…
I served sausages, pastries, and mile-high cakes
later I worked in a pub, and gave out beer and liquor.
I cleaned offices in the middle of the night,
three of them for a while, then I got tired.
I worked at a bank as an intern and missed a robbery
because I had been smoking in the breakroom.
I stocked shelves in a grocery store
weighed and packed vegetables on an old scale.
I did 12-hour night shifts at a gas station inside at the register
outside a gas station attendant cleaned the windshields.
I babysat kids, and brought them to school
tutored them afterward when they wanted to learn.
I mowed lawns and cut some flowers,
but didn’t like pulling weeds, so I quit.
I typed up books on an old typewriter,
carbon paper, and whiteout were my best friends.
Then the good life stopped and I graduated from college.
My degree showed me I had learned a lot
Now I could finally work!
…
A nice collection of jobs and all before you were out of college… impressive! You at least tried many things before you found your dream job(s).
Wonderful
Fascinating. All of you.
And didn’t you also do journalism job. And somewhere in Europe got rescued from a near fatal mishap in a shop!? Your stories are the most fascinating I’ve ever read. You are one fine sister. I bless you. Hugs.
((Forgive if that wasn’t you at that shop [perhaps Czechoslovakia?] I sometimes get my lines crossed. Do forgive)) sorry.
The incident happened in a cafe/bar/restaurant in Yugoslavia, right before the civil war started. I am (was) a translator/interpreter for over 20 years.
I think many of us who traveled a lot and/or worked in other countries can tell similar stories.
Most of you can fill books with stories about your kids and grandchildren. That’s something nature denied us. The years mothers and fathers stay at home raising their children, were the years when I explored the world.
As for being a student, working part time jobs, I suppose that’s pretty normal, at least in Europe.
Yugoslavia. Yes, right. I should have remembered that small detail. As I have one dear friend who hails from Yugoslavia.
Glad I wasn’t so wrong about this incident. Translator. Yes, you.
Bless you. Thanks for the response. Happy Thursday to you.
I love the bank robbery scenario and the surprise at the end that your many jobs were squeezed in with your studies.
It was comical, a coworker and I took a ten minute break and smoked a cigarette, when we came back, they were all laying on the floor. The bank robbers had already left, they were caught the same day. We had missed all the action. 🙂
Sounds like you were far too busy to be learning, but you managed it along the way. Lots of good experience there to cope with life later.
I was a busy bee, just like others. Not every day, but on the weekend, in the evening and nights. You can do that when you are twenty, now I need my beauty sleep or I am useless.
I love all the jobs and perspectives you have–WISDOM!! Your last lines say it all! Thank you!
I don’t feel wise, but I have experience 🙂
Thank you for reading.
They to be old and wise, we must be young and dumb-I’ve been that! I’d say experiences give you wisdom and perspectives others may not have! It’s always great when I’m able to read your words and be here!
Great reflection. We all know when our careers started, but we often forget what it took to get there. Our kids think we just snapped our fingers and it happened. Allan
It’s so true. So many of us had ‘small’ beginnings and we worked all kind of odd jobs to finance our studies or needed to work more than one job when we were newly weds, or just started our careers. It was fun to look back.
I love this!🩷🌺
The question took me back in time and I enjoyed writing it.
I’m so glad because I enjoyed reading it.
Wow, you’ve had such an interesting and varied journey! From serving sausages and pastries to working in a pub, cleaning offices at night, and even missing a bank robbery because you were on a smoke break—what a ride! Stocking shelves, doing night shifts at a gas station, babysitting and tutoring kids, mowing lawns, typing up books on an old typewriter—you’ve done it all. Each job sounds like it came with its own set of stories and lessons. And then, after all that, graduating from college and stepping into a new chapter. It’s inspiring to see how every job, big or small, has shaped your path. Thanks for sharing your story—it’s a great reminder of how diverse and unexpected life can be!
I am from Europe, Austria to be exact. The university is free for the ones that have the grades to study, so there is no fee, but books and living, well that cost money. Most students work part time besides studying. Only the rich kids who get a monthly check from mom and dad can afford not to. I was not special, just one of the many students trying to make ends meet. 🙂