What we learn from our "customers"

"Interpreter of Maladies" (Ford, 303)
When our job seems to get the best of us, when we continue to do the same things over and over again, and when we become depressed, wanting something more from our careers...one little word can change our entire outlook on what we do.  So it happened for Mr. Kapasi who was told his job as a translator for a doctor was "romantic" from one of his tourists (310).  Once Mrs. Das said that, Mr. Kapasi began looking at his job differently, and even at himself.

What stood out to me from this short story, was that one word can open our eyes.  I think often times we complain to much about work and not enough on what we can offer to people.  I have been working since I was fourteen, and being a teenager, that's all I complained about.  But, I did notice that on the days I met customers who really made my day, I had to admit that I enjoyed my job.

For Rose Hoffman, a public school teacher (Terkel, 483), it's her students that make a difference in her career.  She keeps an open mind although it's tough dealing with third graders, especially as time goes by.  I can't imagine dealing with younglings all day every day.  It must be exhausting but to Hoffman, "As for retirement, yes and no.  I'm not sixty-five yet.  I'm not tired.  It's no effort for me" (488).

Another interesting point that Hoffman made, "I don't want to hear it.  It is not my nature to pry.  Even a child deserves  certain type of privacy in their personal life" (484).  It would be tempting to know what goes on in the lives of the children but at the same time, teachers are only teachers, not social workers.  In addition, there are some things that they cannot know as well as students not needing to know so much about their teachers.

Both of these examples just add to the list of examples of those who truly find something enjoyable in their job.  It's good to see that, especially when all around me I hear constant bickering and dislike for coworkers and customers.  To be honest, we are going to encounter people and situations that get on our nerves.  But how we handle that makes all the difference.