I did my reading for next week ahead of time and I made sure I tried one of the exercises mentioned. This is what I wrote for Exercise 9, Part 2. I combined some of the experiences I've had as an international and wrote in a strangers voice. I hope no one takes offense in anything I've written. I think it's sad that there are some people that are ignorant like the character in this story, but I know there are many things that I am ignorant about as well. Anyway this is what I have written so far.
This has to be the hundredth time I’ve looked at my watch. This day is such a drag. I’ve only been at work for 2 hours, but it feels like I’ve been here all day. Worst of all, my shift does not end for another 3 hours. I don’t know why I became a counter cashier; it has to be the most boring job anyone could have. I have to sort out my life soon. I can’t keep living this way any longer. Oh no, here comes a customer with a cart full of groceries. “Hello miss, did you find everything okay,” I asked as politely as I could. I was in no mood to socialize but I couldn’t afford to have a customer make a complaint about bad service. As much as I hated my job, it helps me get by and I cannot be fired till I sort things out in my life. I scanned one item after the other. This girl had a lot of frozen food, Ramen noodles, soda and cookies. I knew she had to be a college student. “That’ll be 75 dollars and 25 cents, miss” I said. She paid with her debit card and made her way out of the store. After she left I started thinking about college. Maybe I should enroll in college. I had never thought about it before. Well, maybe I had, but never seriously. In high school, I did quite okay. I wanted to get out of my parents house as soon as I graduated and I got married to the girl with whom I thought I would spend the rest of my life. I got this job after I got married, and I’ve been working here for the past 12 years. The first few months or so of our marriage seemed okay, but the problems started building up quite soon. Finances were the biggest problem of all. She was spending more money than I could earn. I tried to make it work, but after some time I knew I had made a wrong decision. I worked extra time to stay away from home, and one day when I came home she had taken all her things and left. There was no note, but I knew she had left me. I felt relieved to see she had left when I came home that night, so I didn't bother looking for her. I didn’t need her in my life. Since then I’ve been alone, I’ve dated a few women but nothing’s ever worked out. Maybe college is the change I need in my life right now. I can do some business degree or something. I think Mr. Adams did something like that. I might be able to take Mr. Adams job then. I heard he might be retiring soon. He hardly does anything, just sits in his office and signs papers. I could do that, and if all I need is a college degree, I can get that. Here comes another customer, need to put my thoughts on hold again. “Did you find everything okay today,” I asked the gentleman that was standing in front of the counter. He nodded and I scanned his things. He only had a black night perfume and a tooth brush. “That’ll be 6 dollars, sir” I said and took the exact change he gave me. “Have a good day” I said as he made his way out. The saying on the back of his t-shirt caught my attention. It said, “I am a world traveler.” Why do people like traveling, I thought. I don’t want to go anywhere. I would never leave the United States, let alone Carrollton. I’ve got everything I need here. I was lost in my thoughts that I almost didn’t see the young couple that came up to the counter next. “Can I please see your ID” I said as I scanned the wine bottle. The boy who looked like he was from another country handed me his passport. I tuned to the page that had his photograph to check his date of birth. 14-08-1985 it read. “Which country are you from” I asked him. He replied saying he was from Greece. “That’s cool” I said handing his passport back. “I never knew Greece had 14 months in a year,” I said and the couple chuckled. I could see them laughing as they were walking out. “Some people are so weird,” I mumbled to myself.
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