Okay, so I’m going slightly mad. I feel as though I have both MOUNTAINS of work and none whatsoever. This Internet thing is also starting to bother me—I feel so disconnected from civilization. That feeling of primitiveness just does not coincide with me being in one of the major cities of the world.
I met some interesting people today and found myself in some noteworthy situations. My friend, Kristin (remember, the girl who is supposed to be my roommate this summer) just told me that she would only be staying two weeks at the end of July. Bummer. I’m good at being independent (i.e. totally alone) but I feel pretty bummed out about having to duke out the summer by myself. At least I’m friends with the doorman… and my writing. (I just sounded so pathetic baah).
I had the strangest strangest feeling today. I reunited with my friend and sorority sister, Lauren for lunch at a restaurant called “Toast.” We had both been running around, going to job interviews for the entire day. I sat down to order and I thought, “We’re… legit living in New York City… in the real world… living and working.” I don’t think that makes any sense now but for me, this deal of being independent—making my own work schedule and earning a salary—it really hit me. I feel like one of those old thirty-something adults who meet for drinks after work and complain about their boss.
Toto, I don’t think we’re in Ithaca anymore!
Or college and the culture, which follows for that matter. I’m a working girl now… I think. A working girl in disguise. See, this is how it works. You just need to think and act like you know exactly what you’re doing. Resume? Check. Fashion sense? Check. A firm handshake? Check. I came a week earlier to Manhattan to look for some sort of job, preferably to both gain the sales experience and earn fast cash (oh, how we do depend on money). My parents tipped me off on tips—fast cash I could earn through waitressing or any sort of restaurant job. This is how I found my first conquest: a hostess position at the French restaurant down the block called, “Le Monde.” I go for training on Thursday.
But what I would really like is to get a clothing sales job—such a good experience to have for my major and resume. One problem, though, is that I tend to get extremely intimidated by “fashion passion people.” It’s the nickname I’ve given those very scary high fashion snooty artsy fartsy whatever-you-call-it kind of people. You get what I mean. They’re extremely judgmental and base everything off of first impressions. The good thing is that I’m a pretty quick learner and even though I make dreadful mistakes, I will use that to make myself better to the best I can. Today, I kept getting better and better at my method of attacking these big name stores towards the end of my exhausting job hunt.
I was quite a mess this morning, though. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING. To recap: I sort of just rambled down Broadway and walked into whatever store I passed by with the same shy, uncertain greeting, accidentally smacking people in the face with my resume and portfolio. I made a fool of myself at American Apparel, Banana Republic, Club Monaco, and the GAP. Then, I realized that this approach of blindly walking in whatever direction I felt like really wasn’t working out. This is what I mean by learning quick—first, you need to acknowledge that what you are doing is really, really dumb. So, I hopped back on the subway and got off at Columbus Circle after recalling that the place usually attracted a lot of shoppers (or was I imagining that?).
Completely by accident, I stumbled into a mall sort of thing! Okay. My big break. I would attack all the stores with a polite but outgoing, intelligent but down-to-earth AWESOME attitude. I had nothing to lose so I did it: Bebe, J. Crew, United Colors of Bennetton, Montmartre, and finally Armani Exchange. I CONQUERED. Yes, share in the basking of my success.
What an exhausting day… I’ve decided to work myself to death this summer—excited much?
