Let's Talk Work.

My one-month anniversary has come and gone in a flash. To sum up the whirlwind of activity that was the past two weeks into neat little bullet points, I have:

Cut a stunning amount of fruits and veggies, my knife becoming more and more like an extension of my hand with every 10 kgs of precisely chopped red onions

Learned how to read the faxes and notices covering every wall of the kitchen, thus enabling myself to go throughout the day without waiting to be told what to do

Become the new favourite slave of the inhabitants of the Butcher Room, who now steal me for a couple hours every day

Attended a seminar (as a special guest, go me!!) on Andalusian Iberico Ham, one of the most expensive kinds of cured ham in the world

Helped garnish, sauce, and plate a full course for a 400 guest party thrown by a Very Famous Celebrity

Gained the trust of my coworkers

That last one is, I think, my greatest achievement. The dynamics of my relationship with the people in my kitchen - especially ones closer to my age - have shifted so drastically, so quickly, it still takes me by surprise. Something clicked during the past two weeks, and I feel a bit like Mogli being accepted by the pack of wolves.

And I also burned myself very badly. But that was done at home, not at work, so no matter how much pain I'm in, I have to act like nothing's wrong in the kitchen, or I get asked embarrassing questions that I don't want to answer.

Finally... you know how my last post was about how much Senior Chef S hates me? When that switch of trust and acceptance flipped in everyone's brains, it appears to have done the same in his as well, because now whenever he addresses me he seems to do so with genuine pleasure. I actually look forward to the end of the day now, when he comes up to me to tell me "The Butcher Room wants you again," with a smile on his face. I no longer have to see that expression, the one where he scrunches up his nose like he's smelled something rotten. I can't begin to explain how liberating it is.

So, life is still great, and getting better by the day. Just thought I'd let you know.


(Little old me, learning to carve a leg of ham cashing in at about
2 to 3 thousand dollars)