I work part time at a local grocery store. Because of the time I work, I mostly deal with lovely old people and families and they're generally really nice. But every so often, we get complete assholes come in, which is completely unsurprising, given the suburb I work in. Yes, I'm paid to help out customers and do all this other stuff. But there are some things that, nonetheless, I shouldn't have to deal with. So, to all those people who come into shops and do the things listed below, to you I say: Don't be a douche. You know who you are.
1) Don't try to tell me you don't have enough money, and look at me like it's my fault and you want ME to solve it, when I can CLEARLY SEE that you do have the money in your wallet. Also, don't look at me like it's my fault and you want me to solve it even if you DON'T have the money. I'm just a checkout chick. There's nothing I can do for you. Go talk to my boss. (yes, there are some people I feel really sorry for, because what they're buying is food that they actually need, but you know, they're generally the ones that go ok, I'm sorry, I don't have enough money, I'll do figure something out, bye)
2) Don't leave your crap lying on my till. Particularly not when it consists of used tissues or your baby's dirty nappy. It's not ok. People's FOOD goes on that. Also, don't bleed on it. I repeat: people's food goes on that! Would you like me to bleed all over your food? No? Don't do it then. I'm a LITTLE more lenient if you actually ask me for a bin, even though there is one like three meters away from where we're standing, but nonetheless, please don't ask me to handle your tissue/diaper/blood. Just... don't.
3) Don't leave your trolleys/baskets lying anywhere you damn please. If you put them on the groun in front of the till, yes, people ARE going to trip over them. And no, looking around like you're all lost and don't know where to put them isn't going to help your case. Just put them back where you damn got them already, which is what, about three metres away? Maybe five steps if you have short legs? Or if you're really in THAT much of a hurry, just leave the damn thing on the till and I'll take care of it. Just don't dump it on the floor where people will trip over it, or else my boss will probably get sued. Have to say though, the Queen of this is that fricking woman who walked her empty trolley about two steps towards where she'd gotten it from (about, say, eight metres away) then gave it this tiny little push, JUST enough to get it RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAMN AISLE, then walked off and just left it there. According to the girl I work with, my face was priceless. I was thisclose to slapping that woman simply for being a lazy cow. Like, REALLY? She could have even just left it at the end of the till.
4) Don't come in right on our closing time and say "I just need some milk" then try to do your weekly shopping. We're not getting paid for overtime, and we don't have to deal with your crap. Yes, we can and will kick you out. (Well, more accurately, the manager will.)
5) This is not a free food place. Seriously. It does still count as stealing if you eat grapes or give your kid an apple while you walk around the shop. Even if you buy some of them. You can't do it. You know you can't. Otherwise you wouldn't try to hide it when I walk past. Just don't.
6) Please don't talk on your mobile phone while I'm serving you. It's quite rude.
7) Don't give me crap for stuff that actually has nothing to do with me. Especially if I'm trying to help you regardless. And, yes, actually, we all do make mistakes, so if I have made a mistake, please just tell me about it, calmly, and I'll fix it. Calmly. And in far, far less time than if you try to yell at me first, which, by the way, makes me much less inclined to do everything I can to help you, and more inclined to ask my boss to throw you out. Which, yeah, he'd probably do.
8) Please don't be creepy. That includes creepily ask my name or say other creepy things to me, because it's freaky and kind of scary. Also, if you must be creepy, please... try and make sense too? Because there are times when I really don't know if I should be scared and calling my boss, or if you're actually just an idiot and don't know what you're doing. (BTW, man - you know who you are- you're not a milkshake, and even if I could/would shake you, I don't think that would make you thicker, so whatever you were on about... you should work on your metaphor.)
So, that's my rant, and a list of behavior that you should never, ever exhibit to a checkout chick. (or dude). Please. For the sake of us all. Even if you aren't now, you probably were once, or you might be soon. Just... yeah. Don't be a douche.
(Also, to all you people who are lovely and make me smile every time I see you... you're awesome.)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Well, that's one way to get an extension...
