Connections

(You can still vote for the proposal I submitted to an online magazine! Read this post for more info.)

My part-time, temporary position at the Meridian Retirement Community has become a crossroads of interesting people and surprising connections. Getting the job created a mix of emotions for me. I had spent the last few months looking for ESL and/or library jobs, but nothing was panning out. I did what a lot of job-seekers have to do, and cast a wider net into fields that were of little interest to me or for which I were either over or under qualified. Every day there were dozens of new jobs posted on various sites, but few I were willing (nanny) or able (engineer) to do. But when I saw a humble, cheerful posting for part-time, low-paying wait staff position at the Meridian, I was inexplicably drawn to it. There are plenty of restaurants with better-paying positions if that was what I was inclined to do, but for some reason this post appealed to me. I had already applied to teach in Japan but had not heard anything, so, somewhat on a whim, I filled out the corporate, paper application, and scurried off to meet a friend for dinner.

The next day, having already forgotten about the position, I was surprised to get a call from the business manager. After a few preliminary questions, he said he wanted to interview me and could I come back the next day? 48 hours after I applied, I was hired. Following the subsequent background check, drug test, TB tests (two) and paperwork that was reminiscent of purchasing my condo, I donned a black tie and apron and entered the world of retirement community living.

Initially feeling somewhat chagrined at taking this job, I soon realized there were other reasons I was led here. First, the residents: Watching these elders shuffle in for their meals bends my heart. They’ve lived rich and interesting lives, some marked by heartbreak. The combined history that walks in that dining room astounds me. There are former professors; a woman who was a model and graced the cover of Vogue back in her day; a 97 year-old woman who now has great difficulty talking, used to be a translator and could speak 7 languages; one gentleman has written many books in various scientific fields; a German woman showed me a picture of herself in her 20s taken in 1947 in Berlin – I could only imagine what the picture didn’t show. When I made a comment alluding to that sentiment, she said with a sad smile, “It was difficult to find food.”

Second, the staff: Bill, the business manager who hired me, is the epitome of kindness and grace. With patience and a sense of humor, he walked me through the procedural maze that embodies this corporate entity. Mario, the dining room manager, is funny, sharp and a good leader. We quickly developed a rapport and shared stories about our interests and lives. The rest of the 7-member wait staff is a mix of young and younger, experience, ambition and patience. Everyone has a unique sensitivity toward our elderly residents.

But the nicest surprise has been the friendship developing with Emily, a senior at CU, who started a few days after I did. I liked her energy immediately – she was enthusiastic, cheerful and willing to dive into her first waiting job. But then I got a sense of another kind of energy when she casually mentioned she’d studied in Australia. I mentioned China. She dropped a comment about living in Argentina. I coughed out something about the AT (it doesn’t take me long), then she responded that she’d backpacked in Central America and we were off, trading stories about our adventures and future plans.

More conversations revealed a common interest in travel websites, writing and unconventional living. We learned that another staff person is from Nepal, but was raised in Boulder where her parents own two shops. Her father has established schools and hospitals in Nepal and she said he’s always looking for teachers. Emily and I looked at her as if we were about to pounce: Take me to your father! But instead, we managed to contain ourselves in a dignified and cool manner.

That’s not all: While having coffee with my friend, Susan B., a few weeks ago, we were politely interrupted from our conversation about me going to Japan, when a young woman sitting near us leaned in and said, “Sorry for eavesdropping but I heard you mention Japan, and wanted to tell you that I lived there for several years and loved it!” I learned that Dawn, who also lived in New Zealand and Hawaii, is now living in Boulder and looking for ESL jobs. We exchanged email addresses and began trading information about Japan and ESL. Then, a few nights ago, I was surprised to see her at dinner at the Meridian. One of our residents happens to be her grandmother!

I take these connections seriously. Out of all the places I could have been working while I wait to leave for Japan, I find myself at a retirement center, where I’ve met some really cool people who have inspired me along my journey, giving me, in a way unbeknown to them, confirmation of my mission. It’s another reminder to keep listening to my instincts, keep following the seemingly random clues and accept what is being offered.