Today as i left the office I began to think of the things i had gone through from the shouts of a woman to get her to the front of the line, to a woman going into labor in front of me. I leave the office and go get a coffee. I check my email and hope for something new. I begin to leave for my car and watch the sunset. it was beautiful.
Monday, December 14, 2015
The E.N.D.
Today was my last day for the semester and I couldn't be happier, not only had i endured registration week but also the end of the finals. I had survived another semester at my school and was closer to graduation because that is the ultimate goal.
Return of the King?
Remember the guy who found me on Facebook? well he stopped by to visit, and it was as uncomfortable as you think.
I was about to leave when I notice him about to come into the office. I get up and tell my friend i have to use the bathroom. I rapidly walk towards the locker when i the doors open. Luckily i stay behind the door and check my phone. I try to make as much time as possible without it looking to obvious. It felt like a good twenty minutes and i felt sure he must have gone. I begin to walk to my desk and notice him waiting for me. I feel the rush come over me, like annoyance. I pretend not to remember him.
"Maria, your friend is here" my coworker says. How dare he call himself my friend? how dare he presume that i would want a friendship with him! It was very unthinkable!
"Hello Sir" i begin "How may I assist you?"
I say loud enough so my coworker can hear me and think that something is up, so she can know how uncomfortable i am.
"Um..I wanted to say in person how beautiful I think you are" he begins
I think rage was in me now, but with the calmness that only the Dalai Lama can come up with i respond
"Thank you. Can i sign you in because closing time is in a few minutes." i say hoping that he would understand to leave.
"Perfect I can wait and take you to supper or something" he responds.
"Um sir" i hear my co worker saying "You can wait outside because we will be closing this entrance soon"
I looked at her, stunned, and almost worth a "thank you to her.
I look back at him with a smile and respond
"ill meet you in the front, by the statue after work"
he leaves happily. when he leaves I say
"Thank you so much, i was so uncomfortable"
"You're welcome! but next time tell me so i can help you"
After work I run furthest away from the statue as possible and tell my friend Vladi to tell him i left early because of an emergency. Hopefully his height and boldness scares him off in the right direction.
Breaking Up.
I am starting to break up with my job, not only am I three weeks away from the finish line, but so close to my break. That means i get to binge watch on Netflix and talk to my family. A lot of things are running through my head like a wild cheetah in the desert. As the storm has passed, so has my relationship with Issac. One month together and then it ended just like how it started. because after the storm there is the ugly and dreaded humidity with all the bugs and then there's the sunshine and the breeze. But right now there is bugs and the state of uncomfortableness around me, but luckily i see some sunshine starting to peek in my clouds.
Unthinkable Labor
I've always been so found of babies, I don't know why, but to think that a water would break a few feet away from me was unthinkable. When i signed the application I never thought that I would deal with a woman going into labor.
It was around 3-o'-clock in the afternoon. I was so close to the finish when the pregnant woman came in. She looked a bit sweaty which struck me as odd because the cold front was on, but then again she was wearing a coat.
"Good Afternoon" I greeted.
"Hi, mija" she replied "I want to speak to someone in the financial aid offices"
"Yes mam. May I have your name?" as i looked up to her i saw her face. its almost as if she had forgotten something very important, like if she left the water running.
"my water broke" she whispered. As the words entered my ears I began to panic.
"My water broke" this time she said it a bit louder. I get up and rush to her side. As im walking over the world began to play in slow motion. I noticed how stained my boots. I get to her side and see how nice her coat is. As quickly as i took off, the world began clear again. I notice her pants were wet and people were now beginning to stare. I broke from my work persona which was very matter-of-fact and switched into my 'oh my god' suit.
"What do I do? Oh my god call 911" i shouted to my coworker
she too was in a state of shock.
"No its okay, let me call my husband he should be here shortly" she said. I guided her to the nearest sofa and grabbed my cellphone. I called 911 and explained to them about this stranger giving birth at the office.
In the next hour I went from a receptionist to a friend. The woman left and I saw as the ambulance took her from the front and I don't think anything this exciting and weird will happen in a long time.
I told my boyfriend about it and he called me a hero.
It was around 3-o'-clock in the afternoon. I was so close to the finish when the pregnant woman came in. She looked a bit sweaty which struck me as odd because the cold front was on, but then again she was wearing a coat.
"Good Afternoon" I greeted.
"Hi, mija" she replied "I want to speak to someone in the financial aid offices"
"Yes mam. May I have your name?" as i looked up to her i saw her face. its almost as if she had forgotten something very important, like if she left the water running.
