Life through my Eyes

In Need of Advice, Please!

I always try to stay positive about everything around me. When you are negative all the time or surround yourself with negativity, you stay in negativity. Please, don't take this as negative. I'm voicing my opinion and maybe looking for encouragement to get me to a point where I can move forward.

Most of you know I have a part-time job in a Mexican restaurant. It has been a trying summer with the A/C straining to stay up with the heat wave and me trying to stay cool enough to function and not die of heat stroke.

These past few months, I've been trying to find another job that is easier on this body of mine. But failed due to limitations put on me by SSI. That said, there is no hurry in changing jobs since my trial run is approaching fast enough.

My boss has made a few comments to another hostess and myself that have me concerned if she is being a little racial. She had told me to keep my mouth shut and not talk to the customers, other than sitting them and taking drink orders about a month ago, and cut me back to 3 hours a week. This is what I was doing; I would seat them and ask how their day was going, and of course, they would reply. I only do this if we are not really busy. You know, being friendly, I'm from the "South!" So, I took that as a positive and don't ask too often how they were doing. (So, negative to me not to ask someone how they are. I'm just saying the world would be a better place if we all were kinder to one another.)

Then last week, everyone was in the kitchen talking and laughing, and I heard my name. I was in the server kitchen and popped around the corner and said, "Yes, Ma'am!" She told me that it was the mean Teresa in Mexico they were talking about, not me. I said ok and replied, "Good, cuz I'm starting to get a complex, and I'm thinking of changing my name. Just kidding around! She barked out at me and told me, "Tell you what, if we are talking Spanish, it is not meant for you, and if we want you, they will talk English!!! I said ok, and turned and walked away! Trying not to give it a second thought that she just told me basically that I would not be talked to unless it was necessary.

Yesterday, she came out from the kitchen and spoke Spanish to everyone, then turned to me and started telling me what she wanted me to do for the day. Actually, she was chewing me out in front of everyone once more. I was to sit the customers, do all drinks even refills, chips and salsa. I wanted to verify if I was to do all chips and salsa, including the initial serving. She got pissed off because I asked. (her English isn't good when she is yelling at you) Because two days before, she ordered me to get drinks for a large group in Spanish. The music was too loud, and I yelled, "WHAT?" at her. Not out of disrespect to her, but I couldn't hear her or understand her because she was talking in Spanish. I had to verify. After all, I didn't want her to yell at me again because I did it wrong. And because I asked questions, she told me to zip my lip and not talk to anyone that I talked too much. I told her, "Ok, I will not talk to anyone today!" I twisted my fingers around my lips and threw the key away. She went back to the kitchen. The servers tried to get me to talk, but I just walked away with tears in my eyes, drying them up as I waited on the customers that were coming in. I didn't talk to anyone for almost 2 hours out of my 3-hour shift. What gets me is that everyone else can stand around and talk, joke, and laugh. But, if I do it, I'm told to zip it and not talk.

I work in an all-Spanish speaking restaurant with only one other non-speaking hostess. The boss gives her a hard time as well. The rest of the crew barely speak any English, but we communicate and make it work. Sign language works well... lol It seems that she is the only one who has an issue with me, but of course, I don't know what is being said since they talk in Spanish 100% of the time to each other. I don't take it as an insult anymore. Most of the time, they will repeat to me what is said except when the boss is around.

It's kinda helped me get this off my chest writing about it. I just don't understand why people have to be mean to each other. I work hard when I'm there, hardly sit down for the 3-hour shift, do what is asked of me, and show up on time. Like I said in the beginning, my trial time is almost up, and I will have to quit anyways. I will look for another job in the meantime still. I need to be ready for the change at the right time. Trust me, if I didn't need to eat or have extra expenses that come up, I wouldn't be working.