Human GPS

Everyone knows that one of the best things about getting a new GPS is that you get to choose the voice that gives you directions. I suppose it's also kinda cool that you now have directions to where you're going, but that's just a happy coincidence. :) I think my family first chose the Australian accent when we got our GPS, but I know that my father preferred the female voice because it was more soothing and less bark-ish. My softball team had named the GPS that took us through Florida, Margaret and had a good old time when she would tell us that she was recalculating the route, or that we needed to make the next possible U-turn. There were a lot of laughs and "Get it together, Margaret!" coming from the back of the van while coach steamed because she had missed yet another exit.

Needless to say, we all enjoy that little perk of our GPS system. Yesterday, I was lucky enough to have a GPS with a French accent (which I don't think is a normal setting). However, after the initial luster and excitement of the exotic accent wore off, I learned to hate it's lack of personality because it was silent and didn't care about much except giving instructions. You might be thinking "Isn't that what a GPS is supposed to do?" You are indeed correct. But you have to realize that my GPS was a person that I spent 13 hours of my day with.

I woke up at about 4:30 yesterday morning, threw an outfit together I thought would be casual enough to look like someone who had picked up temp work, but formal enough to look like someone capable of driving them around for four or five hours, as I had been told I would do (surprise! 13 hours). I wore a plain orange t-shirt and was glad that I had thought to wear a tanktop underneath, since it was the only thing that kept the rest of the world from seeing how much I was sweating. I also wore some pretty thick brown pants and hefty shoes that didn't help anything.

The drive was nothing I could complain about, there's something about a sunrise that makes you think you'd like to wake up that early everyday.

I arrived at Labor Ready at 6am as I had been told to do, received my work ticket at 6:02 and gas up. I arrive at the place where I'm supposed to pick up my rider for the day at 6:20 and wait 25 minutes before calling to tell him I was there. He said he'd be down in ten minutes. Half an hour later, he finally showed up. From there, I was directed to go to a fast food parking lot and park. There, we wait for two hours until his company is actually ready for him. Let me take this two hour break to explain to you what he was doing and how. I was driving a van with only one captain's seat in the back. There were two computers, and quite a lot of wires in the back as well, and about 50 little atennae on top of the van. Apparently his job was to literally drive around the country and test the cell phone reception for all of the carriers (Verizon, Cricket, AT&T, etc.). There are obviously more people like him driving around the country, or he would have a more horrible job than he already does. I think the job takes some skill because he graduated with a degree in computer engineering and had to do some code while the whole process was going on. 

At around 9:30 we finally hit the road and I drove him around Sioux Falls for about and hour and a half until he hasd to go back to the hotel and upload information to his home base. This took about half an hour after which he decides we're going to lunch. This is slightly awkward for two reasons. The first being the comment he made earlier in the day in response to me saying I had interned for a fitness company. "Oh, that explains your body." Which is nice enough, but not something I think you should say to a person you're trapped in a car with, if you want them to be comfortable. Second reason, he went silent after I mentioned that I had a boyfriend. He sort of grunted about it and stopped talking to me. We were seated in a booth and sat diagonally from each other. I did my best to make small talk and  found out that he'd grown up in France and learned English as he attended school here. I couldn't understand what school he said he went to, but I'm sure that it was a good one. I ordered a soup and salad hoping it would be a little better than the turkey and cheese sandwich that had melted and gotten very hot awhile ago that I had been provided by labor ready. I'd managed to eat one while I was waiting for him, but I wasn't sure how well turkey kept in the heat so I didn't want to eat the other one. Which reminds me that I forgot to tell you about my sack lunch. It was two turkey and cheese sandwiches with butter on hamburger buns. Some old Scooby snacks, a fruit cup, a bag of M&Ms, a granola bar, and cheddar cheese crackers. I munched away on the smaller items throughout the day and was very glad to have them since I had such a sporadic eating schedule. I think the best part of the lunch, though, was the little green piece of paper, about half as thin as a fortune from a fortune cookie and twice as long that read, "No great man ever complains of want of opportunities" I thought that it was kind of ironic that they would put that in the lunch sack, but Connor just put in to perspective for me. I was quite the whiner and took my frustration out on the poor guy yesterday. I'm sure a lot of people would be much more appreciative of the experience afterward which is part of the reason I keep this kid around, to keep me in check. :) And I guess I kinda like him. ;)

