[nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants

Mon Aug 13 03:56:38 UTC 2012

My fiance is sited, and she loves helping a lot of people if she can.
When we went places when I was down with her last November and December, she 
was extremely helpful with me, making sure I had the things I wanted and/or 
needed.
I'm going to be back with her for the Holidays this year, and I can't wait 
to see that demonstrated again.
Anyways talk soon all,
Doug

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2012 10:44 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants

> Kirt,
> I'm learning as well taking tips from good O&M instructors and blind 
> friends, virtual friends like you all or face to face friends.
> I get easily confused and lost too. I know what you mean about that. Malls 
> can be complex and noisy which covers auditory clues we mmight usually 
> use.
> However, overall, I agree. I can enjoy and participate in life's 
> activities. I go to a mall which happens to hold a gym I belong to alone. 
> I often went to restaurants and a food court alone in college, I did not 
> make many friends. I enjoyed going out. I did not need a sighted companion 
> to get everything out of it. I also agree that while we do need some 
> directions and assistance, a lot of the time they overhelp and follow us 
> around. It would be nice if they got out of our space and left us alone.
>
> I think why Carley said what she did was because she likes companionship 
> and I think most of us will hang out with sighted friends; after all, 
> there are more of them in our everyday encounters. And, sighted provides 
> us some immediate imformation that we wouldn't have
> otherwise. It can be convenient to borrow someone's eyes right away.
> I could ask a sighted friend to read the menu, show me a trash can, guide 
> me to a table rather than looking for one, etc. So, I
> can see why she said that. However, it certainly isn't necessary to hang 
> out with sighted people to have fun.
>
> In fact, if I'm with a blind friend, there are advantages too since we can 
> relate to many life struggles together and talk about school using 
> alternative techniques. If I'm alone, I generally enjoy myself, although I 
> might feel lonely sometimes. But the advantage is I don't have to hurry 
> and feel like I need to adhere to someone's schedule. Nor do I have to go 
> where they want to or compromise on how to spend our time.
>
> So either way, we do go out and should participate in life's activities to 
> the greatest extent possible.
>
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Kirt Manwaring
> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2012 10:43 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants
>
> Carly,
>  What?  I'm being honest with you when I say I totally, completely
> and utterly disagree; incidentally, that doesn't happen very often.
> I've had fun at movies with blind friends.  I've gone out to eat with
> blind friends, I've gone out to eat with sighted friends and, yes, I
> sometimes enjoy a meal at a food court by myself when I'm really
> hungry, just passing through, or need some alone time.  To be fair,
> I've had to learn some alternative techniques to become comfortable in
> places like airports, food courts, totally unfamiliar cities (I'm just
> on the plane flying back from New York City and did a lot of traveling
> by myself because my dad, who I came with, was in meetings all day),
> huge hotels, gigantic shopping malls, etc.  I'm not the world's
> greatest traveler (far from it), I'm not that great at mentally
> mapping places out (better than I used to be, but still terrible),
> basically my skills are maybe just a little above average when it
> comes to things like this.  But, with training, I've become
> comfortable and confident with lots of these things; that doesn't mean
> it's always a breez, but it's not all that difficult either.  And this
> is coming from a guy who can get lost easily, this is coming from a
> guy who can get absolutely confused by huge parking lots with lots of
> buildings.  I know what it's like to feel awkward and helpless in a
> food court or crowded building; that used to be me, all the time!  My
> mobility skills are nothing to brag about, I'm a terrible traveler in
> lots of ways...and I can deal with a food court just fine.  Of course
> a big part of movies is visual; but, with audio description becoming
> more and more common, this is more accessible than ever.  I feel like
> I'm able to enjoy whatever I want to, however I chose to (provided I
> have the ability and means to do so), just as much as anybody else.  I
> say this with the utmost civility, but I emphatically reject your
> suggestion that sight is a necessary component of a complete life.  I
> can say it isn't because I routinely participate in every activity
> which you say requires "old sightie" in order to be enjoyed fully.  I
