Nickel and Dimed
QTPC #24
Quotation- page 208 “I wasn’t carrying stolen salt shakers or anything else of a compromising nature, but still, there’s something about the prospect of a purse search that makes a woman feel a few buttons short of fully dressed.” I understand completely how she feels. It’s like someone has the right to violate you by going through your personal belongings.
Talking Point- America is broadcasted as this great nation. How can we let our own people live in poverty while still putting off this image? It doesn’t seem right to let people go hungry or not make enough money to support their family or even enough to live in a house.
Connection- On page 205, Barbara was talking about people being stuck in certain jobs because of the dependence on others. I made a connection with my friend. He got a job at Wendy’s because his sister worked there. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get a different job because his family couldn’t afford to get him a car so he had to depend on her for rides. It was easier on her if he just stayed at Wendy’s and worked the same days as her rather than going and finding a different job.
QTPC #23
Quotation- page 153 “I sleep and wake up, sleep and wake up again, listen to the cars coming and going, watch the silhouettes move past my window.” I like this quote because I could relate to it with staying in the dorms. My room is across from the recycling/trash area so the light shines under my door. I can always hear people walking by or talking in the hall. Also, I hear the cars go by and sometimes see their headlights shine through the slit in the curtain.
Talking Point- It’s funny how Barb entertains herself during work. Referring to herself as Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde. Then saying how the mothers just want to be “brats” and don’t want to clean up after themselves because they are constantly picking up after their kids. The workers are there to clean up after the exhausted mothers.
Connection- Two of the three principles Wal-Mart has, Hacienda also uses. As an employee, we are to exceed guests expectations at all times. These EGE’s show up in our secret shopper reports every month and you get rewarded for good work. Also, we are to always strive for excellence on the job. It’s weird to me that the same principles I’ve been taught at the restaurant are used at a super-market.
QTPC #22
Quotation- page 92 “The first time I encountered a shit-stained toilet as a maid, I was shocked by the sense of unwanted intimacy. Afew hours ago, some well-fed butt was straining away on this toilet seat, and now here I am wiping up after it.” My first reaction to this was laughter but then I realized how disgusting this is and the rest of the paragraph after was gross to think of.
Talking Point- I think it’s funny that the homeowners set up cameras and recorders to catch people. It’s like they think it’s horrible if they catch the workers gossiping or cussing when they probably do that. Also, why would they purposely put dirt under the rug and get down all fours to check in every nook and crany? The time took checking the work could just be spent cleaning and it would save them a lot of money.
Connection- Barbara says how she’d go places after working at the restaurant and people would start conversations about that place. I used to get that all the time over the summer. Random people would be like “Oh, you work at Hacienda? I love the chips and salsa there.” It would kind of drive me nuts because I didn’t really want to chat.
QTPC #21
Quotation- page 17 “about a third of a server’s job is ‘side work’ invisible to customers- sweeping, scrubbing, slicing, refilling, and restocking.” I’m not a server but I’ve been a host now for a year and a half and I completely understand this comment. Customers don’t realize the half of the work we really do at the restaurant.
Talking Point- I wonder how Barbara would handle doing this project nowadays. With the falling economy, it’s extremely hard to find a job that pays much over minimum wage. Along with the lack of jobs, there’s competition amongst the illegals or people who are so willing to work that they’ll work for less than they should.
Connection- I can really relate to the whole chapter about working in a restaurant. This summer I transferred to a different store. I had to relearn table numbers, where everything was, and the way things were done. The comment on page 17 “where are the high chairs, anywhere?” made me laugh because that’s how I felt when I first transferred.
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