After lunch we went back to the hotel and because he said that the next upload would take about 20 minutes. Two and half hours later, we were back on the road. Another thing to note, is that every time we went anywhere we had to leave the car running with the air on and I got to sit in it so I was sweating a lot. But, me being the really smart girl I am, didn't think I still needed to drink a lot of water so I got a little dehydrated, which probably didn't help my mood. On this last trip, I drove more than an hour south and had to park at a few places along the way. For these stops, I had a nice little system and was all set up reading a book and playing on my phone so I was fine. I ended up back in town around 8:30 and a little excited because I had 13 hours of work under my belt. However, the guy I worked with decided to cut the first two hours that we had to sit waiting in the car out of it and wouldn't put it back in when I asked about it. I ended up making $70 at $7.25 and hour. Taxes were about $15.

I think that I would have been a little happier about the whole occasion had that not happened, but I guess these things are just another part of life and a good lesson to learn. Life isn't always fair and fortunately enough for me, cutting those two hours doesn't really  hurt me. I just hope this isn't the insight into the treatment of others who aren't lucky enough to have the financial stability that I do.

We'll do a little exploration about wages and hours as I go further in to what I am doing. But, this is what I have been up to!

Labor Ready.

What an interesting morning/afternoon I had.

For those who know me well enough, you all understand that I can be painfully shy when having to ask other people for anything and just about every part of me rebels against the idea of stepping out of my comfort zone. You also know that I kick and scream and whine about it until I approach whatever it is I have to do, then I do it. This may surprise some people, but it's the truth. I think that when I have to do new/uncomfortable things that the poor person who has to listen to me probably wants to box my ears so that I'll actually have something to complain about.

I have been trying to find some sort of temporary employment for the month before I start with AmeriCorps just so that I'll have that extra cash and won't feel bad about spending what I have saved. I applied to a few places for maintenance or work in retail and eventually got a call back from a grocery store native to this area. At first, I decided to keep the information that I could only work for a month to myself and practiced what I would say with Connor on the drive into town. I reasoned that a lot of people in the past had done the same thing. However, when they asked me why I was there I told them about AmeriCorps so naturally they asked when I would start and if I would be able to have an outside job. This was the time to lie or stretch the truth and I couldn't do it. It's just not in my nature. This lead to some tactful sneak around and basically letting me know that they couldn't use me. Not surprised, but still disappointed. That day, I had driven 45 minutes into town to drop Connor off at work and only had one car so I was stuck there.

Luckily for me, Connor let me know about a temp agency called Labor Ready. Apparently you just walk in and they'll send you out on some job that they had called in that day. On the list of things I ever wanted to do in life, showing up at a place at being sent off to do random labor was not very high. I like to be prepared and I like to know what I'm getting myself in to. Realistically though, I need the money and I've owned up to trying to experience what someone in poverty might have to do. I can do this temp thing until I start AmeriCorps and there are no obligations for periods of time which is perfect. So I whined and then I called and found out that I didn't have the proper forms of identification with me. I decided it was a good first step and to attempt to actual show up and work on another day.

Hello, June 28th, 2011. Just under a week from the initial call. I was actually busy most days and Connor had two days off, so we were slugs. Today, I braved Labor Ready, which is a medium sized brick building that looked like it was a laundromat in a past life. As I walked in I was greeted by open floor space measuring somewhere around 30 feet wide by 10 feet long that was covered in black and white linoleum. Following that was a sort of cubicle with a counter on top that made it look like no one was working and in the corner there are white plastic lawn chairs next  to a table. After further inspection, I found that there was someone behind the desk and she greeted me with a mediocre, "Hello," and asked, "What do you need?" I assumed that it would be obvious that I was looking for work but I answered and told her I was new and was looking for work. She took my two forms of identification and began to look me up. There wasn't anything to look up since I wasn't in their database which meant a lot of paperwork and a few safety quizzes.

