The Different Worlds We Inhabit

Some of my friends (husband and wife) have an annual get together the day after Thanksgiving. At the end of the evening, these friends, another friend, and I were in the kitchen talking. While standing there I was struck by how different we are from the people with whom I deal at my job each day. Everyone in the room was employed, had at least some college, and is well traveled. Your friends and family tend to be like you, and I worked with a similar demographic in my last job, even though we had lots of blue collar positions.

Coming to this job has been a huge culture shock, and it’s not just me. I’ve talked to the coworkers in my office and another person who works in this building, and they feel the same way. I tell them it’s like I’m dropped off in a foreign country each morning when I come to work. For example, we had 4 people Monday who came to the office and didn’t have photo ID with them. Now, how did they most likely get here? They drove. Before working here I had never met anyone who didn’t have a high school diploma or GED. I am amazed how many people we see who don’t. Our office does wage printouts that show how much customers have earned in the last several years.  They are used for energy assistance and other various programs. I see many people who have earned little to nothing for several years. Granted, I know this is a nonrepresentative sample of the population, but I’m still amazed at how many there are. And the resumes we see. The description the staff uses most often with each other is “train wreck”. Also, many people seem to have never been taught or figured out that “you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar”. It’s definitely been eye opening.

I am very fortunate that my trip to the foreign country only lasts while I’m at work. I’m extremely happy to get back in my car at the end of the day and transport myself back to my home country.