I met my future self today.
This was another day of relatively fruitless job searching. A note: last week I accepted a position at the Bonefish Grill, a new chain restaurant devoted to upscale fish-related dining in my hometown. Unfortunately this is one of those $2 an hour plus tips deals, so you actually have to work for your money :(
My idealistic self was not satisfied with this arrangement, so I went to an interview 30 miles away from my home to pan for other prospects. I was visiting the office of a gourmet organic tea company that does tastings and product giveaways in farmer's markets and Whole Foods.
In the process of scheduling an interview, I mentioned to my potential boss that my sister was getting married. I also dropped that I graduated N dubs. "Mazal tov!" she replied. "Also, I loved NU when I was an undergrad!"
A Jewish Northwestern alum? Hmm, I thought.
When I got to her office, I saw she had Sabra brand hummus (a Jewish company) on her desk, her skirt looked like it was from an Israeli bazaar, and she asked me if I was contemplating making Aliyah (Hebrew for moving to Israel). Then she said it would be nice to have another Jewish person in the office because one of her other workers played Christian rock while she sat at her desk listening to Hebrew Jazz.
Her other office detritus was a Whole Foods shopping bag, loads of tea-brewing accouterments, like every size Bodum French press ever produced, and framed certificates and articles about her tea achievements. She spends her weekends loading tents and tables and tea pumps into her car and canvassing farmer's markets across NJ. This could be me in 30 years, I thought.
The bottom line, sadly, is that the pay is kind of shit and the gas alone is going to be expensive, not to mention the long ride down to the office (hour and a half round trip). Dad: "After all the gas you burn and all the hours you ride in the car, you will have made no money and polluted the environment even more."
I'm trying to string together a double-header to work at the restaurant weekdays, and the markets on weekends. This is a good indicator of why I am going to be broke for life.
