#hypersolarsensei

[hypersolarsensei]

If you got it, flaunt it

Student: Ms. __, look. I told so many people not to come to school today and they didn’t. There’s only like 14 of us here today!

Me: (Thinks that most of her class is just on a field trip.) Oh really? You got them to do that? If that’s so, why didn’t you stay home just like them?

Student: I got my hair done! I had to show my hair off. You can’t get your hair done and not come to school.

[hypersolarsensei]

About the King of Facebook

Student: Ms. __, do you know Mark Zuckerberg?

Me: Yes.

Student: Some people say he’s a robot.

Me: Do you think he’s a robot?

Student: Yes! He’s weird! He doesn’t drink his water. He just holds it in his mouth! And he never shows his palms. Do you think he’s a robot?

Me: With that evidence, he might be.

[hypersolarsensei]

Story Time: Encouragement & ASL

(Adapted from one of my Facebook posts.)

So I started teaching myself American Sign Language  in order to try to communicate with one of my nonverbal students. This kid wouldn’t speak at school no matter what. Her mom was angry about this because apparently she was very vocal at home, but at school many people had never heard her voice. Anyway, I would teach myself some signs and then teach them to her and her group (so she wouldn’t be singled out). She seemed very visibly happy about the lessons the first day, and then she decided that she didn’t like me again and quit paying attention. She later was moved over to a different tutor. I was pretty bummed about this because I thought I finally had a breakthrough. I later noticed that her new tutor was keeping up with the signing for her and she started being a bit more vocal. I just chalked it up that some students learn better from others.

Fast forward to yesterday: The sign lessons stuck with another student in my group than it was originally intended for. This student told me about how she tried using ASL in a real life situation. She stumbled across a room full of deaf and hard-of-hearing children while visiting family at a hospital. She signed to one of the girls in the room, “hello, how are you.” The other girl was shocked and signed back, “Do you sign.” Unfortunately, my student was flustered and overwhelmed at the thought of trying to have a full conversation with her limited knowledge of ASL, and so instead of answering she just ran away. I wish she had stayed because it could have been a great learning opportunity for her, but this 11-year-old can be shy at times. I just hope that she will continue to nurture the seeds that I planted and go on to learn more ASL. I also plan to keep learning.

[hypersolarsensei]

“Sul sul”: An exploration of the Sims 4 as an educational tool for healthy relationships

5th grader: (comes in looking really sad and dejected.)

Me: What’s wrong?

5th: ...My sims got divorced.

Me: (laughs)

5th: It’s not funny! They got married, had two kids, and now she’s pregnant with the third. Her husband cheated on her with five different women and they’re divorced.

Me: (laughs hysterically)

[hypersolarsensei]

The gravity of September 11th is not lost on this generation

Student: (gets a fraction answer of 9/11 and excitedly points to it) Ms. __, OMG!

Me: Were you even alive?

[hypersolarsensei]

HWFS: Last Day!

This past Thursday at my food service job, and I have to say that it was a little bittersweet. I had been exhausted and so ready to be done with that place. However, I felt that I was just starting to find my way. I was becoming better and faster at my role, and I was finally connecting with my coworkers. I had laughed and smiled so much more than any other day.

Another reason for the day being bittersweet was due to this woman I met, Y. Y was a new employee, and it was her first day. How coincidental for us to meet on my last day and her first?! Y was such a sweet woman. I am extremely happy that I got the pleasure to meet her. She is an older woman, who I’d place in her forties or fifties. Y shared a bit much for just meeting me, but I think it was due to our instant connection. Also, I could understand the concerns she shared with me because of being a new employee. Most of what she shared was how grateful she was to get the job which I completely understood. It’s hard out here and mostly everyone is struggling to make ends meet - myself included. Either way, I made time to check on Y during our shift and showed her how to do some things. 

I’d write more on her, but I’m not trying to put her business all out there. But Ugh she’s such a sweet woman. I hope everything works out for her, and that my old coworkers treat her right. She even brought doughnuts for everyone on her first day! It was such a nice gesture. At the end of her shift, (she clocked out at 1am while I would clock out at 4am) we exchanged numbers and I got her an uber to make sure she got home safely. The last bus of the night was long gone, and she was fairly new to uber/lyft. We hugged and wished each other well as she left. I hope, wish and pray that everything works out for her. For both of us.

__

It’s been nice to not have to worry about going in to work. I’ve been able to get some rest, but it’s tough getting my sleep schedule back to normal. Now I only have to worry about next week’s interview and flight. It’s all nerve wracking, but I can do this. I WILL do this!.

[hypersolarsensei]

Hype Works Food Service: “If you need me, don’t need me, because I’ll be in the bathroom.”

The above quote came from one of my shift supervisors (3). I thought it was hilarious.

Saturday was one of my greatest shifts ever. I was super fast (at least for me). I was multitasking and taking multiple orders while washing dishes.

Did I mention that the Pick-up Window (PUW) person has to wash the dishes. And if you close for the night you have to wash the entire day’s dishes. Just you. By yourself.

My arms are constantly wet up to my shoulders.

I knew I was doing well and wanted to keep the momentum going, and then one of my shift supervisors (2) confirmed it, and I lost the momentum.

This isn’t true. This one lady came through the drive through and had a long, confusing order that she kept changing. We repeated back to her and she said it was right, but then she was change it again. -Oh the joys of the PUW!-

Monday, I covered a shift for another coworker. I don’t like him very much but oh well, I could use the extra cash. He offered his shift to me because he saw that I was only working two days this week. I told him that I was working so few days because I was actually quitting.

Monday was also the day that this chain brought back this highly sought after item and the day was pure hell. The lines were crazy in the store and in the drive-thru. I heard “do y’all have the ___” too many times.

Though this one guy came through the PUW and made me laugh. “Do y’all have the _ yet?” “Yes sir, we do.” “Oh my god yes! I’m so excited! Can I get a #9 then with extra BBQ sauce? And can I get that in a large?” “(Laughs) Yes sir. Would you like those spicy or regular?” “Spicy! And can I get an extra six count? I’m feeling like a fatty today.”

I’m feeling a little weird about Thursday being my last day. I just started to connect with my coworkers, and was getting faster and my duties. It’s a shame that I have to quit. 

If the place back home paid more than just half of what I currently get, I’d probably transfer. But oh well. On to better opportunities.

WHooooOOOoooooOOOooo TWO. MORE. DAYS!

I’m so ready to be done with this place.

[hypersolarsensei]

Day 11?: These Days Are Probably Wrong

I’m tired, so here are some highlights:

Older gentleman tells me that I should check my paycheck to see if 4% more taxes were taken out.

I actually interacted and laughed with some coworkers.

Patrons are nasty, but there are some workers who slack on their jobs, so the people who take over after them have to do twice the work. The “I don’t get paid enough for this” mentality is prevalent, and sometimes justified. Still sucks though.

Realizing that restaurants aren’t always necessarily dirty because a worker didn’t clean it. Patrons are disgusting and don’t clean up after themselves. A lot of patrons have the “they get paid to do this so, I’m helping them do their job.” You’re not. You’re making my job harder, and no I can’t leave on time, and miss the last bus home, and if I’m broke and can’t afford Uber, I’m stranded. So thank you for assisting me with my job I guess.

Next week I work M, W, R, S from 6pm-4am. Definitely gotta Uber/lift home unless I want to wait forty minutes for the buses to pick back up again.