"my water broke" she whispered. As the words entered my ears I began to panic.
"My water broke" this time she said it a bit louder. I get up and rush to her side. As im walking over the world began to play in slow motion. I noticed how stained my boots. I get to her side and see how nice her coat is. As quickly as i took off, the world began clear again. I notice her pants were wet and people were now beginning to stare. I broke from my work persona which was very matter-of-fact and switched into my 'oh my god' suit.
"What do I do? Oh my god call 911" i shouted to my coworker
she too was in a state of shock.
"No its okay, let me call my husband he should be here shortly" she said. I guided her to the nearest sofa and grabbed my cellphone. I called 911 and explained to them about this stranger giving birth at the office.
In the next hour I went from a receptionist to a friend. The woman left and I saw as the ambulance took her from the front and I don't think anything this exciting and weird will happen in a long time.
I told my boyfriend about it and he called me a hero.
Interation
Another day, another problem is the name of this blog. However today incident was not a problem to me at all, because I am here to help in any way or form.
Today a man came in wanting help at the registers but he was blind. I got all his information and when i was about to tell him to sit, i caught myself and told him if he needed help to sit which he said yes. I got up from my chair, walked around the table and guided him to a seat. I began to talk to him and he said he needed to fix an issue about his major. They called his name and I guided him to the station which they will attend to him. I went back to my seat and kept on eye on him. Somehow this was the most interaction, and physical contact, I ever had with a student. As he left I wondered if he needed help to get where he was going and that maybe i should go with him. I look to my coworker who greets me with a smile. I feel warm. I think about the situation and realize that i am here to help anyone.
Today a man came in wanting help at the registers but he was blind. I got all his information and when i was about to tell him to sit, i caught myself and told him if he needed help to sit which he said yes. I got up from my chair, walked around the table and guided him to a seat. I began to talk to him and he said he needed to fix an issue about his major. They called his name and I guided him to the station which they will attend to him. I went back to my seat and kept on eye on him. Somehow this was the most interaction, and physical contact, I ever had with a student. As he left I wondered if he needed help to get where he was going and that maybe i should go with him. I look to my coworker who greets me with a smile. I feel warm. I think about the situation and realize that i am here to help anyone.
Another Day
I arrive to the empty building which was a bit odd. I was only 20 minutes early to work? how early was that? I walk to the room where the lockers are so i can put my stuff away. I check my phone and have just enough battery to last me till the end of today.
Today was the Wednesday before we went to thanksgiving break and i needed it. I sit in my desk and see some of my coworkers come in. I sip my coffee as the clock struck 8-o'-clock. then it hit me, that this was the Wednesday before thanksgiving break and that people were not here. All day i only helped ten people and two of them realized they did not need help at all. I left work feeling lazy after I had left the longest and boring shift i had ever endured.
Today was the Wednesday before we went to thanksgiving break and i needed it. I sit in my desk and see some of my coworkers come in. I sip my coffee as the clock struck 8-o'-clock. then it hit me, that this was the Wednesday before thanksgiving break and that people were not here. All day i only helped ten people and two of them realized they did not need help at all. I left work feeling lazy after I had left the longest and boring shift i had ever endured.
Like a Drug
with registration far behind me I looked forward to thanksgiving weekend with such happiness. My body demanded a break from work and school.
Today nothing interesting happen except for this one guy. I was talking to my coworker who sits next to me and we were waiting for people. This guy comes in and i register him, but he was very suspicious. What I mean is that he was looking around like if he was going to meet someone or like when you know someone is behind you. He was looking all around. After a light struggle of getting his name and number which he replied with "huh?" or "what" I soon realized that either he was higher than Gandhi in the sky or he was on some drugs. He sits in the table and looks at the ceiling. I get the notification that he is to go to station 5 because someone will attend to his problem but i don't see him walking, on the contrary he is seated and laughing. I tell my coworker to go get him but we both kinda stare as this is very odd behavior for a student. I feel compelled to go and notify him but I don't. he stays there for an hour or so until he gets up and leaves. I look to my coworker and we both question his behavior and motives. I tell Issac at our next dinner and both laugh about it, but one thing i knew was certain and that was that he definitely was on drugs.