It's like having this internal, kinda vague calender. As soon as it starts getting towards a) the end of term, b) exams or c) both, my behavior/emotions go completely crazy and I bounce back and forwards between "eh, it'll be fine" and "oh my god oh my god oh my god I'm going to fail at life and it's going to be incredibly, INSANELY awful and oh my god...". Yeah, right now, I'm heading towards c) and most of this past week has been in the "oh my god" stage, meaning... I've been just a bit erratic at school.
However, I did get an extension for one of my essays (worth, like, 25% of my mark for that subject) the other day, not because I asked for it, but because the teacher was like "whoa, ok, she REALLY needs to chill out" and also I think he just wanted me to go away. Basically, he was going around the class, checking up on how everyone was going, because he's nice like that, and.... I started crying. Every. Single. Time. he spoke to me.
That went down well.
Poor guy, he's clearly clueless when it comes to teenage girls crying, and I suppose I can't really blame him, since he probably didn't want to y'know, hug me, since that could end up with him getting fired, because my school's a little crazy like that (although, oddly, they did keep on the teacher who assaulted a student*...) Anyway, his response the first time was "ok, deep breaths, calm down... I'll talk to you later."
Second time? "Ok, ok, don't panic... tell you what, have an extension, you've been awesome this year, just... have an extension. Please stop crying."
And so I kind of mumbled something about not wanting an extension and then wandered off. That class was, um, embarrassing, but thankfully most of my year is a bit on the crazy side right now, and I'm not the only person going into hysterics in class, so that's all cool.
Anyway, the reason that I didn't just come straight out and ask him for an extension, or just say yes thankyou when he offered it, is pretty simple and really dumb. I don't like taking extensions. I've had one other one this year, and that was because of a whole lot of stuff going on outside of school that was stressing me out more than enough, and I so didn't need that assignment freaking me out as well. Thankfully, I had an understanding teacher.
The main reason i don't like taking extensions is I feel really, really guilt about it. Like, oh, I could have worked harder if I'd tried, I could have done it on time, or else everyone else has problems too, they still managed it... etcetera. However, every so often, my common sense does kick in, and I just take the damn extension already. This week was one of those times.
*ok, so I don't know the EXACT story, since she's a few years below me and I heard it from someone who heard it from someone and so on, but basically she was wearing like some weird thing in her hair, and for some reason decided that it would be a really, really awesome idea to superglue it on. When she told the teacher she couldn't take it off, he pulled it, and she like lost hair and skin and whatnot. And, to be honest, all I have to say is... "SUPERGLUE? You REALLY thought that that would be a good idea? Come on..."
However, I did get an extension for one of my essays (worth, like, 25% of my mark for that subject) the other day, not because I asked for it, but because the teacher was like "whoa, ok, she REALLY needs to chill out" and also I think he just wanted me to go away. Basically, he was going around the class, checking up on how everyone was going, because he's nice like that, and.... I started crying. Every. Single. Time. he spoke to me.
That went down well.
Poor guy, he's clearly clueless when it comes to teenage girls crying, and I suppose I can't really blame him, since he probably didn't want to y'know, hug me, since that could end up with him getting fired, because my school's a little crazy like that (although, oddly, they did keep on the teacher who assaulted a student*...) Anyway, his response the first time was "ok, deep breaths, calm down... I'll talk to you later."
Second time? "Ok, ok, don't panic... tell you what, have an extension, you've been awesome this year, just... have an extension. Please stop crying."
And so I kind of mumbled something about not wanting an extension and then wandered off. That class was, um, embarrassing, but thankfully most of my year is a bit on the crazy side right now, and I'm not the only person going into hysterics in class, so that's all cool.
Anyway, the reason that I didn't just come straight out and ask him for an extension, or just say yes thankyou when he offered it, is pretty simple and really dumb. I don't like taking extensions. I've had one other one this year, and that was because of a whole lot of stuff going on outside of school that was stressing me out more than enough, and I so didn't need that assignment freaking me out as well. Thankfully, I had an understanding teacher.
