Why I dislike the Bookstore: Customer Service

Wow. I LOVE the Bookstore on our campus. I really LOVE them. I LOVE them so much, I can't stand it.
What really gets me is that I was treated so well by a fellow student worker. You know, normally I don't whine too much about student workers. It would be pointless, as I am a student worker myself. But this person takes the cake. I am not even going to name this person's name as that might give him some fame. He knows who he is.
And he messed with the wrong person. Which he found out when I didn't back down from his "Um, I don't think we have your book. Come back tomorrow"- he really didn't appreciate it.
Let me backtrack and start at the beginning of my story: I was purchasing a paper packet for a German course I am taking. I was in the bookstore last Friday and they were out. That's fine- I got a raincheck (i.e. I paid for the packet and was told to come back to pick it up on Monday). I came yesterday after 4PM, like I was told and was rudely told off by some punk worker who thought I was going to take his crap. Sorry- you messed with the wrong student. After I asked for the manager, he began to talk trash about me to his co-worker. I was talking to another student with a book problem when I looked over to see him gesturing towards me and heard him saying that I was upset and going crazy. A little tip for the future- if you are going to talk trash about someone, either wait until they leave or don't talk so loud that they can hear you.
So this guy takes me to the back, where two managers were working on computers. He tells them that I am looking for this paper packet and that it hasn't come in. Well, these two gals know that the people in Clicks Copy in the Tivoli (who are awesome, by the way) finished all of the printing that they were given- my packet was missing somewhere in the bookstore. Great.
One of the managers kept grilling this worker about where my packet was until they both got up and went back to the Customer Service desk (Ha- what customer service?) to locate my packet. Lo and behold, that kid found my packet. Then he had the nerve to tell me that he was sorry. HA! No, you weren't sorry. You were sorry that you looked like an idiot in front of your boss because you weren't doing your job and your customer service was horrible.
Which is why I dislike the Bookstore.

Welcome back, many thanks, and some minor updates

Sorry it has been a week since my last post. I was on vacation and then.... school started!!! Yippee!!!
Ok- timeout: why am I so excited for classes to begin? Well, I'll tell you- this is my last semester as an undergrad!! In just a couple of months, I will have received my diploma from Metro and will enter into the next phase of my life, one without classes, books, and tuition.
But until then, I am still here.
Which is a great lead into my next topic of discussion for my blog this cloudy afternoon: I want to first say thank you to everyone who has read the blogs (Jack's, Mary's and mine) this summer. I will be returning the fall (right now, actually), so you can continue to read more (please, please, please).
I wanted to give thanks to the staff at Metro for organizing the Welcome Back tables the first of this week. It gave me a chance to get into character and help the newer students get around their first couple of days. Thanks to Kim, Michelle, Laura, Brandi and Bonnie especially- you guys are very special to me and my "other personality" and thanks for letting "us" be apart of the festivities.
I want to give a couple of dates to everyone:
*The week of September 11th-16th, Metro will be holding cheerleader AND mascot tryouts. That's right- think you have school spirit and athletic ability and you want to tryout? Look for more information in the Events Center/PE Building as the date gets closer. Or check back here for details.

*September 16th- Metro is hosting a Mascot Night at the Volleyball game. Rowdy will be joined by some of his friends around the state of Colorado. Game starts at 7PM- bring your kids early as the mascots will be signing autographs and taking pictures.

Well, I have an event to attend: Rockies Rookies Fest. More on that later. Enjoy your weekend!