Today nothing interesting happen except for this one guy. I was talking to my coworker who sits next to me and we were waiting for people. This guy comes in and i register him, but he was very suspicious. What I mean is that he was looking around like if he was going to meet someone or like when you know someone is behind you. He was looking all around. After a light struggle of getting his name and number which he replied with "huh?" or "what" I soon realized that either he was higher than Gandhi in the sky or he was on some drugs. He sits in the table and looks at the ceiling. I get the notification that he is to go to station 5 because someone will attend to his problem but i don't see him walking, on the contrary he is seated and laughing. I tell my coworker to go get him but we both kinda stare as this is very odd behavior for a student. I feel compelled to go and notify him but I don't. he stays there for an hour or so until he gets up and leaves. I look to my coworker and we both question his behavior and motives. I tell Issac at our next dinner and both laugh about it, but one thing i knew was certain and that was that he definitely was on drugs.
Sophomore
This week Sophomores register and for the past week I've handled many cases but today was so clam. Aside from the typical flirting and shouting for something I did not do, everything was okay. I sat in my desk and things were running smoothly.
"Good Morning" I greeted this man with a smile.
He was wearing a fresh suit and looked like a professor.
"Hello, I need to speak to someone at the registers?" he says.
I get his in formation and instruct him to wait while someone will contact him shortly.
"May I ask you a question?" he says
"Sure"
"Why do you work here?"
The question caught me off guard, it was almost like a curve ball in baseball.
"Im sorry?" is all i could say
"Yeah you seem to be very happy and cheerful and this place, to me, seems very sad because students come here for problems" he says
"I like to help students with their problems, even if i can only sign them in and help them with minor issues"
"hmm....I wouldn't think of it this way. You're a very nice young lady and I hope you have a wonderful day" he says.
As he leaves and I attend the next person I question what he meant. What did he mean? Was I bound to this chair or was my typing more than enough?
This man was a sophomore so maybe he didn't know too much but maybe, just maybe he was a bit right, that my happiness was overshadowed by the belittlement I received on a daily basis.
And Shove.
"I need a hold removed"
I've heard this so many times today that i have this radar in me where i can detect when students are gonna say it. Its sort of like i can read thoughts a second before they say it.
And then there's the random
"I need financial aid"
After two of the biggest schools in my area merged, so many things changed apart from my haircut.
Before things were so organized it was almost like a secretary lady who shops at White House Black Market. but now things are like an actual college student who is running late to class while finishing a project. Today is the second day of registration and Juniors are so intense.
its midday and the line is all the way outside. I greet each and everyone of the students with a smile and with respect. but today i felt so bad for this one girl. Like all the others she needed a hold removed.
"Hello how may.." I say but i am cut short
"I need a hold removed. My ID is..." she beings. She was rushed and i was a bit happy for her quick and readiness. I catch everything even what she was saying to her friend.
"I hope the class doesn't fill up because its the only one i need and its only in spring that they offer it." "Okay I need your.."
"my number is " she once again is faster than me, maybe she was a runner or something that required her to be so quick.
I let her know that there is an hour wait which i feel so bad for. as the day goes by and the people come and go i wonder if she got into her class. Was i fast enough to get her into her class?" I go to my locker and get my belongings after work. today is Friday and I need a drink from the stress. I text my good friend to meet me in the bar at 9. Today felt like a shove.
I've heard this so many times today that i have this radar in me where i can detect when students are gonna say it. Its sort of like i can read thoughts a second before they say it.
And then there's the random
"I need financial aid"
After two of the biggest schools in my area merged, so many things changed apart from my haircut.
Before things were so organized it was almost like a secretary lady who shops at White House Black Market. but now things are like an actual college student who is running late to class while finishing a project. Today is the second day of registration and Juniors are so intense.
its midday and the line is all the way outside. I greet each and everyone of the students with a smile and with respect. but today i felt so bad for this one girl. Like all the others she needed a hold removed.
"Hello how may.." I say but i am cut short
"I need a hold removed. My ID is..." she beings. She was rushed and i was a bit happy for her quick and readiness. I catch everything even what she was saying to her friend.
"I hope the class doesn't fill up because its the only one i need and its only in spring that they offer it." "Okay I need your.."
"my number is " she once again is faster than me, maybe she was a runner or something that required her to be so quick.
I let her know that there is an hour wait which i feel so bad for. as the day goes by and the people come and go i wonder if she got into her class. Was i fast enough to get her into her class?" I go to my locker and get my belongings after work. today is Friday and I need a drink from the stress. I text my good friend to meet me in the bar at 9. Today felt like a shove.
