On-the-Job Evaluation

Just this late afternoon at 5pm, I had my On-the-Job Evaluation (OJE) at McDonald's Las Piñas. It was pretty challenging and exciting. We were all to wait at the conference hall along with my fellow OJE'ers and wait for further instructions. Surprisingly, all of us were calm and collected.

We were divided into two groups. Ours was first assigned to the lobby for the first hour then assistance to the counter the next hour. Before all that, all of us were led to the employee's area. Funny though. We were treated like tourists but of course the manager Ma'am Lanie may be friendly but she still had the air of authority.

Now that fed my childhood curiosity. Although I've developed a slight idea of what the food area might look like according to my visits to McDonald's, it felt like I was a kid exploring a planetarium. So that's how chicken nuggets were made and cooked.

Meticulous! Even washing hands had a proper procedure to follow! We even had to memorize the name of the handwash. Well, it was called Anti-Microbial Handwash or AMH. Ma'am Lanie told us for it might appear in the written exam afterwards. We were shown the wash area, proper cleaning equipment and the closet where the sanitizer, brooms and mops were stored. All was taught and we were ready as ever!

Being the excited trainee, I volunteered to wear the belt bag holding the color-coded rags, yellow for trays and tables and blue for chairs and other things that have no physical contact with food. Finally, Ma'am Lanie exclaimed, "You're off! Find some things to do and keep yourselves busy. You will all be evaluated by your performances."

So off I was! Since I was assigned at the lobby, my assignment was to sweep floors, clean away leftovers, wipe tables, and greet customers with the overused lines, "Good evening Ma'am/Sir! Welcome to McDonald's!" then eventually bid them goodbye with "Thank you Ma'am/Sir! Come again!" Honestly, it was tiring but fun!

Then it was time for round two of the OJE. Our group was assigned to assist those attending the counter. We were assigned merely to serving drinks and no other food. Ma'am Lanie said we still lacked experience and training to do so (It's alright really. I wasn't offended.). It was pretty simple. We were first taught the different cup sizes and their uses, the right amount of ice to be out and the right size for lemonade, iced tea, orange juice and Happy Meals.

That position felt awkward though. We just had to stand beside the ones we were assisting and we were somehow in the way of other employees. Sure, we sometimes got bumped and even pushed aside but it made no big deal. It was the OJE. I can't let my emotions get in the way.

At long last, we were all called back to the conference room. We were given another written exam about how much we learned from the OJE. We all finished and passed papers. We received an allowance of a Burger McDo and a small Coke each. It was very satisfying. And Ma'am Lanie was very nice and approachable. We were to be updated before Sunday this week. I'm feeling quite anxious.

I went home. Mom was happy about my having a part-time job. In fact she seemed more excited than I was.

And on a final note, I'm glad I cancelled my plan to work for a call center. McDonald's is more practical and convenient. They prioritize working students and they even adjust to your shcedule. Plus the management is worker-friendly. They say a full time call center work alone is enough to deprive you of your health. What more if added the burden of school work? I knew some schoolmates who are already half-dead from school and call center labor.

It'll be fine. I know I'll make it. ^^x

Employed!!

At least STARTING to be employed. =)

Just this morning, McDonald's Las Piñas called me up and informed me that I'm scheduled for an examination tomorrow morning at 10am. Surprising since I was expecting an initial interview. I'm not that worried. If even high school students can pass it then undoubtedly, so can I.

At last... Earning my own dough. For now, it doesn't matter if the salary is merely P35 an hour. What I'm after is work experience and just enough cash to contribute to my tuition fees. It's finally time I give my Pops a hand.

And I wouldn't want to imagine if I do get employed in a call center. That'd be less time for my Zhou Xun. Hell, I might even end up losing him completely. A friend of mine broke his back on both school and call center work. It's impressive that he works to buttress his own tuition fees yet in the process he lost his girlfriend whom he was with for three years. I wouldn't want that...

Went on a hiatus with FFX International. Level grinding and playing all-day Blitzball can be boring. Just toiled away with Resident Evil Code: Veronica X even though Raph and I have finished it twice for the past three years. And until now I still haven't a copy of Resident Evil 4.

I can't wait to begin playing FFXII.

Back to topic. Truth is I'm having mixed feelings about work. I'm feeling both nervous and excited. This will be my first ever job experience. I'll be fine! No need to worry. And the best incentive there is is I'll have something valuable to brag about in my résumé. I've read in Reader's Digest that work experience is far MORE highly valued than education, but the latter of course also has to be a given.

Somehow, I still have enough chakra to contain my excitement.

