yesss...the cafe job.
first official day there is a 5hr block from 9-2pm. the boss (church friend's cousin) didnt even speak to me more than 3 times during the trial, let alone tell me about my responsibilities and job details etc. shem is such a mystery man. i dont think he's 'not a nice guy' but he really is mysterious. i really cant say anymore until he speaks to me face to face right?
TRIAL DAY
Stepped in dressed in black tee and shorts (dress code) and Shem was at the cashier. i think he forgot my name....and he just referred me to Adelaide. This lovely girl about my age, doing music at UQ. She was in charge of working the tables etc so she taught me shorthand for taking orders (coffee and menu), what to do when a customer sits down, how to key things into the computerized cashier, where to leave used cutlery and plates etc. most of the things she taught me except how to work the credit card machine, and of course the things im not in charge of she didnt teach me either. That would be the coffee machine (Shem was in charge of it that day), and Sam was taking care of the kitchen.
Worked out quite well actually, a little nervous and lost... but the only time when I was told off was when I used the wrong cloth to wipe the bench where the clean, wet dishes were set. Naturally the boss told me where I was wrong and I was thinking...gosh I better do this right before he fires me! Teresa (his cousin who recommended me there) did tell me that lots of people dont pass the trial. Overall I thought I did fine - Adelaide left an hour later so I was left to my own defences...and Shem spying on me from the front counter. Then James hopped in to take over Adelaide's position, and Victor - this malaysian guy - was the chef. Victor was quite nice...James was sort of teacher-like and almost delegating. I worked 1hour more without noticing until Victor made me a bacon sandwich and Shem told me to have my break. Then I asked Shem what time I would be finishing....he said I had finished for the day...so i wrapped up the sandwich and left. Dad had been waiting in the car for me all this time, and he was wondering why I ended up staying an hour more - clearly I had no idea. He was a little frazzled since it was raining and he had been cooped up in the car all this time...4hrs. but I worked 11-2pm and Shem didnt even tell me how I went when I left....hmmm.
On Sunday at church, Teresa reported to me that I passsed the trial and Shem said I was a fast learner. Funny I cant imagine him saying that to me. However, I was really quite happy that I got my first job.
He emailed the roster for this week to me on Sunday afternoon, just telling me my day and time. I replied asking for a briefing on the job to no response.
On tuesday (first day) Chris, Jess and Sam were there. Sam was from the trial day...his this caucasian guy with a closely shaved head and studies music. I think he gets stressed rather easily. I met Jess first and chatted to me a little...then I started busing the tables, taking orders etc. You wouldn't believe that there was a line for takeaway coffee and most of the tables were occupied! at 9am! I saw Chris, the barista for the day, but didnt get to talk to him (he was too busy!) until later on when he introduced himself in the kitchen. He said Shem told him I was coming and that I could ask him for help with anything. (Again, the prospects of Shem talking to me directly seem dimmer and dimmer...I don't know why...it just bugs me a little) I did get to have a chat with him at the front counter later on...actually he asked me which uni I went to and what course I was doing, why, which high school...and he said he knew hannah cuddilhy from my grade. cant rmbr how he knew her. I never knew what he did cos I so not a morning person. The first thing I did soon after I stepped was go over to the bench Sam was at, prop my elbows on the bench and announce that Im reallllly sleepy! He said he was sleepy too but I wouldnt have been able to tell that if he didnt say so.
Anyway, Jess was sort of like James from trial day, and Chris was quite a nice guy, and Sam, as I said got quite stressed in the kitchen......
There were so many embarrassing moments! First, when a male takeaway customer asked for a cookie, I was tugging and tugging on the cookie jar lid....and the customer was cheering me on "its coming off! its coming off! try harder!" and I was laughing at myself while still tugging on the lid, blushing all over. Chris was laughing too and came over when I gave up. With a bit of effort on his part the customer got his cookie! hooray! hahhahahaha. oops!
In the middle of the day things were still busy and my head was getting muddled up since I was unfamiliar with the cashier system. This lady and her husband were paying for coffee and I was unable to count the $3.90 in coins she handed me. I even told her that she gave me less than the amount required, although she insisted she gave me the correct amount. (i think at that point she would've said something along the lines of "this girl is dumb" to her husband/partner) Chris was standing beside me at the cashier ringing up other bills and I showed the coins to him and asked him "how is that $3.90?". He pointed it out to me and smiled. I ended up mentally reprimanding myself.
It was raining at one point in time and this young couple having cold coffee moved from the outside table to the inside. I had to clear their table of used cups (had to do that many many times that day) and I was turning away when the guy (about uni age, in a singaporean accent) said "you're clearing away my cup too!" I realised I was holding onto his unfinished tall glass................
A man ordered a cappucino from me and said he was going to find a seat inside. I went to check where he had seated himself as he went in (we write the table numbers/takeaway at the bottom of each paper slip we stick at the coffee machine or in the kitchen) but he was standing and talking to 2 other old men/his acquaintances who were already seated and having their meal. If I didn't write the table no. on the order, Chris would ask me again, so I just put down: Man with
I went to busy myself with other things, and when I came back, I saw Chris laughing so hard at the order I put down...........
I didnt have a nice sandwich made for me (stressed Sam had too many orders when Chris told me to go for my break at 12pm+) so I took a rasberry muffin from the fridge and sat down with some water. I cant remember how many times I was going to gag on the muffin, it was rock hard. In the end I chucked it away...having eaten about as much as I could (probably the top bit)
At various times during my 5hrs there Jess, Chris and I would come back in to the counter area after clearing tables and serving customer and just go "AHH!" to noone in particular cos we were so busy.
I love being so busy...I love that feeling of being so busy and caught up with so many things in such a short period of time (actually, quite a long shift i thought). I was quite happy when Chris told me I was done for the day...sam told me where I could catch the bus back. It took about 40 mins+ to get home..so not too bad. I must say I havent caught a bus in brisbane city since I started school! Was pretty tired out when I got home, and my thighs, calf muscles, and back were aching!!
Pretty satisfying job though. I just dont really fancy being looked down upon by customers - face it, we're all human - but I do like the job, and my colleagues were actually nice to me (:
Wonder who and when I'll be working (with) next week...and if Shem will ever say anything to me...you know...to "start me off formally" or anything like that. Im an employee (im assuming so) and I think at the moment Im just working to kill my time and be happy (my pay hasnt been mentioned, and I still havent asked anyone about is-Shem-not-talking-normal? and my pay.) Then again, I seriously am not working for whatever pay I get, Im quite happy like that already.
