Monday, Jan. 31, 2005 - 10:59 p.m.
There is a phrase I have long hated, but didn't think I would still have to hear now that I am a year and a half out of college.
"welcome to the real world."
Of course, I imagine the woman that said it thought I'd just graduated, but it's still a pretty bitchy comment - to anyone.
The woman that I started temping for today had earlier asked if I was still in school and I told her I'd graduated. She asked my major and I told her and she said something about how I was probably still looking for a job and this was just to pay the bills right. Of course I nodded and she said the job market sucks right now. All fine.
Later, I was trying to clear up a mistake the temp agency had made. They had not told me the right time to leave. And she explained to me that we don't get paid for lunch so they tack the last half hour on the end of the day to make up for the lunch break, finishing with "welcome to the real world," in an obvious it sucks but that's how it is kind of way.
But, that's such a condescending statement to make to anyone. Because, everyone's got their own "real world" stresses.
And speaking of the half hour lunch....
I've decided that there's something very oppressive about a half hour lunch break, especially in an office setting.
It basically forces the employees to eat there, to never leave the office at all all day long. How can anyone think that that's good for morale. Getting out and seeing a change in atmosphere is the best way to keep me from feeling like the day is 30 hours long. I don't imagine I'm alone in this. It's a small thing but it helps.
We have two 15-minute breaks, one before and one after lunch. I'd rather just not have those and get enough time to leave for lunch. Because, really, what can you do with 15 minutes if you're not a smoker?
