Just had the worst shift of my life and I need to vent. I’m 28, Asian, working at a restaurant part timeto pay off student loans. Tonight a boomer dude (late 60s) sits at my table and immediately starts complaining about the menu and table. He snaps his fingers at me like I’m a dog. Orders chicken curry, then sends it back because it was too spicy???. While I’m standing there politely apologizing, he goes off: “In my day girls like you actually knew how to do the job. What are you, Chinese? You all look the same anyway.” honestly, couldn't believe someone would say that in 2026. I was born in London. I have a communications degree. But none of that matters. I’m just the young Asian waitress who exists to be disrespected. His wife looked mortified and mouthed “sorry.” He left a $2.72 tip on a $67.18 bill. I cried in the bathroom for two minutes, fixed my makeup, and went back to the floor because rent is due and this is what survival looks like. To every service worker out there smiling through the disrespect: I see you. We’re not invisible, we’re human.