journal archive

2007-09-21 Friday

Paint my collar blue.

For the last couple of weekends, I have been washing dishes for minimum wage at a small local restaurant.

It's no secret that I'm broke.  I started my doctoral program five years ago and if I was able to finish my dissertation within the one year (ideal) limit, I would have graduated last month at the latest.  However, I ran into experimental design problems and got stuck, so my goal for graduation has been moved to next summer.

I went into my program with savings.  What can I say, I was raised by hard-working immigrants who believe in saving up cash for major purchases and emergency needs.  A few years back I drove a car I paid in full and I just found super-cheap student housing, so with a good bit of savings under my belt I felt I was safe from having to take out student loans.

Well, my savings ran out.  I can blame high standards of living in the Los Angeles area, but really I succumbed to media and peer pressure for a certain lifestyle.  I bought clothes and accessories with brand names and thought of them as "investments."  I drank coffee made with gourmet beans.  I ate fish all the time because it's good lean protein and helps me maintain my figure.

Yeah, that Maxstudio.com knee-length suede coat looks good all right, but is it really an investment?  Whenever I wear it out I'm always afraid of getting a pie in the face from the good PETA people.  My Coach leather briefcase wore out faster than my much cheaper Samsonite tote. 

In any case, it's too late to point fingers now (especially when I can only point them at myself).  I desperately need more income but I can't commit to a regular part-time job.  I still have to work on my dissertation full-time, tutor my students whenever they need me, and fulfill my duties as a research assistant on campus.

So I asked some neighbors who work as waitresses.  They told me a couple of places and I chose a small restaurant very close to where I live so I will save on gas.  (Theoretically I can walk there one way in 45 minutes but I'm afraid that's too hardcore for me.)  I wash dishes for minimum wage, no dips on tips. 

I am too embarrassed to tell my friends and family.  Yet I appreciate the extra bit of money.  I'm still actively dating but I've been moving my coffee and dinner dates to weekdays.  I feel like I'm living a double life.