The main reason i don't like taking extensions is I feel really, really guilt about it. Like, oh, I could have worked harder if I'd tried, I could have done it on time, or else everyone else has problems too, they still managed it... etcetera. However, every so often, my common sense does kick in, and I just take the damn extension already. This week was one of those times.
*ok, so I don't know the EXACT story, since she's a few years below me and I heard it from someone who heard it from someone and so on, but basically she was wearing like some weird thing in her hair, and for some reason decided that it would be a really, really awesome idea to superglue it on. When she told the teacher she couldn't take it off, he pulled it, and she like lost hair and skin and whatnot. And, to be honest, all I have to say is... "SUPERGLUE? You REALLY thought that that would be a good idea? Come on..."
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Huh. I am a nerd.
So today a friend and I realised that we have just over 20 (school) days until our end of year exams. The reaction we probably should have had? "Shit! Study! Study! Study freakishly hard so we can make up for the past year of not doing anything!"
My actual reaction? "Hey, that's kind of cool."
Not because I'm looking forward to exams, as such, because I'm not. But you see, exams mean the end of the year. Exams mean, like, two and a half months off or something like that. Exams mean a holiday where there is actually no homework at all that I have to do. Exams... exams are kind of awesome in that sense.
Besides, the ones last semester... I mean, they sucked, but they weren't really that bad.
I said this to my friend, and at first he looked at me like I was crazy, but then he caught on and we started talking about what we'd do to relax during exam week (and over the holidays) and... calculating how many hours of certain subjects we still had to sit through. Because that's not nerdy at all. (besides, we were in a subject we hate and suck at, so it was really just our way of putting off work while looking like we were busy. Instead of, y'know... studying for exams/ that test we have next week.)
And even besides that, when you're on exam weeks, you don't have to actually go to school unless you're going to exams. Now, let's calculate that. I have six (well, and a bit) exams. I have 10 days off school. No matter how that works out, I'm still going to have time to do whatever the hell I want (which will, of course, be sitting at home and studying...)
Yeah... exams are going to be awesome.
Did I just say that?
My actual reaction? "Hey, that's kind of cool."
Not because I'm looking forward to exams, as such, because I'm not. But you see, exams mean the end of the year. Exams mean, like, two and a half months off or something like that. Exams mean a holiday where there is actually no homework at all that I have to do. Exams... exams are kind of awesome in that sense.
Besides, the ones last semester... I mean, they sucked, but they weren't really that bad.
I said this to my friend, and at first he looked at me like I was crazy, but then he caught on and we started talking about what we'd do to relax during exam week (and over the holidays) and... calculating how many hours of certain subjects we still had to sit through. Because that's not nerdy at all. (besides, we were in a subject we hate and suck at, so it was really just our way of putting off work while looking like we were busy. Instead of, y'know... studying for exams/ that test we have next week.)
And even besides that, when you're on exam weeks, you don't have to actually go to school unless you're going to exams. Now, let's calculate that. I have six (well, and a bit) exams. I have 10 days off school. No matter how that works out, I'm still going to have time to do whatever the hell I want (which will, of course, be sitting at home and studying...)
Yeah... exams are going to be awesome.
Did I just say that?
Monday, October 11, 2010
How to make a study timetable
Most schools and teachers will tell you you need one- the mystical study timetable, that will reportedly give you great grades, let you ace your exams, AND make sure you still have a life outside school! Probably, your school and teachers will give you advice on how to go about creating one of your very own; maybe they'll even give you samples from previous 'exemplar' students. However, most schools don't actually have a clue what they're talking about. So, here we go- a guide to making a study timetable in 7 easy steps.
Step One: Be realistic about what you're actually going to accomplish. There's no point writing in your timetable that you'll do homework from the time you get home until midnight if you know that there is just no way that's going to happen. If right now, you're only doing an hour of homework a week, and that only if you have to, maybe you should start lower. Like, you know, maybe aim to consistently do two hours of study a week, every week. Then you can change it later.
