11/02/07

11th feb '07

my first job!! hahaha.. ok, its such a disgrace to wrk for the first time in ur life at a fine age of 18 yrs n 107 days, but at least i did manage to get started. *indignant look* anyway, the job was as a banquet server for a wedding hosted by the tung lok grp.



dar came by my place to meet me n send me to wrk! sorta like moral support. yayness~



at the cityhall stop where out of boredom, he attempted to squish the model's nose. haha.. did i mention i like tt campaign for real beauty advert? yup.. i absolutely lurve the song n the smiling kids.. its so pure n pristine. =)

we had dinner with ting at bedok [pineapple rice!!] n ended up running late for reporting time. tsktsktsk. bad first impression. =( still had to meet mz to borrow black, formal skirt. zzz... so mafan. rushed down to orchard parade hotel n entered via the dustbins! ok fine, it was the staff entrance at the back alley.. dressed up in heels, stockings n an ultra big uniform in a mega big locker area which was sorta eerie to a certain extent. fyi, my uni was already size SMALL! imagine how humongous extra large will be?!?! -_-

malu no. 1: walk in late during the 6pm roll-call.
malu no. 2: replied "huh?" when the captain called my name.
(was supposed to say YES! everyone laughed! so throw face can?)

anyway, was assigned to do cocktail duty frm 7.15-7.45 pm. solo, one man show sia! trust me, those 3 wine glasses of soda is the heaviest ever when u bal them on ur left wrist with ur right hand perpetually behind ur back. n ppl can be quite rude when they brush pass ur offer of drinks. time passed really really slowly as u smile n nod n face rejection n i was stupid to not hv brought a watch. zzz... can't ppl just take the time to drink a stupid glass of soda n lighten my load?!!

n i got to do something really cool! on my first day, i got to be part of the walk-in where we were supposed to march in formation bearing the big, heavy plate of appetisers on our left shoulders according to the beat of lights n music. it was uber cool!!!!! n thankfully ting noticed tt my plate had missing spring rolls so i had time to change a set before the folly of the chef was discovered. she damn pro, hv time to keep checking in on me while serving the VIP table. so seh hor? hehe...

having been allocated to table 1,4 & 7, my partner, edison, was a real charmer.. he taught me alot, nv criticised, always encouraging n telling me to take it easy.

things tt he taught:

1. how to 'seat' a guest.
   
2. lay napkins on their laps. (fold into triangle - right to left.)


3. how to pour drinks.


4. how to pour wine. (include the twirly action!)


5. how to use stylishly use a fork n spoon to kiap food. (alternate finger coordination.)


6. how to serve dessert n sharks fin.


7. how to bal towering plates.


8. how to clean up spills. (soak, cover, cover!)


9. how to approach bar counter staff.


10. how to approach kitchen staff.


11. how to make chi tea.


12. how to make the perfect cup of warm water. (TAP WATER!!!)


13. how to hold trays. (right-angle wrist to lower arm.)


14. how to present food with appropraite utensils, etc.


15. how to stand. (hands clasped in front, straight back, no leaning.)


16. how to act busy when obviously u hv nothing better to do. (keep walking around.)

it seems like alot but i basically just focussed on refilling drinks (including a guy who keep wanting a FULL cup of wine. kiasu singaporeans~) coz edison covered a large majority of my duties while finding it within himself to make small chat n come to my rescue as n when required..

eg. (i just poured an ultra hot cup of tea n my hands were trembling but i knew i cld not let go till it was served. he swopped by just secs later n grabbed tt torturous cup away frm me n made the delivery himself.) it was so sweet considering i noe how freaking hot tt boiling cup of tea was!?

tis exp was a great one. i got to see the insides of the kitchen, the prepartory wrk tt goes into making every wedding a success n the look of concentration on everyone's face as they created yet another perfect wedding dinner. basically, i got to witness the toughness of the background wrk behind something tt is so pretty. it is sad tt tis labour is v often poorly paid n under-recognised or often dismissed as insignificant. haiz.

nursing a backache, aching arms n wrists, blistered n tired feet, it was an absolute pleasure to hv the darling waiting downstairs for me to get dismissed frm wrk. in total, he spent abt 5.5 hrs walking alone around orchard. thank you dar! *muackies*

thanks also to mommy n daddy who stayed awake to watch their baby girl grow up. n daddy's anxiousness when i failed to reply smses. i love u both so so so much. =)

i hv finally understood the value of money. all these effort of just a measly $30 which can be spent at one go.. money money money...