> didn't need "old sightie" to enjoy the most recent Batman movie that
> was audio described.  (well, I guess you could say that I needed a
> sighted person to describe the dang thing, but I don't think that's
> relevant to this particular conversation)  I didn't need "old sightie"
> to enjoy my lunch at the mall I was checking out a couple days ago in
> New York city; incidentally, I didn't need "old sightie" to get me
> there or guide me where I wanted to go, and I found everything I
> wanted to find without too much effort.  Of course, I asked for
> directions from people where appropriate, sometimes people refused to
> stop following me, but I certainly didn't need them there in order to
> enjoy my experience...in fact, in this particular instant, it would've
> been far more enjoyable had some of those people just gotten out of my
> hair!  I believe, with my whole being, that "old blindie" can enjoy
> the same activities, do the same work, and gain as much meaning from
> life as "old sightie."  I believe that sight does not make a person
> more able to experience life; I believe with my whole heart that sight
> does not give life extra meaning and, most importantly, I believe that
> blind people can participate in the same life, to the same extent, and
> with a level of difficulty comparable to that faced by "old sightie."
> Sight is nice, sight is a good thing to have, but it's not critical;
> people can experience everything life has to offer, with or without
> sight.  The way I see it, that's just the way it is.
>  Warmest regards,
> Kirt
>
> On 8/12/12, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Panda express is too fancy for me though; but yes they do speak english.
>> Beth, I know the frustration of the language barrier at fast food places;
>> that occurs even without a food court; any fast food place has foreigners
>> who may or may not understand you well. This is when I'm thankful for 
>> other
>>
>> customers reading the menu to me. Around my area, many spanish immigrants
>> work these fast food places; nothing agains them working there, but the
>> language issue is a problem. I'd pick a place with understable people if 
>> I
>> can.
>>
>> Ashley
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Beth
>> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2012 8:52 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants
>>
>> Have you checked out Panda Express?  Man, they are so good, and I
>> want to say their customer service is excellent, the ones in
>> Colorado that is.  They speak English fluently and are really
>> happy to help you any time.
>> Beth
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date sent: Sun, 12 Aug 2012 16:02:06 -0700
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants
>>
>> Hi, Ashley,
>>
>> If I know I will be visiting a particular
>> restaurant who has their menu Online, I
>> definitely read it, selecting what sounds good
>> ahead of time. If such a menu is not available I
>> just ask the folks behind the counter, or on the floor to read
>> it.
>> As for the food court, the host personnel who
>> seat me, are usually more than happy to help out
>> by carrying, even getting the drink. After all,
>> that's what there there for right?
>> CarHi all, Food courts are crowded noisy places.
>> They hand you the food on a tray. But often the
>> customer has to get their own drink from a row of
>> drink spickits. I am talking about the row of
>> them where the cups are at the end and the drinks
>> are gotten by pressing something to release the
>> liquid. So any tips on them?  How do you deal
>> with these drink areas? Does someone help you? I
>> suppose you could memorize it if you went there
>> before. How do you find an empty table since your
>> hands are full with the tray, unless you ask
>> someone to carry it for you. Then, how do you
>> find the trashcan? Do you explore where the
>> trashcans are before you get your food? Do you
>> ask someone to read the menu to you while in
>> line, or do it beforehand? Some venues have their
>> menu online which I use if possible; other times
>> they don?셳. Next, how do you deal with
>> restaurants requiring you to order at the counter
>> and pick it up at the counter? A fast food place
>> usually gives you the food right there at the
>> counter. You do not  sit and wait. So that
>> isn?셳 an issue. If I have to say, wait for
>> fries, I do so right at the counter, as anyone
>> else would. Restaurants where you do this
>> include: Johnny Rockets in some locations deli
>> places such as Philadelphia mikes Fudruckers
>> Corner Bakery How do you find the counter and
>> locate your seat? For me, I?셫 not good at
>> reversing routes, and all tables look the same!
>> I?셫 asking since I may order at such a
>> restaurant with a blind friend and could use some
>> tips on this. Thanks. Ashley
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