So I had my first super-bitchy client today. I wasn't able to accept the madam's paperwork for a few very key reasons, and she was less than impressed (and yes, I use the word madam in multiple senses). She was even more unimpressed when I had to confiscate a piece of her paperwork and refused to accept my explanation. I finally had a much more senior person talk to her. She was still unimpressed. As she packed up and left my area, her purse was zipped with such venom that I wanted to reach out and smack her. I refrained, and just sat in silence, giving a 'tough shit, your own damn fault' look as she huffily turned and teetered out.
The kicker?
All this was in French. I'm fairly confident working in French. That's why they hired me. But I still don't know all the 'lingo', so to speak so there are words that escape me - especially since I don't use the French on a regular basis. Part of the reason I had someone more senior come out and explain was because I was afraid I wasn't communicating something properly. But listening to their exchange, nope, I was using the right words the right way. Big wiping of the sweat from the eyebrow.
I was able to step away and get out of the office shortly afterwards, and it was a good thing I did. The whole incident really drove home just how new I still am at this whole thing, and harped on all my professional insecurities. I was left with shaking hands and a feeling that I wasn't performing adequately. It doesn't help that the two others who were hired at the same time as me are both completely fluently bilingual. I feel ill-trained, ill-equipped, ill-informed, and ill-prepared right now.
Hopefully it will pass soon enough.
On a completely different note, my father had surgery on Wednesday. Just day, laser surgery, but surgery nonetheless. Yup. The skin cancer had made a few inroads. They think they got it all, but he'll be going for fairly frequent checkups from now on. The kicker? My mother didn't tell me until we had lunch together on Monday and she just casually happened to mention something about taking Wednesday afternoon to take my father to his surgery. I'm not sure whether I'm grateful to her that she kept me in the dark and didn't make me worry, or pissed right off that she didn't inform me of something that important a little bit sooner.
*sigh*
The kicker?
All this was in French. I'm fairly confident working in French. That's why they hired me. But I still don't know all the 'lingo', so to speak so there are words that escape me - especially since I don't use the French on a regular basis. Part of the reason I had someone more senior come out and explain was because I was afraid I wasn't communicating something properly. But listening to their exchange, nope, I was using the right words the right way. Big wiping of the sweat from the eyebrow.
I was able to step away and get out of the office shortly afterwards, and it was a good thing I did. The whole incident really drove home just how new I still am at this whole thing, and harped on all my professional insecurities. I was left with shaking hands and a feeling that I wasn't performing adequately. It doesn't help that the two others who were hired at the same time as me are both completely fluently bilingual. I feel ill-trained, ill-equipped, ill-informed, and ill-prepared right now.
Hopefully it will pass soon enough.
On a completely different note, my father had surgery on Wednesday. Just day, laser surgery, but surgery nonetheless. Yup. The skin cancer had made a few inroads. They think they got it all, but he'll be going for fairly frequent checkups from now on. The kicker? My mother didn't tell me until we had lunch together on Monday and she just casually happened to mention something about taking Wednesday afternoon to take my father to his surgery. I'm not sure whether I'm grateful to her that she kept me in the dark and didn't make me worry, or pissed right off that she didn't inform me of something that important a little bit sooner.
*sigh*
So I've discovered that I will actually be trained next week. There will be much learning. There will also be much sleeping in, as I won't have to start until 8:25, although it does mean I won't get off until 4:40, unlike my usual 7-3:15 shift.
I have learned that I missed choral performing more than I remembered. All the fun of solo work without all the responsibility to be perfect. Ok, granted, you're still aiming for 100%, but if you only hit 98, there are other voices to help you out.
I have learned that 3.5 weeks of doing nothing but calling people withouth a telephone headset causes shoulder injuries! Horrible ergonomic arrangements. Part of it's my own fault - I shouldn't have been holding the phone the way I was.
I have learned that I can survive on 6 hours of sleep a night, but not for any extended period of time.
And last, but not least, thanks to Mike Rowe and his "Dirty Jobs" show, I have learned that the moulds for bells contain horse shit. And other random interesting facts.
And that is all.
I have learned that I missed choral performing more than I remembered. All the fun of solo work without all the responsibility to be perfect. Ok, granted, you're still aiming for 100%, but if you only hit 98, there are other voices to help you out.
I have learned that 3.5 weeks of doing nothing but calling people withouth a telephone headset causes shoulder injuries! Horrible ergonomic arrangements. Part of it's my own fault - I shouldn't have been holding the phone the way I was.
I have learned that I can survive on 6 hours of sleep a night, but not for any extended period of time.
And last, but not least, thanks to Mike Rowe and his "Dirty Jobs" show, I have learned that the moulds for bells contain horse shit. And other random interesting facts.
And that is all.
