Monday 10/14/02 A
Dream Job and Punching Saleswomen
Had to
dress up a bit today for the “interview” with CyberFakeName at 12:30 for the
job doing an internet English tutorial video, so I wore my high-heeled brown
shoes and the ruffled blouse Avani got me that I keep having to tug in front
since it rides up.
During
class the big highlight of our day was that Ginger put a maxi pad she got from
a marketer giving them out at the MRT, on Eric’s seat and it got passed around,
onto Stella’s seat: “Ew, gross!” and
Deb’s: “Is this Eric’s?” she asked
seriously. Every time someone
almost sat on it, hysterical giggles all around. Ginger said she’d thought it was peanuts at the time when
she took it. I wanted to take it
myself since I just got my period and forgot to bring extra, but considering
that this maxi pad was bringing out the best in our class maturity level, I
decided against asking.
Dashed out
of class at 12 to catch a cab to CyberFakeName to avoid bus confusion
hell. The Taiwanese girl who’d phoned me, Debby, brought me to a room and brought in a tall
thin white girl with curly brown hair, Nicole, who spoke English to me, though
Debby asked if she could speak to me in Chinese, so I had to shift gears the
whole time, catching only the general drift of Debby’s words, especially when I
asked her to describe what they do at the company—she rattled off and
everything went over my head. But
they really seemed very happy to see me, showed me the script I was to act out
which looked easy, and I barely said much except when and how long I’d be in Taiwan and that I was interested
and could do it on Saturdays, and when Nicole said casually “and we pay 1000 an
hour,” I tried not to jump—Debby had said 800! Whoohoo!
Only one
warning bell went off in my head when Debby mentioned there was a guy here who
used to work at the Foundation, I guess that’s how they got my name, and that
he knew Julie and everyone at FSE very well—so there was no keeping this
employment low key from them. I
wondered if they’d reduce my scholarship?
It sounded long—8-hour days on Saturdays, for 17 weeks. I would have to wear a suit for
most. They gave me lunch. And this gave me a good reason not to
party Friday nights.
I
came out psyched, with just a tiny bit of nagging doubt. Maybe they were still interviewing
people and hadn’t decided on me yet, and besides did I want to chuck all my
Saturdays out the door? What about
exploring Taiwan, the culture? But
bah, my Saturdays have thus far consisted of recovering from Friday
nights. And I might be on the
Internet (respectably)! And my
friends and family could see me!
I’d be famous! I’d get to
act! And the money I could
make! Drool.
At
work, I swung by Dr C’s office where he looked me over and said, “Hm, look a
bit different today,” and I started to explain “Yeah, I had to dress up today,
for…” but he walked on ignoring me, I muttered “never mind” and exchanged looks
with YuJung, and we both laughed.
She said the ballgame yesterday
was even more exciting and tiring than Saturday’s, because they’d been up 6-1 but
the Whales came up to make it 6-5, so it was close but the Elephants still
won.
Bill
called, I’d just emailed him to thank him for inviting us Saturday and
apologize for um, leaving so abruptly.
I told him about my 1 month club vow and he laughed, said his brother’s
birthday is this Friday and they’re going to Room 18 to do the same thing
again, so we’re welcome. I said “Well, I really liked the food and
that’s one thing that might draw me back.” He said
“Then this
time don’t drink, just eat.”
Went
to SOGO to buy the much needed slip so I can wear my new skirts. As soon as started looking through the
lingerie section, salesladies attacked from all sides, “[Welcome, what are you
looking for? These are on sale, yadadadada,]” I wanted to scream “Go away!” This is why I haven’t shopped much
since being in Taiwan, even though I live in the shopping district and right
across the street from SOGO. I
finally got a slip for 580, probably 5X more expensive than the one Kate found
me at the night market, but oh well.
Then I
went to Watson’s to browse for bath products and just as I’m relaxing, a
saleslady sees me looking at eye cream and starts asking “[What do you want, to
relieve wrinkles or dark circles?]”
I try to say “[I don’t really know, I’m just looking, just want to take
my time and look,]” but she keeps bugging that if I buy their promotion thing I
can get this and that for the same amount of that cream, and as I watch her do
the schpiel I really picture strangling her or punching her in the face, but I
smile and repeat over and over, “[OK I’ll think about it,]” and make a beeline
in the opposite direction. I got
shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes, whitener, eye cream and couldn’t find normal
hair elastics for Ginger. Wandered
down the lane and noticed some interesting cafes and restaurants and another
Watson’s-like store with more cosmetics and perfumes called Sasa but they
didn’t have hair things, came back and told my doorlady, “[I can’t find a
simple, plain, black hair band]”.
She said I should look at the night market.
It’s
harder than you’d think; every hair item or item intended to be used by a girl
in Taiwan is bright, pastel, frilly, glittery, poufy, cutesy, jingly, or
cartoony. Plain? Black? I can picture a saleslady’s confused looks. Who would want such a thing?
Tues 10/15/02
Nothing
interesting today.