Push
Registration begins tomorrow for seniors and I am stressed. In the past few weeks the phones have been ringing because of students who have holds in their accounts and them removed to register, or an inconvenience. I like to help students, I really do, but when people begin to scream at me for something i can not do things begin to get personal, and i really hate it when these two dimensions that i try to keep so separate unite. I get that typical "isn't it your job?" to " Aren't you here to help me?" but really what is my job? my job is to sign students in and home others deal with their issues.I am here to hep students who I can help with my resources. I consider myself a strong person but words with degrading meanings get to me i begin to question my strength. Tomorrow the real fun begins, and by fun i mean the push and shove between the students and I.
Interlude.
For the past few weeks things have been getting a bit hectic. And with registration fast approaching I am beginning to worry about the situation that will come. I know in my heart and soul that there will be that one student who will be so close to fist fight me because of a slight inconvenience that i might have done or something their poor time management did. So this is a transition from the calm before the storm. Not only in my work life but in my personal as my love life has been on a hiatus as well. So this is an interlude from one act to another.
The random friend request.
Why did I ever agree to work here? Im a mess all together then to have someone hit on me! Each day I get the typical "so are you single?" deal which I lie and reply no, but with the way things are going with Issac i might have to start telling the truth.Things today were diffrent though let me start from the beginning.
It was a regular work day, it as around 9-o'-clock in the morning that I notice this guy come in. I reply with the usual getting.
"Good Morning" I try to communicate through my smile.
"Good Morning beautiful" he says. I stare at him as i am used to receiving compliments from guys.
"Can I help you today?" I reply but as the words escape my lips i realize my mistake.
"I don't know, can you?" I knew he would reply that, which i really dread. I laugh so weakly and uncomfortably that i hope he understands.
"Im kidding, i need to speak to financial aid" he says.
"whats your ID" i ask not even looking at him.
As i type in his ID number I catch him from the corner of my eye staring at me. I felt so weird.
"Is that your name spelled correctly on the screen?" i ask.
"it is"
I didn't want to ask the next part because I knew where this was going to go, but with my manager coming my way I had to.
"May I have your telephone so we can text you for your station number?"
"You just want my telephone number right? its okay"
"No i don't." i reply coldly, as my annoyance was beginning to get a hold of me. "I need it so you can know what station to go."
"sure" he replies sarcastically.
He repeats his number twice even though I got it the first time.
"okay we will text you when its your turn" i say
He begins to leave but before he does he asks
"Whats your name?"
With the rush of the next person coming up I quickly says
"Maria Gonzalez so glad i could help you"
I was at home doing homework when i get a Facebook notification. It was a message.
I begin to read it and realize that the annoying boy from earlier today had found me on Facebook. somehow my work life and personal life had managed to cross from one dimension into the other...and i was not having it.
in the message he said he liked me and that he liked me too. he also mentioned something like I like when woman flirt with me. I laughed so hard i think my mom heard me.
I did not even reply to the message and blocked him. Somehow I knew i would see him again but did not care because it wasn't important right now. The only thing that mattered was finishing my homework and meeting Issac for our movie date.
It was a regular work day, it as around 9-o'-clock in the morning that I notice this guy come in. I reply with the usual getting.
"Good Morning" I try to communicate through my smile.
"Good Morning beautiful" he says. I stare at him as i am used to receiving compliments from guys.
"Can I help you today?" I reply but as the words escape my lips i realize my mistake.
"I don't know, can you?" I knew he would reply that, which i really dread. I laugh so weakly and uncomfortably that i hope he understands.
"Im kidding, i need to speak to financial aid" he says.
"whats your ID" i ask not even looking at him.
As i type in his ID number I catch him from the corner of my eye staring at me. I felt so weird.
"Is that your name spelled correctly on the screen?" i ask.
"it is"
I didn't want to ask the next part because I knew where this was going to go, but with my manager coming my way I had to.
"May I have your telephone so we can text you for your station number?"
"You just want my telephone number right? its okay"
"No i don't." i reply coldly, as my annoyance was beginning to get a hold of me. "I need it so you can know what station to go."
"sure" he replies sarcastically.
He repeats his number twice even though I got it the first time.
"okay we will text you when its your turn" i say
He begins to leave but before he does he asks
"Whats your name?"
With the rush of the next person coming up I quickly says
"Maria Gonzalez so glad i could help you"
I was at home doing homework when i get a Facebook notification. It was a message.
I begin to read it and realize that the annoying boy from earlier today had found me on Facebook. somehow my work life and personal life had managed to cross from one dimension into the other...and i was not having it.
in the message he said he liked me and that he liked me too. he also mentioned something like I like when woman flirt with me. I laughed so hard i think my mom heard me.
