I wish I had worked when I was young, like most people in US, from age 16. I never did. It was not a thing in China, to let your only child go work before they have a college degree. Most of my friends in China never worked until they were 21 or 22 years old. And, for me, I did work a little bit earlier than them. But those works didn't really teach me anything.
My first work was a dish washer / waitress in a Chinese restaurant in VA when I was 19 years old. I did it not because I needed money, but just for fun. Something that I never did before. My parents always said that I never been through hard time, never hard to work hard. So I took that job as an experience and also to show my parents that I too can handle hard time and hard work. Little did I know that if you aren't working for money to survive, you aren't having a hard time. My dish washer job was hard. I had to carry 40 lbs of dishes from kitchen to dinning room at once, my weak skinny arms got toned up after 2 months. I had to reach in the deep sink full of dirty water with left over oil and food floated on top, to get the dishes out, the dirty water were almost reaching my underarms. I had to cut vegetables, like onions and green beans, and I cut my left hand so many times, I put the bandages on, and still needed to wash dishes, reach into the dirty water with open wound on my fingers. Kitchen was cold during the winter, I would wear my jacket while standing 8 hours to make dumplings. I remember I couldn't even walk 'cause the pain in the foot after the first night. I had to stay up until 4 am for people turn the restaurant to a night club. Cleaning up while all the girls dressed up and dancing with good looking boys. I did feel sad at some point, feel I should be out there have fun and looking pretty 'cause I didn't need to work after all. But, I got over with all that. Just to prove myself that I am not a spoiled rich girl.
But, that's all I proved to myself.
After that, I had many side jobs, worked at school gym, library, worked in restaurants for different positions, managed houses and my last long period job, the nail girl.
That was the first time I worked for money, worked to survive, worked 6 days a week with no vacations in 3 years. I learned many things from that job, I grew up at that job, had many new friends, opened many doors for me, I met wonderful American ladies who truly looked at me as who I am instead just an Asian girl works on their feet. All that gave me confidence, made me strong and I could stand on my own feet. I always remember all the ladies who accepted me as their friend. I love them very much. The nail girl job was small, pity and anyone can do it, but it was the first job allowed me to be on my own feet. But I always know the nail girl job wasn't for me. I needed to move on to reach to my dream. So, after 5 years, more than 10 new wonderful American friends, a wonderful husband, I left the job that was so important to me.
I want more out of life.
It was perfect timing for me to go back to China, see my family, enjoy my life. After one month vacation, I came back to US and looking for another job.
If the first job was a surviving job, my second job is a just for now job. I started to work at this international clothing company as sales 3 weeks after I came back from China. They liked my look, I guess, 'cause I thought they were looking for someone young. Being married and over 30, doesn't meet their idea type for this company which is well-known for targeting on teenagers and hiring people under 25.
I liked this job. I got promotion after a month. I was happy that this job is carefree compares to my last. I met different group of people compares to my last job too. My good American friends from last job are all older than me, some of them could be my mom. The new friends that I made now are all younger than me, and I could almost be their mom if I had a baby when I was 16. They are fun, they are young, they are rebellious, they are naive and they are carefree. They are every thing I was, and I love that. However, the company is also run by them. From the district manager to sales person, they are all kids! They can be mean, stupid, aggressive, insensitive, short-visioned and hot headed. It's one thing to work with young and naive people, but it's another thing to be ran by young and naive people.
After almost 8 months of working there, I felt it is time to move on. It's time to move to my next step.
I wish I could have all those experiences when I was younger. So, I could know what kind of job I really want to do, and what kind of job can give me the life I want. So I wouldn't waste all my youth chasing after boys and dream about love. At age 33, I am still trying it figure out. I feel I am been left behind again.
I am a positive person. I believe as long as I know what kind of life I want, I will work close to it. I am thinking about to have a new job in next 3 months. No later than beginning of next year if I am lucky. But certainly no later than next summer.
My first work was a dish washer / waitress in a Chinese restaurant in VA when I was 19 years old. I did it not because I needed money, but just for fun. Something that I never did before. My parents always said that I never been through hard time, never hard to work hard. So I took that job as an experience and also to show my parents that I too can handle hard time and hard work. Little did I know that if you aren't working for money to survive, you aren't having a hard time. My dish washer job was hard. I had to carry 40 lbs of dishes from kitchen to dinning room at once, my weak skinny arms got toned up after 2 months. I had to reach in the deep sink full of dirty water with left over oil and food floated on top, to get the dishes out, the dirty water were almost reaching my underarms. I had to cut vegetables, like onions and green beans, and I cut my left hand so many times, I put the bandages on, and still needed to wash dishes, reach into the dirty water with open wound on my fingers. Kitchen was cold during the winter, I would wear my jacket while standing 8 hours to make dumplings. I remember I couldn't even walk 'cause the pain in the foot after the first night. I had to stay up until 4 am for people turn the restaurant to a night club. Cleaning up while all the girls dressed up and dancing with good looking boys. I did feel sad at some point, feel I should be out there have fun and looking pretty 'cause I didn't need to work after all. But, I got over with all that. Just to prove myself that I am not a spoiled rich girl.
But, that's all I proved to myself.
After that, I had many side jobs, worked at school gym, library, worked in restaurants for different positions, managed houses and my last long period job, the nail girl.
That was the first time I worked for money, worked to survive, worked 6 days a week with no vacations in 3 years. I learned many things from that job, I grew up at that job, had many new friends, opened many doors for me, I met wonderful American ladies who truly looked at me as who I am instead just an Asian girl works on their feet. All that gave me confidence, made me strong and I could stand on my own feet. I always remember all the ladies who accepted me as their friend. I love them very much. The nail girl job was small, pity and anyone can do it, but it was the first job allowed me to be on my own feet. But I always know the nail girl job wasn't for me. I needed to move on to reach to my dream. So, after 5 years, more than 10 new wonderful American friends, a wonderful husband, I left the job that was so important to me.
I want more out of life.
It was perfect timing for me to go back to China, see my family, enjoy my life. After one month vacation, I came back to US and looking for another job.
If the first job was a surviving job, my second job is a just for now job. I started to work at this international clothing company as sales 3 weeks after I came back from China. They liked my look, I guess, 'cause I thought they were looking for someone young. Being married and over 30, doesn't meet their idea type for this company which is well-known for targeting on teenagers and hiring people under 25.
I liked this job. I got promotion after a month. I was happy that this job is carefree compares to my last. I met different group of people compares to my last job too. My good American friends from last job are all older than me, some of them could be my mom. The new friends that I made now are all younger than me, and I could almost be their mom if I had a baby when I was 16. They are fun, they are young, they are rebellious, they are naive and they are carefree. They are every thing I was, and I love that. However, the company is also run by them. From the district manager to sales person, they are all kids! They can be mean, stupid, aggressive, insensitive, short-visioned and hot headed. It's one thing to work with young and naive people, but it's another thing to be ran by young and naive people.
After almost 8 months of working there, I felt it is time to move on. It's time to move to my next step.
I wish I could have all those experiences when I was younger. So, I could know what kind of job I really want to do, and what kind of job can give me the life I want. So I wouldn't waste all my youth chasing after boys and dream about love. At age 33, I am still trying it figure out. I feel I am been left behind again.
I am a positive person. I believe as long as I know what kind of life I want, I will work close to it. I am thinking about to have a new job in next 3 months. No later than beginning of next year if I am lucky. But certainly no later than next summer.