The Bank - I went into the Westpac bank in Casino the other day to deposit a cheque. It was a little bit complicated as the payee of the cheque was different to the account that I was depositing it into, something that is against the banking rules in Australia. I provided the teller, and then then branch manager with the necessary paperwork to legitimise my deposit.
While they made numerous phone calls to Sydney for permission from a non-existent account manager, the teller next to where I was waiting looked at me and said
"What did you say you surname was?"
"Zalakos," I replied
"Are you Greek?" she almost gushed 
Now I am used to exchanges like this when people see my surname. But her enthusiasm for meeting what must be the only other person of Greek ancestry in Casino was amazing. She very quickly mentioned that her Mum and Dad ran one of the Milk Bars in town - just half a block away from the bank. A conversation ensued, punctuated by regular invitations to other customers to approach the counter ["Hi Peter, come on up"] where she quickly determined where we had come from, where we were living, what business we were in, and where our children were going to school.
4:12:37 AM 
|
