Currently, working two jobs and taking 15 hours of school has consumed all my energy. Many of you who have known me for a while know that I work and work until I completely burn out.
Last night, I ran into Sumedh and Ian at Starbucks after working 12 hours at the restaurant and going to class. They commented, “Kendra, why do you always look like you are about to die?”
After pondering that question all day, I have come to the conclusion that waiting tables/cocktailing takes so much physical and emotional energy out of you. After working in several offices, you age faster in the restaurant industry because intense experience you endure constantly on your feet.
For all those who have worked in the restaurant industry, or that work with me in the bar/restaurant “that shall remain nameless” in West Campus, a few reflections:
1) People trying to joke with you when you bring them the bill. They usually say, “No, I don’t want that.” You smile when you really want to say, “Don’t play with me, I am barely making minimum wage here.”
2) Always taking the small perks. You never drink soda except for work because it is free and unlimited.
3) When people ask you about where you work, you start to sound like a sales person.
4) Drunk people in restaurants playing spitball is always a bad sign.
5) After 12 hours in the running around the restaurant, experiencing the feeling of your throbbing feet mixed with your aching knees.
6) When you are truly sick, calling the manager. After he puts you on a guilt trip, you come in anyways to only find yourself trying not to sneeze on people’s food.
7) After using the restroom, finding yourself washing your hands twice: one in the bathroom in case any of your tables are there, and a second time in the service station so everyone can hear and see that your hands are clean.
8) Receiving paychecks for $15.
9) The sound of frat boys yelling, “Hey, waitress!” haunts your dreams at night. (Seriously, I had a nightmare about that last night.)
10) The first thing that comes to mind when rain hits is, “Crap, I am not going to make any money today.”
11) Whenever you take out your tips to the bank, having to explain to the teller that you are not a stripper or a drug dealer.
12) Striving to keep that black apron clean, but give up when you are sick of washing it every night.
13) The feeling of accidentally spilling water on yourself. Or worse, toppling the coffee pot on your arm.
14) Picking up a plate and it being so hot that you practically run to set it on your customer’s table.
15) People from foreign countries not having a good concept of tipping and leaving you anywhere from 10-0%.
16) Crying after a table stiffs you, and you have to pay for their meal.
17) Closing the entire restaurant at 3 a.m., and then waking up to completely undo everything at 10 a.m.
18) Drunk people singing journey.
19) Going home to realize that you smell like a hamburger.
20) The happy feeling you get after working so hard, and making $300.
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