what a ride the last few weeks have been.
two weeks ago I began working for a cable installation company. I figure it's the best job i could take to get into the electrician's union. that it, get experience in a trade. well, and the pay is exactly what I was making at the cafe minus all the responsibility. with benefits. no brainer.
upon starting the job i was thrown into the world of people that are very different from myself. whether it be the people i work with or the customers i deal with daily. before I was thrust into the world of cable customers our bosses took the newbies out for lunch and then shopping for some new workwear. this was amazing because i walked away with a new pair of carhartts and an expensive pair of work boots - no cost to me. then they hooked us up with all the gear we could possibly need to do the job, including a van (although i didn't get that till this week. oh, and it's a super-sexy minivan.)
In both the first and second week i rode along with other techs getting a glimpse of the job. first, I rode with one of the two other women. she seemed indifferent to me tagging along, so I kept my mouth shut and observed. now, me keeping my mouth shut, is almost an impossible feat. by the time i ventured to a friend's house on thurs for a game of poker i was ready to burst. i didn't shut up the whole night and lost my $5. i have taken the approach that since i am in unfamiliar territory I would rather feel people out before i start showing who i am and sticking my foot in my mouth. I'm glad too because the first tech made a very showing comment towards the end of the week.
"happy valley (a new area of mcmansions on the outskirts of portland) is full of snobs. but not like those bike-riding yuppie snobs in sellwood. or the bike-riding snobs from the alberta area who only get limited basic cable."
i ride my bike to work. i live three blocks from alberta. i have limited basic cable. you know what she thinks of my types. she also brought up immigration issues. let's just say i don't agree with her. i didn't say much back thinking that the only direction a conversation was going to go was to a fight. I'm glad i've kept my mouth shut. who knows what other things would have come up....
i also took this philosophy towards food choices while we were on the road. I'm not going to bring up that I try to avoid any national chains and that i try to stay away from wheat (not meat). that would leave absolutely nothing to eat in the burbs. I would have packed my lunch but time was limited in that first week. in four days i ate at olive garden, burgerville (a local chain of my picking, but still fast food), subway and taco bell. after a run for the border i ran to the bathroom. my gut was finished. on friday i brought a salad. i've packed everyday since then.
on the last day of the the first week i rode with someone different. upon hopping in the van i was figuratively transported back to kentucky. "so what radio station do you listen to?" silence. "i listen to country and christian rock, so if you don't like just say so." we listened to country the rest of the day. at lunch we met up with one of his buddies. within the first five minutes of sitting down the guy was making sexually lude wisecracks. now I'm not easily offended (for those from UC: after being in studio with foo i don't think anything is a shock to me), but how does this guy know that. he's never met me. he launched right into it. if i were someone else that conversation could have been a serious bad moment for him. i was shocked at how bold he was. after lunch they proceeded to sing country songs about being a real man over their walkie-talkies and race their vans down the road. from that point on every tech i rode with made me long for the day when i will be on my own. alone, listening to npr or in complete silence, eating my salad at a park.
my compadres are one side of the job, but nothing compares to the customers and their homes. there are all types out there. i'll write more on that soon. i promise.
