The General Theory of RIAtivity

This week my four relatives from Italy arrived to stay with me for three weeks. Since I live about seven miles from the Boeing Everett Factory I decided to take them on the Boeing Everett Factory Tour.

Jackie was the Boeing employee in charge of our 2:00 pm Factory Tour on Thursday, July 24, 2008. I paid $105 to bring my five (5) cousins who were visiting for Italy on this tour. They don’t speak any English so I had to interpret the Tour Guide’s commentary.

Problems started when I tried to ask the Tour Guide a question while we were walking to the first elevator for our Factory Tour. I said politely “Excuse me, ma’am?” to get her attention, I was maybe five paces behind her. She didn’t respond so I thought perhaps I didn’t speak loud enough, so I asked again politely “Excuse me, ma’am?” She turned and snapped a “What?!” to me. Obviously she was annoyed.

Secondly, she knew my group was from Italy and while we were on the second elevator on the way from the basement tunnel to the observation deck for the 777 and 787 assembly line, the elevator stopped at the factory floor level because an employee had called it. The elevator was full of about 40 tourists. The door opened and when the employee realized the elevator was full, the Tour Guide said aloud “Come on board, there are Italians here, we’ll have some good coffee!” Funny or not, is that the extent of her understanding of the Italian culture — good coffee? So much for diversity and cultural sensitivity training at Boeing.

Lastly, she knew I was having to interpret for my family the entire time so on the bus ride from the main factory back to the Tour Center, while in the middle of her tour commentary, she stopped, leaned over and said aloud in front of the entire bus to me in a rude demeanor, “Can you carry on your conversation some other time?!” I complied, but found it embarrassing and insensitive. I was merely interpreting her commentary for my cousins who could not understand English — if I was a bit loud perhaps she could have handled it differently and more politely.

If you go on this tour, which I do recommend, ask who your Tour Guide is beforehand. For almost $18 per ticket you should make sure you get a polite, knowledgeable, and patient Tour Guide. If they say “Jackie” is your Boeing Tour Guide ask for a refund or a new Tour Guide. Boeing should reconsider her being their face to the public.

Link to Boeing Tour: http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/tours/