8th and 9th day at Yoshi Megamall
April 28, 2009
The day started for me at 10:11 am as reflected on the bundy clock. I couldn't get in as early as ten because I do not have the mall and i'm still thinking of getting one. (Good thing the managers do not mind this!) I started on shredding cabbage and backing up for the oranges and lime and raddish 'til 12.
Sir Aldin, one of the shift managers present (he's from UP too! HRIM.), then asked me to prepare the three flavors of iced tea. As I was preparing, he noticed that I put the powder first before the water. He told me to do it the other way around for my work to become easy. It was nice of him to do so because now I know the proper and easier way. I was quite nervous the whole time because sir Aldin and sir Ethan was watching me the whole time! hehehe. Good thing they were always cracking up jokes and asking me getting-to-know-you questions so I felt at ease towards the end:) They even transferred the heavy stockpots themselves because they reasoned I was a girl, hehe:)
After that, I did nothing for about 30 minutes so sir Deo, another of the managers, asked one of the counter crews to orient me for counter back-up! (WHOA!) I really felt nervous because now I have to act very properly so as not to disappoint the customers. One of the ate's, ate diane, taught me how to fill a glass of beverage, how to dispense the miso and nori soup, the proper proportions of condiments and spices, and the siu mai's. So far counter work is a lot less tiring, however, its quite stiff because there are different personalities of people:)
April 29, 2009
I was able to start work at around 11 am already because I still had nothing to do for about 45 minutes. There were few customers so the kitchen staff weren't busy preparing dine-in orders, but instead, they were busy preparing orders for delivery (which is about 10-20 pcs per delivery). Yoshi megamall delivers 20 sets of orders to accenture everyday! I've noticed that they also accept orders thru email, which is a nice innovation given the changing times.
As Sir Ethan noticed that I had nothing to do, he instructed ate diane again to position me at the counter to do back up for her. I enjoy being a back-up counter girl because the job is so easy, hehe:) ate diane also let me call orders thru the microphone (yes!!) and punch one order at the POS system. I refused to do for the second time because I grew afraid when there were more customers forming a line (next time, next time, hehehe. I easily panic ma'am!)
This morning, all stocks arrived in preparation for the mega sale. Hundreds of styrofoam containers and tissue papers and whatnots arrived so the kitchen looked like a storage area, hahaha:)) I was asking every crew how is it like every sale, and they only sa one thing: "gumugulong kami pag sale!" HAHAHAHAHAH. This early, all the managers check every detail about the store: from the working POS systems to the flickering lights, to the number of spoons and forks available for use. mam Sarah, still one of the shift managers present, took out another plastic bag of utensils for tomorrow's BIG day. Jokingly, sir Ethan told me na papayat ka talaga Beth sa sale, hahahaha.
Later on, around 1:30, at jona, one of the counter crew, and I were preparing scratch papers for use at order taking for the sale since they are expecting loooong lines. At that point, I was already mentally preparing myself because I can see that everyone are expecting a big number of customers during the weekend. We even joke that on Sunday morning, there will be few customers because of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight (hahaha). It was good to observe that everyone in the store was mindful of the upcoming event that could boost sales and test the crew's capabilities.
At around 1:45 pm, I was about to eat my lunch when sir Deo pulled me and took me to the area where the managers are dining. Being the mahiyain that I am, I was refusing to join them but thought that it would be more nakakahiya if i didn't join. There, I was able to get to know the managers more, their personal side. sir Deo even mentioned that he knew Mela Taob, May Atienza, and Jamie Abarquez, CN students who were once practicumers at Yosh. Ma'am he also told me that you were sir Deo's manager at southmall when he was still a crew member:) At the dining table the managers still talk about work, remnding each other on what has to be done. Maybe this goes to show that one cannot help but remember even the minutest detail when preparing for events such as the mall-wide sale.