I've been working for the public library going on two years now (hurray! longest post-grad job to date! :D ), and there are daily things that cracks me up about my job, and they are subject to happen at least once per shift:
Patron(via phone): Are you open today? [I'm thinking: No, I broke into the library so I could pick up YOUR CALL!]
Patron (in person): I would like to rent these items. [I hope that you mean borrow. Otherwise, that'll be 5 bucks.]
And then there are the strange things I can't seem to respond to:
[7 yr. old girl, mixed race]: Are you from Africa?
Me [after a bug-eyed pause]: Sweetie, I'm from Cincinnati
[and a slight answer from her grandmother I assume, who was white]: She's from Cincinnati, just like you (are).
It took me a minute to gather myself after that question, I was seriously blindsided needless to say.
Me (via phone): Library renewals, may I have your card number?
Patron: [rumbles in the background]: hold on, let me find my card. I didn't know you were going to answer so fast.
Uh, we expect you to be ready when you dial the number. Besides, there are more than one of us answering the line, and you're not the only one calling. Quit holding us up!
I could go on and on with things like this, but its every shift that I work that you get at least one person who's pretty 'unique'; that comes with the territory with public/customer service jobs. You just have to have a pretty thick skin, patience, and a co-worker close by to vent to...immediately!
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