I did not even reply to the message and blocked him. Somehow I knew i would see him again but did not care because it wasn't important right now. The only thing that mattered was finishing my homework and meeting Issac for our movie date.
"Do you understand English Ma'am?"
I woke up with such optimism that it hurt a bit when I left my house I knew that it would be such an amazing day. I did my daily routine when i got to school. Picked up coffee and a muffin, checked my email, and had a small conversation with an old professor. I walked to the same old building and saw my reflection on the sliding doors. It was a Friday and today i had my first date with Issac, he was this guy i had in class who was funny. As i walk to the back and place my bags in the locker i begin to wonder of my immediate future and what would happen tonight at the date. i catch myself gazing off and land back to reality.
Somewhere around 11-o'-clock things were slow. I was scrolling and waiting, waiting for both a message and for a new student. I saw this Lady approaching me, she had a very serious face.
"Good Morning!" i say with a smile,
"how may i assist you today?"
i try to sound as confident and and fierce as her blank stare, but fail.
"I have been running around everywhere to try and get into registrars, first they told me to go over to that other building and then they told me to go back." she says with such anger I become frighten a bit.
"Well you came to the right building.." I begin but before i could finish she cuts me off
"Thank god because if you would've told me otherwise i would've jumped over this and hit you"
I did not laugh and neither did she. I feel my phone vibrate as i begin to type her ID number which she does not remember and says in chopped words.
"Also is there a way you can put me next because i have to be somewhere in 30 minutes"
With out realizing i let out a small laugh cough because to me this woman must be out of her mind if she thinks i will let her cut in front of others.
"I'm sorry ma'am but I can't do that, the good thing is that there is a 20 minute wait" I say with a very sarcastic smile that i hoped she didn't catch.
"Do you understand English?" she says very matter-of-fact.
I am stunned. I looked to my co-worker who seems to think the same.
"I'm sorry mam but I can't because its not fair to others who have been waiting. You will have to wait like the others" I reply with such subtle strength in my voice. before she can begin to question my nationality as well, i shout
"Next person in line"
The woman grabs her bag and stares boldly at me. For once in my life i left my anger let to me.
Luckily the next person in line way my friend who needed transcripts.
During my break I read the text.
"Hey we still on for tonight right?
Boy was i happy to leave work and go have dinner.
Somewhere around 11-o'-clock things were slow. I was scrolling and waiting, waiting for both a message and for a new student. I saw this Lady approaching me, she had a very serious face.
"Good Morning!" i say with a smile,
"how may i assist you today?"
i try to sound as confident and and fierce as her blank stare, but fail.
"I have been running around everywhere to try and get into registrars, first they told me to go over to that other building and then they told me to go back." she says with such anger I become frighten a bit.
"Well you came to the right building.." I begin but before i could finish she cuts me off
"Thank god because if you would've told me otherwise i would've jumped over this and hit you"
I did not laugh and neither did she. I feel my phone vibrate as i begin to type her ID number which she does not remember and says in chopped words.
"Also is there a way you can put me next because i have to be somewhere in 30 minutes"
With out realizing i let out a small laugh cough because to me this woman must be out of her mind if she thinks i will let her cut in front of others.
"I'm sorry ma'am but I can't do that, the good thing is that there is a 20 minute wait" I say with a very sarcastic smile that i hoped she didn't catch.
"Do you understand English?" she says very matter-of-fact.
I am stunned. I looked to my co-worker who seems to think the same.
"I'm sorry mam but I can't because its not fair to others who have been waiting. You will have to wait like the others" I reply with such subtle strength in my voice. before she can begin to question my nationality as well, i shout
"Next person in line"
The woman grabs her bag and stares boldly at me. For once in my life i left my anger let to me.
Luckily the next person in line way my friend who needed transcripts.
During my break I read the text.
"Hey we still on for tonight right?
Boy was i happy to leave work and go have dinner.
Hello dear reader.
Hello My Name is Maria Gonzalez and I work as a receptionist
at the registrars office here at UTRGV. I work on Monday, Wednesday, and
Fridays. Each day I go in at eight and leave at six-o’-clock in the afternoon.
I try to go in with a smile as I, in a way, represent the school. Each day I
have an incident where I either want to laugh at the silliness of some of the students, or cry
by the insults because of a slight miscommunication mishap.Each day I have many things running through my head that it becomes a bit hard to do things fully, but i don't let it stop me from accomplishing my goals. My name is Maria
and these are the tales of the most outrageous, silly and flat out rude things
that I experience as a receptionist.
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