The first quiz I took was about whether or not I stole things, what drugs I used, and how acceptable it was to fight people and which were the correct situations to hit people. There were a few questions related to what my trade skills were, but it was pretty much a behavioral test. I passed that one. Go figure. I always have to wonder at the people who answer yes to the question "When you strongly disagree with someone, is it ok to hit them?" Seems like an easy answer to me. Either way, on to the next step, which was the safety test. I read through the booklet which has some pretty good safety tips. I basically learned that if Labor Ready tells you that you're doing one job (and they're supposed to be specific), then you have to stop and call the office and let them know when the site is making you do something else. This ranges from working on roofs to cleaning pools at a job they said you would be doing landscaping. The description must match the work done. They also tell you all about how to make sure you're dressed properly for the job you will be doing.

So I took the quiz and filled out some paperwork. While doing this I got a taste of the people who use this service. I ended up filling out my paperwork alongside a gentleman who had been working at a Labor Ready for years in Wisconsin and had moved into SD the day before. Another man shared his opinion about how blonde jokes give blonde people a bad rep. He went on to explain that they are so intelligent and swift that sometimes they don't get the emotional side of things. It was all sort of random but I pretty much felt he had reverse prejudice going on. Meanwhile, a business called in to have someone assigned for a job the next day. The other story I heard gave me a little more insight to the people that the workers at Labor Ready are used to dealing with. The receptionist said that some woman had called and asked a question about what time an application was due. The receptionist said that she told the woman it was due at 2 p.m., to which the woman responded "2 p.m. in the morning or the afternoon?"

Shortly after I turned my forms in and she went over it and was shocked that out of about 25 questions I had only gotten one question wrong and I needed to correct it to be finished. She also pointed some things out to me that I'd forgotten to sign. I did that quickly and came back. Again she was surprised at how quickly I had corrected my error. I could sort of see why after her stories. Apparently she was impressed because she asked me if I wanted to do the job that had come in while I was filling out my application. Tomorrow morning I have to be in town at 6am, so that I will be ready to drive someone around for four to five hours while they take down data. That was as much information as I got. I don't need a CDL and I'll be driving the car they drove up from Virginia. They did require that a copy of my license be sent over and that I filled out a sheet for consent. We'll see how it goes.

Labor Ready opens at 4am every morning and closes at 7:30 p.m. every day. I found out that this is because they work with one company that has a 6am-6pm shift and a 6pm-4am shift almost every day. I guess they package gaming cards. She gave me Pokemon as an example. This clued me in to why the lawn chairs were sitting in the corner. I'm betting that people line them up and sit in them while they wait to be assigned work.

In order to be approved to work for the gaming card company I had to do a drug screening test. The last drug test I did for my internship during school was at an off-campus location so I expected to have to it somewhere else and send the results back.

Apparently, this was not the case. I was to take the test there and bring the sample out for her at the counter when I was done. At this point, I'm optimistic because that means no waiting and I could hopefully start tomorrow. However, when I get out of the restroom I saw that the nice older gentleman was standing at the counter waiting get his paperwork approved. I, being modest as I assume anyone else would have been at this point, looked at her blankly waiting for instructions with the sample close at my side and out of sight and said, "I have the sample." "Well, put it on the counter," she countered, not caring one iota about my self-respect at that time, and then realizing too late why I was hesitant. "Everyone does it!" she blurted and then continued to ramble as I meekly set it on the counter, "It's a natural thing, right?" she asked the gentleman next to me, much to my mortification as he nodded and said yes. Until that point I was able to pretend he wasn't in the room, but she had to go and pull him into the conversation. "Everyone does it, no need to be embarrassed." Yea, ok. Easy for you to say, lady.

Needless to say, not a huge deal, but not the most comfortable situation. And obviously I passed.

So, I'm hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to work in the morning, take a short nap, and take the 6pm-4am shift. It's gonna be tough and I'm very sure that it will be very boring. But, I'll bring some headphones with me and see if I can get away with listening to that while I work. Oh, I get a sack lunch provided to me, too.

Pretty successful, and yet another example of how things can work out even when you hem and haw and really don't want to do it.

And so the saga begins...