Step Two: Prioritise. In WA, we only need four subjects to get our ATAR. So if, like me, you're doing 6 subjects but you stupidly picked a subject that you suck at (I'm looking at you, physics)- why waste study time -that you don't really want to do anyway- on it? If you're only going to fail anyway (or just not do great at it) why bother? Focus on your four or five best subjects. Getting scores of, say, 80, 81, 76, 78, 82 and 80 might be more consistent, but it's still better to get scores of, say, 90, 85, 83, 87, 55, 57. Of course, you do have to do well enough in all your subjects to get the grade you need to pass, and thus, graduate. Graduating is important.
Step Three: Adjust your expectations. Remember how your teachers promised that, if you did this, you'd get great grades and ace your exams? Well, that can really swing either way- it depends on how low you set your standards! If all you're aiming for is a pass, I'd say getting 70% would count as 'aceing'. However, if, like me, you have insanely high standards, 80% is what you would term a 'disappointment' (depending on how I'm feeling, a fail, but don't worry, my friends generally yell at me until I stop whining.)
Step Four: Accept reality. Factor in time that you're going to spend doing shit all. It's much easier to just admit from the outset that, yes, even if you do have an essay due the next day, you're probably still going to spend an hour on facebook. At least if you know it's there you can plan around it.
Step Five: Write timetable. Put pretty pictures and inspiring quotes and random colours on it, if you want (I did. Well, I colour coded it, anyway.) Then put it somewhere you can see it (or several copies, all around the house, so that no matter where you go, you see it. It's an awesome way to try to self- guilt trip.)
Step Six: At some point... you're going to have to actually do some work. I know. It depresses me, too.
Step Seven: Be flexible about it. I mean, if you DO have a whole essay to write in one night, you should probably ditch some of the other subjects. Just for that night.
Additional Notes: Ok, so I've never tried this one, but it might be helpful if you need something out of a teacher/ the school admin. You know... like, "Please can you give me an extension, my study timetable says I can't make this deadline." I mean, even to me that sounds like the dumbest approach possible, but I bet it's worked at least once. If not... you should try it. For... science.
Step One: Be realistic about what you're actually going to accomplish. There's no point writing in your timetable that you'll do homework from the time you get home until midnight if you know that there is just no way that's going to happen. If right now, you're only doing an hour of homework a week, and that only if you have to, maybe you should start lower. Like, you know, maybe aim to consistently do two hours of study a week, every week. Then you can change it later.
Step Two: Prioritise. In WA, we only need four subjects to get our ATAR. So if, like me, you're doing 6 subjects but you stupidly picked a subject that you suck at (I'm looking at you, physics)- why waste study time -that you don't really want to do anyway- on it? If you're only going to fail anyway (or just not do great at it) why bother? Focus on your four or five best subjects. Getting scores of, say, 80, 81, 76, 78, 82 and 80 might be more consistent, but it's still better to get scores of, say, 90, 85, 83, 87, 55, 57. Of course, you do have to do well enough in all your subjects to get the grade you need to pass, and thus, graduate. Graduating is important.
Step Three: Adjust your expectations. Remember how your teachers promised that, if you did this, you'd get great grades and ace your exams? Well, that can really swing either way- it depends on how low you set your standards! If all you're aiming for is a pass, I'd say getting 70% would count as 'aceing'. However, if, like me, you have insanely high standards, 80% is what you would term a 'disappointment' (depending on how I'm feeling, a fail, but don't worry, my friends generally yell at me until I stop whining.)
Step Four: Accept reality. Factor in time that you're going to spend doing shit all. It's much easier to just admit from the outset that, yes, even if you do have an essay due the next day, you're probably still going to spend an hour on facebook. At least if you know it's there you can plan around it.
