(Sorry, I've been reading too many posts about girls who want to be kollel wives and won't settle...)
Anyway, the fella has decided to go back to school and do a bachelor's degree in something practical--computer science or engineering. He's enrolled in a local community college with an eye to transferring to Cal State in a while.
The Balabusta is kvelling big-time. So are the machetenim. He's all signed up with classes for the fall, and we're just working out the financia aid details. The place is a short BART ride away, and right in the middle of a business area, so if he wants to get a job off-campus, it won't be a schlep.
The problem with the fella's original line of work, administrative assisting, is that he is, by nature, not cut out to do it. Neither is the Balabusta, but being a girl, she could mimic the required behavior better. Also, I am a RIGHTEOUS receptionist.
"No, sir, I'm sorry. Mr. Donnelly is not in the office." (Mr. Donnelly is in front of me, making gestures indicating that he will shoot himself if he has to talk to the caller.)
"May I take a message? Yes, I know I took a message earlier, and I delivered that right to Mr. Donnelly's desk. Yes, I placed it very prominently. I would be happy to let him know you called again."
"No, I do not know when he will be back. No, he does not normally leave me his schedule. I really can't guess."
"No, I don't know where he is."
"No, I guess I don't know much, sir." (This is spoken without the slightest trace of hostility or sarcasm.) "May I take a message?"
The fella does not like to talk to the public. This makes being an office assistant quite difficult at times. We hope to find him a job where he solves problems in the privacy of his own cube.
I'm happy. And I think he will be happy, once he gets over the heart-pounding terror of dealing for the first time with campus bureaucracy.
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4 comments:
OMG, I have totally been forced to do the "No, ma'am, I don't guess I know much"!
RRRgh! I thought I was the only one!
Pulling that off with straight face and non-indicative-of-rage phone voice should come with insta-raise, insofar as I'm concerned.
(I'm a dork) and SUPER CONGRATS! to the Mr!
Thank you, thank you! We're very jazzed around here.
...once he gets over the heart-pounding terror of dealing for the first time with campus bureaucracy.
the delicous irony is that once he can deal with the campus bureaucracy, he'd likely be a great administrative assistant!
congratulations to him, and may he be blessed with great success!
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