Years ago, I found myself on a luxury cruise from Tahiti to LA. I was backpacking across the South Pacific en route to the US and a last-minute ticket for a cabin happened to be cheaper than flying. Midway through the voyage, I was sitting in the ship library when a well-heeled American couple walked in. The woman asked me where the steak restaurant was. I apologised and said I didn't know. She asked what time it opened. Again, I said I didn't know. She asked what other restaurants were on this floor. When I said I didn't know, she studied me for a second and asked, "Are you a volunteer?"
"No. I'm a passenger," I told her. She was mortified because it was clear to us both that she had assumed that I - a young brown woman - was a member of staff.