Step Five: Write timetable. Put pretty pictures and inspiring quotes and random colours on it, if you want (I did. Well, I colour coded it, anyway.) Then put it somewhere you can see it (or several copies, all around the house, so that no matter where you go, you see it. It's an awesome way to try to self- guilt trip.)
Step Six: At some point... you're going to have to actually do some work. I know. It depresses me, too.
Step Seven: Be flexible about it. I mean, if you DO have a whole essay to write in one night, you should probably ditch some of the other subjects. Just for that night.
Additional Notes: Ok, so I've never tried this one, but it might be helpful if you need something out of a teacher/ the school admin. You know... like, "Please can you give me an extension, my study timetable says I can't make this deadline." I mean, even to me that sounds like the dumbest approach possible, but I bet it's worked at least once. If not... you should try it. For... science.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
This is why Australia is awesome
Australia is awesome. Why? Because we have beaches. Beaches that are made of awesome. So, my best friend and I spent four hours at the beach today, and came away with tan lines (well, I did, she tried her best to stay covered up because she burns even easier than I do) no sunburn and no dehydration. Also no hot guys, but, hey, we had a fun girly day. One of our guy friends was going to come along, but he pulled out.
I think one of the good things about Australia is the famous 'laid back' attitude.* I mean, I don't know about other cities, but around here in summer or spring or whatever it's totally normal to see people (well, mainly teenagers) walking around everywhere in bikinis or just boardies, even if they're nowhere near the beach anymore. Complete with beach hair, thongs (as in the shoes) and sunnies, of course. Like I said, I don't know about other cities, but I've always kind of had the idea that in most major cities, if you tried to walk through the middle of the CBD in just a pair of boardies or a bikini, you'd get quite a few weird looks.
And also this afternoon I had another driving lesson (manual) with my brother. I can now start his car without stalling, which I guess is an accomplishment... I'm fine with automatic cars, but unfortunately, I apparently need to know manual too.
* In my opinion though, at least some of it is less 'laid back' and more 'we're just lazy'.
I think one of the good things about Australia is the famous 'laid back' attitude.* I mean, I don't know about other cities, but around here in summer or spring or whatever it's totally normal to see people (well, mainly teenagers) walking around everywhere in bikinis or just boardies, even if they're nowhere near the beach anymore. Complete with beach hair, thongs (as in the shoes) and sunnies, of course. Like I said, I don't know about other cities, but I've always kind of had the idea that in most major cities, if you tried to walk through the middle of the CBD in just a pair of boardies or a bikini, you'd get quite a few weird looks.
And also this afternoon I had another driving lesson (manual) with my brother. I can now start his car without stalling, which I guess is an accomplishment... I'm fine with automatic cars, but unfortunately, I apparently need to know manual too.
* In my opinion though, at least some of it is less 'laid back' and more 'we're just lazy'.
Friday, October 1, 2010
How to deal with crazy teachers
Most crazy teachers, when you look at them closely, are really not that crazy. Unfortunately, that level is often impossible for students, at least, to find. Therefore, you're probably going to have to deal with them as is- which is going to require some specialised techniques.
The important thing is about communication, because, to be fair, they probably think that you're crazy as well. You need to stick to simple language and short sentences. This makes it much harder for what you're saying to be misunderstood or misinterpreted (although keep in mind that crazy teachers have been known to manage anyway, generally in ways other people never even dreamed of.).
Body language must be kept as open and unthreatening as possible. Imagine if you were constantly surrounded by loud, probably obnoxious people you don't really understand, how would you feel? And especially keep in mind that you should attempt to look as truthful and earnest as possible.
