My first job was as a telemarketer for UBC. I wasn’t really a telemarketer, as I wasn’t selling a product, I was just asking for donations from people who were broke after college or newly fathered couples who were finding out how expensive diapers really were (that actually was a way one woman rejected my lame attempt at asking for donations. She said: “You are in college, you don’t know how expensive diapers are”… My answer was simple and got me a 20 minute disciplinary meeting with my supervisor: “How expensive can paper you poop on really be?”… the answer: $44.95 if they are for a baby, and $17.95 if they were for her). I started hating that job since not only was I getting rejected in the women’s department (I was kind of in the rebound, but let’s just say I was still waiting for an initial bounce), but also at my job. There is nothing worse than getting no after no at the place you work at. That’s why I feel sorry for telemarketers every time they call me. Not only cause I have no money whatsoever (I’m an international student at the most expensive university in British Columbia), but because their job really sucks. That’s why I try to talk to them for a bit and then tell them I’m not buying anything. They get even more upset if you do this, it’s like teasing them and leaving them with blue-phones.
My next job was at a kitchen. Here is a recommendation for everyone planning on working at a kitchen: don’t go with a hangover. I cut my fingers 5 times that day, and I eventually had to go home because my blood was ruining the chicken. I also disliked that job, but it wasn’t because the pay was crap and the cooking standards were awful, no, it was because I had to wake at 5:00 AM to go to that job. Let me put it this way: I am the epitome of a night owl. It’s 4:40 AM right now and I feel as awake as a clam chowder. I know that’s not the right saying, but the only other thing I could imagine as being as awake as I am right now is a caffeinated dog. I get weird ideas this time of day/night. Anyway, I hate waking up early, so I ended up cutting my hours to a minimum. I learned to cook some things though, although that job also gave me a tad of knife phobia, I have my roommate or girlfriend do all the cutting for me. They like it 😉
My next job was at McDonalds, and I don’t care what people say, it was the best job out of the three. Yes, the food is disgusting, and I felt bad serving to some very unhealthy looking individuals as they were eating nothing but saturated fat and empty calories, but McDonalds provides a good opportunity for students as it adapts to your schedule and for single mothers who want a part-time job. It was relaxed, and the people were really fun to work with (I actually miss them a bit) so I have some fond memories of that place. I don’t eat there even if you pay me though, seeing how they prepare their meals is gross and should probably be illegal. But fun place to work at.
For a while I also worked editing wedding videos (which was pretty boring and I got to see some really unhappy couples getting married…), helping with some HIV patients in a clinic, and as a hobby I write and sometimes produce short films. I also write about film awards and have fun blogging for Ahimsa. Oh yeah, I’m Ahimsa’s intern, and it’s a sweet job. I get to make the sly comments that got me in trouble as a telemarketer, I can stay up late since I work mostly from home, and I get to work with wonderful people who I am going to miss once the internship ends: it’s the best of both worlds. Don’t think I’m a suck-up. I actually do enjoy working with Ahimsa a lot. And on that note I will end with some cheerful spirit: Go Vancouver 2010!
Leave a Reply