Summer plans (part 4)

So.... I've worked 1 1/2 days at Amelio's.

On paper, it's a great job. Especially when I compare it to the old Shrimp King. It's a higher quality restaurant. It's much more money ($7,75 + tips vs $2 + tips). It's actually less work- the restaurant is much smaller, all the salads are pre-made by the kitchen staff, etc. The other wait staff is pretty nice. So I should be loving it, right?

Well- there are a few key reasons why I don't. The first reason is the dreaded split shifts- Shrimp King never did stuff like that. So they have me come in at, say, 11, leave at 2, come back in at 6, and leave at 9. So you only get paid for 6 hours, but since there'S not much you can do between 2 and 6, its like you're working 10.

The biggest thing I don't like about this place is the attitude of the restaurant's managers. They treat the waitstaff like they're not human- and that's something I can't really deal with. I'll give you some examples of their rude, borderline psychotic behaviour. So, yesterday I was due to start at 11:30. I got in at 11:25, and they yelled at me for being late, since their clock is set 10 minutes ahead. (The upside to this is that we get to leave early....). Second example: they've been having me bus tables yesterday and today (which is fine since I'm still in training...), but last night they told me I could only bus one waiter'S tables. So they get mad at me for not keeping busy enough, but I'm not alowed to help the rest of the wait staff. Hmmm..... and then today, one of the waiters, for one minute, was starting to make small talk with me, since it was slow and there really wasn't much to do. Then the guy starts yelling at us: "You're not paid for small talk! You won't last here long, you better smarten up!" (It may be noteworthy that the managers are monolingual English). The other wait staff say I should just take it with a grain of salt, and they don't seem to mind it as much. Then again, the people who've been training me have only been working there for 2 months, which apparantly is "long" for Amelio's. If I were 15, like I was when I started at Shrimp King, then I wouldn't mind it as much. But I'm 21 now and I have a lot more respect for myself- I'm 3/4 into a Bachelor's degree, I have a lot more work experience, and I've seen a lot more of the world. I also no longer have any desire to work in the restauration industry.

Yesterday, between my two shifts (or two half-shifts?), I recieved a call-back from some place I must've applied to weeks ago. I was told I had an interview today. The job is at a call center, doing phone surveys. I think the interview today actually went really well and I feel like there'S a real change I got the job, whose training would start next Wednesday. The job pays substantially less ($9/hr) and I don't exactly LOVE call centre work, BUT: a) the ppl there seem much more cordial and respectful, b) the job is only in English, c) the hours are much better (9-5 for 5 weeks), d) I don't have to do mindless menial tasks. I almost feel like I might enjoy doing surveys- at least I have that attitude now. And I wouldn't have to feel bad about quitting for school.

So where does that leave me? At the moment I'm not sure. I'm currently working a job I don't like (I have to start again tonight at 6). The money would be great, and it's not a hard job- but it depresses me because the attitude of the management. The negative energy is so great that it almost makes the job unbearable to the point where I find it a challenge to motivate myself just to head to work. That coupled with the split shift would make this a very depressing (although profitable) summer. This other job is not 100% gauranteed, but seems like it almost is. The hours are much better, and the job seems much more pleasant. Best thing is, its only for 5 weeks- so if I hate it, it's not the end of the world. Of course, the money is pretty bad- but, hey it's better than nothing right?

This is currently a pretty delicate situation. I'm not 100% certain if I got this other job.... she seemed like she would give it to me (talking about SINs, and "blank cheques"), but said she would call me early next week- and that I should be available for training next Wednesday. Do I quit Amelio's now, Assuming I already got this other job (although I almost feel like my life would be better if I didn't work anyway....)? Should I wait until next week, in which case, I would be giving them virtually no notice- which is not the end of the world (not like I'll have them as a reference anyway), but is kinda bad form, and I would feel bad for them? I don't know the answers to these questions- I guess I'll see how it goes tonight, and if it's absolutely horrible, I'll do it tonight. Or- I could just wait one more day, maybe get 1 day in of waiting tables, and then do it.

That's where I stand now.... sorry for all these updates, I really wish my summer was more interesting. But I can say that I've learned something really important about all of this. One thing that's REALLY important for me is that people RESPECT me. I simply can't function without any respect- that's why I quit Subway after 1 day (back in 2006), and I could add a lot of things to this list. It only goes to emphasise something for me. WIth respect to the working world, the easiest way to get respect is through education- which is why I'm at McGill. Bachelor's is good- Master's is better. So.... I can'T wait for my future. :0)