for themselves onto my tab. Apparently that's not how it's done. But they were so helpful in giving large denomination banknotes as change that it was impossible to find an accurate 10% or 15% in cash.

Even more embarrassing were the coffee houses (I preferred the local Blenz to the imported Starbucks), where the glass jar by the cashier's elbow showed clearly how miserly one was being with the huge piles of one-cent coins that it was impossible not to accumulate.

Things were slightly easier in Hawai´i. At least they gave change in small denominations, making it easier to count out the tip. In addition, the service, though friendly, was not as personal as in Vancouver, and so it was easier to peg it down as a professional transaction and leave the 15% behind.

Of course, there are always exceptions. I fondly remember the waitress in Hilo, at Cronies, who told me that I had a great smile. It was fortunate that we were already half way to the exit, because I had just finished the most wonderful Mai Tai and would have left her my entire wallet! But, being a soft European, I just grinned sheepishly and dived out through the door.