Outer space is where we get together
In this place we're meant to be
Stars are dancing and the time is fading
Die forever you and me, you and me

Passing stars and counting moons of planets
In the cosmos we are free
There's no atmosphere and no obsessions
It'll always be, it'll always be
-t.A.T.u., Cosmos (Outer Space)

You May Be a Bit Borderline...

Your mood swings make a roller coaster look tame! When you're up, you're a little bit crazy... And when you're down, your whole world is crashing Scary thing is, these moods can change by the minute!

What Personality Disorder Are You?

Back to School. Damn...

I just don't know why everything has to go away
I just don't know why everything has to fade away
I cannot escape
There's nothing more I can do
I just don't know why I need you
-Lacuna Coil, What I See

ENGL13A Speech Communication
MCMN11A Theories of Communication
PRLL20A Principles of Public Relations
BSJN50A Introduction to Journalism
PSYN10A General Psychology
PESN04A Team Sports/Games

Those are my subjects for this semester. For the first time, I'm underloading subjects. I guess Shorty and I aren't alone. She's taking up Tariff and Customs Administration. I wonder how she's doing. Girl doesn't have much love for Math, not that I'm actually expecting her course is loaded with MATH!!

I was in school attending my only class of the day which is General Psychology. There were only a few of us, probably because most of our classmates usually never come on the first day of the semester. The prof was quite interesting.

I walked around the lobbies, hoping to bump into a friend or at least someone I know. Although I met a few acquiantances, I never got to trip unto Shorty or Kisuke. The sadder news is my other good friend Kenji the wise, that big half-Japanese guy was said to not have enrolled again this semester. I never saw hime the whole last sem and I was heavily hoping we'd get to talk again and have a few Japanese lessons. Turns out his younger sister Rika couldn't have enrolled too... What of LAAG?

I've made a vow. I'll strive to have a grade of above 2.00 in at least one subject. The last subject I had a grade of above 2.00 is PE1. Anyway, I'm finished with most of the useless subjects, all my Filipino subjects and Chemistry most of all. I can survive better in Statistics and Economics, just don't let me have that useless subjects again.

And Karmacode by Lacuna Coil is very enchanting. It can put me to sleep despite being a metal band.

Spiral

The much-awaited semestral break is finally over, and classes start tomorrow.

And I've decided to cancel that call center thing. I've consulted many friends who are experienced in call center work and they say that it'll consume much of time definitely. I don't want that. I don't want to risk losing time for my boyfriend, my PS2 and myself.

Maybe I'll go work for McDonald's? Who cares if the pay is low? As long as I get to work! 'Sides, they adjust to my schedule and I have free lunch! ^^x

Trick or Tricky

Happy Halloween! At least that was for yesterday.

The Trick or Treating occured during the sun was still up though. Corny.

I don't really want to complain about it but most of the kids who were trick or treating for sweets and goodies were all outsiders from Philam, most of them not even wearing costumes. It's not surprising. Those poor blokes just take advantage of any freebie available. That's why I once mentioned here in my blog (I can't remember which post) why I want all those below the poverty line obliterated.

Anyway, might as well look on the bright side! We all dressed up in typical Halloween costumes. Pauline being a witch for a masquerade party, Eliza an angel (although she really isn't one), Jenna a butterfly princess and of course Moi being a nefarious and bodacious witch! And there's a difference between an evil witch and a masquerade witch. No need to substantiate that! ^^

*I'll post the photos some other time*

I didn't bring my own goodie bag. My job then was too accompany and secure the kids as well as be their big assistant in holding their goodie bags and fixing up their wings. Jenna's butterfly wings were a pain and kept on hitting me back in the car! I was also the wiper of hands and chins from taho and ice cream. Trendy. Even the caretaker is in a lavish costume...

Funny though. All the kids were staring at me as we rode from house to house to gain freebies. Oh well. Most of the trick or treaters are kids, some of them accompanied by adults who were wearing little costumues and accessories or none at all. Since I was one of the few grown-ups wearing a very conspicuous costume (I saw a duo wearing Men in Black tuxedos), all the other kids were all staring, nudging their friends saying "Uy! Witch o!". Some were not taught good manners and were even pointing.

My cousin Raph later arrived! He was dressed in an urban camo outfit complete with face paint of poster paint and a replica of a Glock and an MP5! We took pictures alter at the park with well-planned posts. We decided on the forest setting, which was wrong since he was wearing urban camo.

Quite a happy halloween though as much as I hate to admit, I never enjoyed it like a kid will. That's what I hate about being an adult. It takes much MORE to be pleased...