i almost believed that the fortune fairy read my blog. last wednesday, as i was waiting for 6pm interview in a french resto, my phone rang and it was the casino. they are offering me the job in the deli bar as a wait staff! i have 3 night shifts in a week, which is really not bad as compared to having no job at all. so yesterday, i went to skycity and signed the contract. first night will be later at 7pm until the early hours when the sun is still hidden at 4 in the morning. this would be my first graveyard shift ever, and i am the person who is just so inefficient when it comes to sleeping. good luck to me.
the french resto, on the other hand, was both a nightmare and fulfilling. the manager scanned my CV for like 10 minutes, nodding at constant intervals at my falsified résumé, which gives me a strange feeling. but since i am already there, i have to stand up on my abilities, which mainly comprise of excellent customer service. another wait staff came exactly at 6 o’clock, and the next thing i knew is that i’m wearing the serving apron and being led how everything is done. i am not expecting to do a trial run that night, and didn’t have anything for dinner yet. the french chef came, and the place started to get busy. with the appealing smell of freshly cooked gourmet food, my ravenous stomach began to sound but silenced enough by my nervousness taking orders, getting water, serving food, clearing the table, and offering dessert list. there’s a lot to do as a waiter, and the job is not simple as it looks like. the kitchen rules are so precise. different plates are used for different reasons. the teaspoon stack is in the bar, whereas all the other cutleries are in the rack behind the kitchen bar. table napkins point to the right, on top is a set of fork and knife. fork on the left, knife on the right. water glass and wine glass are in order too. and this set-up is not even the most comprehensive of a proper dining!
and then with the wine. i am very convinced at myself that i haven’t opened a bottle of wine or champagne..or probably once during my 19th or 20th birthday when some friends brought a bottle of red. but then, we opened it with the traditional opener, which is nothing more but a thin metal spiral. in this restaurant, they have a fancy gadget opening the bottle, which looks like this. i tried to open a bottle of red, and by imitating terian, an aussie waitress, it was successful!! then pour a tiny bit in the glass for the customer to taste, and if his face seems to agree (which most likely he will, or else his taste of wine is stupid), you will then pour more of it. ask them if they want to keep the cork, which is locked inside the contraption, and of course you give them if they want.
they have a wide list of wine selections too, most of them i can’t even pronounce. however, my knowledge is limited only to chardonnay, pinot noir, and merlot..and that is even because of staying and working in hawkes bay, an area of wineries in nz.
it was intense for a few moments, busy and packed, but as it gets late, people started to go.
that was a no pay labor, but i felt a bit reassured that i’ll get it because they had me demoed! at the end of 3 or 4-hour charity work, i’m ready to leave. the manager just told me he’ll let me know thursday, which is today. as tip is not mandatory here, the tip bowl is almost empty. distributing it to everyone, i had some coins richer.
wendy’s is calling my attention on my walk back home, and it will be too late to prepare my own food back at the hostel. the fast food, apparently, is close already, but the drive thru is open ’til midnight so after the last car, i stand there incognito as a porsche and waited for my turn. i told myself i’ll get something special as it was an exciting night, and i had the casino job. so, it was bacon murshroom melt and a medium fries. i have a bottle of apple juice in the fridge. total for takeaway was $11.60. the tip share i got is $3.50. haha, i was then a few dollars poorer.
there are times when i get what i want. there are also times when i get what i need. but right now, it just brings a smile upon my face that i get what i get.