Well, after spending way too much time trying to be clever about the titles and layout of this site I've given up and decided to just start writing and let the rest come later. I did manage to come up with a title with some help from my mom. It's an old phrase that was used (as my mom researched) dating back to WWII. People said that something could be created or held together by "using shoelaces and chewing gum". I thought it fit because it speaks to being resourceful when trying to solve a problem. It actually reminded me of a time when I was a kid. I had a basket full of old thread spools and pipe cleaner that I was determined would somehow come together and be the next latest and greatest invention. Obviously, that didn't happen and really only amounted to some odd something my mom must have found and laughed at later on. But, hopefully this blog will be full of stories about me creatively solving new problems thrown my way.

For those reading who don't already know my story (although it is unlikely anyone outside of my immediate friends and family will read this), I will provide a little bit of background. The rest of you can consider this a refresher course.

I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan playing a lot of softball and doing well in school. I didn't often think much about my future. On a whim, I decided to attend Elmhurst College, which is in a suburb of Chicago, and to continue playing softball. I played for two years, wasn't in love with it anymore so I found something else to do. That "something else" was anything I could get my hands on. I had two internships, participated in three clubs (started one of my own related to sustainability) and eventually became our student government president, all while staying academically strong.

I met a lot of great people at school, went through a lot of hard times, and gathered a new appreciation for how awesome my family is. I also came to realize that no matter what happens as long as you learn something new from it, then whatever the experience was, was one worth having. Oh, and I got a handy dandy degree in Marketing and Communications!

Now, I have moved out to South Dakota and am living with my boyfriend's parents and will begin working for AmeriCorps through Volunteers of America, Dakotas in August. As far as I have gathered I get to work in design, project management, event planning, and be doing some miscellaneous grunt work. I haven't been able to ascertain the specifics yet. But, I do know that this is a new program so the position sort of is what I make it. That's the feeling I get anyway and that's kinda cool.

The reason for starting this blog is to document all of my interesting (and profound, I'm sure) thoughts during all of these changes. My friends and family know that I don't like change, but I always seem to throw myself in the middle of it just to see what I can do. I hope it'll make you laugh and maybe get you thinking a little bit. Who knows.

Anyway, I start work in a month, but will be doing research and training during that time. Thus far, I have found out that I will be living at 105% of the poverty level in my area. I will be making just over $10,000. You all can do the math on that. The idea is that I should try to experience what it would be like to live at the poverty level during my year of service. It seems strange that I'm living at 105% of that level and it should be a challenge, yet we all know it is because $10,000 isn't exactly the ideal salary. I like to think that I'm pretty good at budgeting and anticipating but we'll see. I've got some money saved for emergencies, but I'm going to try to do this like it should be done. I have to consciously cut out the excess spending I have been used to for the last year which I had the luxury of because I was fortunate to have two good jobs in my final year of college.

The AmeriCorps site wanted us to live in the impoverished area we would be working, so I guess I'm already cheating on that. But, they did say that if we could find someone to provide us housing at a low cost that was excited to have an AmeriCorps person with them, to take it. So, I'm counting it that way. I'm lucky in that regard and will be doing housework and some miscellaneous work for the McKee's company as payback. I hope to work out a monetary rent in the future as I get a better grip on the financials of it all.

Admittedly, I'm also receiving help from my parents with the car insurance and phone bill. So, those are my confessions and I am very lucky to have such caring people around me.


Things I will have to cut out that I am used to (judge as you will):
Manicures/Pedicures
Shopping trips with the girls
Going out with friends on a consistent basis
Not bargain shopping
Eating out all the time
Buying clothes I don't have a specific need for
Random Trips

On the flip-side, being ten hours away from where I spent the last four years of my life pretty much coupled with the fact that I have 14 hours from my closest family makes life a little interesting as well. So far, I'm mentally freaking out about it but have not shown any visible signs. Just noticed that I'm very focused on settling my living space so that I can feel like there is a little control and some styling of permanency around me. I am very thankful of the hospitality of everyone here, but I am nervous and it's no one's fault but my own. I want to make the best impression on everyone and realize that I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself to be accepted. I know it'll all work out. I'm sure of it. But settling in is going to be a fun process. :)

That's all I can think of for now. All comments are welcome and I hope you follow me through my little journey.