'this is my “not my real job” job, and I’m the only one who can talk shit about it. '

For those who have been, or are in this position now:

One customer came through my line and told me about her nephew who applied for a job at Trader Joe’s in Spokane. Apparently there were over 1,000 applicants for jobs when the store first opened. They could only take about 75 of those people. People wanted that job. They wanted my “not my real job” job to be their real job. And more than wanting, they actually needed it — something I hadn’t imagined possible That’s when I started to count myself lucky for even having a job at all. I started appreciating my co-workers and my managers. I started saying hello to the regulars and asking for their names.

I started overachieving.

I want my managers to like me. I want customers to remember me. I read the information about new products. I know the difference between a Gala and a Pink Lady. (They’re apples, okay!) I don’t check the codes for produce anymore. Bananas. 4011. Sweet Onions. 4166. Beefsteak Tomatoes. 4799. I comment to a co-worker that I never imagined knowing all this when I was sitting in a cap and gown at graduation 7 months ago.

He says to me: “It’s okay. This isn’t your real job.”

But it is my real job. For now. When people look at me and tell me I have to be patient about the job hunt, I understand. The job market is different now. College degrees will get you a great job at a grocery store. Maybe if I’m lucky, this internship will take me somewhere. Maybe it will get me that higher paying, career-oriented dream job I have been searching for, but then again, maybe it won’t. I didn’t imagine working at a grocery store right out of college, after all.

Maybe when I get that dream job, it will be boring. Maybe it will be what I’ve always hoped for. Maybe it won’t be hard, and I won’t have to struggle like I am now. I will be complacent and earn a decent salary, a decent amount of respect. Maybe I’ll think to myself, as I stare out the window of my dream office, “This isn’t a real job. I used to have a real job.”

Maths quiz

I'm quite chuffed I got three out of four correct, and I have had read the answers to choose from correctly on question four, I think I would have had them all correct (stupid Hollie div)

Enjoy!

Medicine

I always wanted to be a Doctor when I was a kid, or a nurse, a psychologist, barmaid...(after watching Eastenders it looked like fun, but was soon put off by my parents, as If I worked in a bar, I'd smell like cigarettes).
It's amazing stories like this, where medicine takes another leap in impressive ways to overcome trauma, which in a way, make me feel like I've missed my chance. My distractive personality probably wouldn't cope with all the studying (though sometimes I do surprise myself with how much information I can quickly absorb), and I want to keep working full time because I love it-I could not cope with being a student again! I watch 'Junior Doctors' on BBC, and after watching them consider what specific role they would like to take, I think I'd be interested in surgery, psychology and probably some other areas I wouldn't know what they were called. I love how being a doctor and nurse is like being a detective. You put together 1000 ideas and come up with a solution. Wham, bam you've got the answer (and hopefully the correct one!).

I guess I shall have to continue reading the facts about biology and forever continue to question Doctors and nurses on all sorts when I have the chance :)

What i'm watching right now

Some of the great medical shows I am watching:

Confessions of a nurse. It really gives you an idea of what nurses go through, I love the extra voice over commentary each nurse provides in a non 'God like' way. It makes the show more human, watch it and find out!

Junior Doctors: Your life in their hands. I think this show is awesome because I'm watching people my own age work in a hospital. Biology has always been an interest to me since I was a kid. My mum and Dad used to let me sneak out of my room around 8pm when my brother was asleep, just so I could go downstairs and watch Casualty! I used to want to be a doctor, a nurse and a psychologist as mental pain can be 'worse than physical' as I used to say. My list also varied from being a magazine writer (used to pretend with some girly friends we were making a magazine in my bedroom, I think my mate Kelli used to be the Editor but she wanted to name herself Adele!), to a barmaid and a vet. I'm sure most kids change their minds about occupation, i'm still very pessimistic about schools and the system of applying for GCSE's and Universities-how can anyone make that decision at such a young age and know what they want to do! This post has turned into a rant now; I just think that when applying for Uni, we should be able to write several personal statements instead of just one for different degree courses we wish to apply for.

And one I have just found which I think I should watch, perhaps for closure and to induce crying which I seem to fail at! Family series about a lady diagnosed with terminal cancer. Happy times!!

I also watch New girl for a bit of escapist comedy, most people over the country are watching. It's ok. Character development has been weak until last week and I still think it's missing a certain POW which most American comedy series' have. I'm hoping to be surprised still, though the stupidity of jess in her cute natural div way-i'm sure most girls can relate to this.

My Friday evening is going to be packed up! I can't wait to walk home from work, get rid of the work clothes and chuck on some sweats, tuck them into my socks and snuggle down to an afternoon of television. All for free on the genious Iplayer and 4OD.

Kapow! Things are goooood :)