Lastly, what you're actually saying to them. Repetition is generally considered to be key in dealing with crazy teachers. They need to hear an idea expressed, in several different ways, before they will even begin to accept its reality. Also, if your content is something along the lines of "I need to skip your class to go to the zoo," it will probably need to be altered for the benefit of the crazy teacher. For example, phrasing it as "I'm representing the school to the general public, as part of a program studying the psychological similarities between humans and animals," may be more successful than "I'm going to the zoo." (no joke, my friends actually went on a psychology excursion to the zoo for that purpose. Or rather, that's what their teacher told the school- really, she just wanted to take them to the zoo. Gotta love that kind of crazy)
Furthermore, you will need to attempt to understand the mind of the crazy person. Don't worry- it's not as scary as you think it will be. They generally have one or two motives driving them- usually their subject is one of them. We have two especially crazy teachers at my school. One is crazy for her language. The other for his subject (geography, I'm pretty sure) and his school faction. Armed with the knowledge of what motivates your crazy teacher, you can manipulate their psyche. For example, instead of saying "my science teacher is taking us on an excursion to eat sushi as an end of year party thing" phrase it to a language teacher as "My teacher wants to help facilitate inter-racial understandings. We're going to develop cross-cultural bonds here!"
However, eventually, you are going to have to admit defeat. Some craziness simply can't be dealt with. You here have two options. Simply skip the class in question, or refuse to do the specified activity, or whatever. That's called wagging, though, don't do it. Or, you can do the far simpler option, and simply handball the whole issue to another teacher. Even if they can't make the crazy one see sense, they at least have the authority to let you do whatever it is you need to do.
And the last issue in dealing with crazy teachers? Yeah, sometimes, it is you, and the teacher you're calling crazy is completely rational and just trying to do their job while you, however, are being a shitthead. Which is it?
(Side note: we've apparently had FIVE fire alarms in the past two weeks. I haven't heard any of these. That's... encouraging.)
The important thing is about communication, because, to be fair, they probably think that you're crazy as well. You need to stick to simple language and short sentences. This makes it much harder for what you're saying to be misunderstood or misinterpreted (although keep in mind that crazy teachers have been known to manage anyway, generally in ways other people never even dreamed of.).
Body language must be kept as open and unthreatening as possible. Imagine if you were constantly surrounded by loud, probably obnoxious people you don't really understand, how would you feel? And especially keep in mind that you should attempt to look as truthful and earnest as possible.
Lastly, what you're actually saying to them. Repetition is generally considered to be key in dealing with crazy teachers. They need to hear an idea expressed, in several different ways, before they will even begin to accept its reality. Also, if your content is something along the lines of "I need to skip your class to go to the zoo," it will probably need to be altered for the benefit of the crazy teacher. For example, phrasing it as "I'm representing the school to the general public, as part of a program studying the psychological similarities between humans and animals," may be more successful than "I'm going to the zoo." (no joke, my friends actually went on a psychology excursion to the zoo for that purpose. Or rather, that's what their teacher told the school- really, she just wanted to take them to the zoo. Gotta love that kind of crazy)
Furthermore, you will need to attempt to understand the mind of the crazy person. Don't worry- it's not as scary as you think it will be. They generally have one or two motives driving them- usually their subject is one of them. We have two especially crazy teachers at my school. One is crazy for her language. The other for his subject (geography, I'm pretty sure) and his school faction. Armed with the knowledge of what motivates your crazy teacher, you can manipulate their psyche. For example, instead of saying "my science teacher is taking us on an excursion to eat sushi as an end of year party thing" phrase it to a language teacher as "My teacher wants to help facilitate inter-racial understandings. We're going to develop cross-cultural bonds here!"
However, eventually, you are going to have to admit defeat. Some craziness simply can't be dealt with. You here have two options. Simply skip the class in question, or refuse to do the specified activity, or whatever. That's called wagging, though, don't do it. Or, you can do the far simpler option, and simply handball the whole issue to another teacher. Even if they can't make the crazy one see sense, they at least have the authority to let you do whatever it is you need to do.
And the last issue in dealing with crazy teachers? Yeah, sometimes, it is you, and the teacher you're calling crazy is completely rational and just trying to do their job while you, however, are being a shitthead. Which is it?
(Side note: we've apparently had FIVE fire alarms in the past two weeks. I haven't heard any of these. That's... encouraging.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)