Amber's Helpful Vacation Hint

I'm on vacation right now. Don't be jealous. I haven't taken time off since Jessica's wedding in June; before that, it was a trip to Disney World in January (paid for by my dad- got to love that last free vacation). So what have I been doing that past couple of days? Enjoying myself, sleeping, reading non-school books, usw.
Can I tell you how much fun I am having? It is almost illegal, the amount of fun that I am having.
One major theme of this vacation is to relax before the beginning of the school year; also I am taking this free time to give appreciation to the people that have helped me during my time here at Metro: my family.
For instance, in my "get to know me" post, I stated that I still lived at home. Which is why yesterday I found myself at Qdoba with my mother. I love to eat, so going out to lunch with my mom is a good thing. I will have to interject and say this one thing: I prefer Chipotle to Qdoba. Now you may say, "Amber, what does that have to do with vacation tips?" Nothing.
But it shows you how far I was willing to go to show my appreciation to my mom for all that she does for me during the school year. I have to build up the bridges that I will burn this semester- not intentionally, of course. But when I have two papers to write and an exam to study for, I'm not going to be worrying if the house is dirty or if the dishes need to be cleaned. Sorry Mom but like I've been saying quite frequently: "I'm graduating in December. Talk to me on December 18th, after I receive my diploma."
I'm going to make this a short post, so that I make continue enjoying my vacation. Do you know that Americans only take 14 vacation days a year (on average)? Brits take about 24 and the French have 39!! I think that we need to re-think our vacation policies here in America, but that is another post for another time.
I do want to leave you with a helpful message: When you take your next vacation and you stay at home, take the time to show your loved ones that you do care for them....by taking them to lunch. A picture may say a thousand words but who needs to talk when your mouth is full of free food?

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it

Take a big whiff of air: Can you smell the excitement? The tension? The cleaning solutions from AHEC Housekeeping who just waxed the floors?
Actually, what you smell is the first day of school rapidly approaching. Wow, what a summer it has been: my office went through some major restructuring; my best friend got married in a beautiful, heart-wretching ceremony that tested the lasting power of my foundation (yes, I wore make-up!); I took a 5-week course; and I completed a triathlon. But still, I have to sit and ponder if my summer really was everything it should have been? Does everyone wonder where the time has gone?
I do get questioned all the time: Amber, why don't you take a vacation? Why don't you take time off of work? One person in particular keeps trying to send me to the mountains! While this person's heart is in the right place, her mind is not: Mountains do not cut it for me, sorry G.
So here I am: One week away from the first day of my last undergrad semester and where am I? At work on campus, where I have watched my summer fly away.
The good news is that this is my last semester. After December 14th, I will have completed my undergrad. That is surreal.
Everyone could read my earlier posts, where I discussed my road to Metro. I never imagined that I would be graduating from Metro. Sometimes I even wondered if I could do it. It is like running a marathon, I suppose (haven't done one yet, so I can only guess). You run and run and run, full speed or slow jog. It is difficult to focus on crossing the finish line when you are only 3 miles in the race; it can be hard at the 10 mile mark. I guess what I am trying to say is that earning a bachelor's degree is like a marathon: You just have to keep going at it, keep taking classes and passing finals and reading books. Before you realize you will be at your final semester, you look back at everything you've done and say "Wow".
"Wow, I really did it. I really am graduating."
But you aren't even done yet: You still have this final semester looming over you and you want it to be your best (academically and socially). You want straight A's; you want to form a club. Pretty soon, it is Thanksgiving Break and you are stressing about finals because as all college graduates know, every test counts.
And don't even get me started on Commencement. This event will make you cry. I have been at the last 5 ceremonies and I cry at every one of them. If there are any seniors that are planning to graduate this December, I beg you to attend Commencement. Even if you and your family leave after collecting your diploma cover- you still need to attend this ceremony. To hear 'Pomp and Circumstance' as you walk into the Hall at the Colorado Convention center and see 10,000 people staring at you as you walk onto that stage to receive your diploma (well, just the diploma cover) is a feeling that leaves you awestruck. It really does cap off your college experience. Besides, it is amazing to have the faculty, the Deans, the Vice Presidents and the Board of Trustees members congratulate you on a job well done...... Who could ask for more?
Which is why I am counting down the days until Sunday December 17th (the actual day of Commencement; the Fall semester is scheduled until Saturday December 16th).


125.

2557

Did you enjoy your weekend? Maybe go out to the movies, dancing at the clubs or perhaps just hanging out with you friends, family, significant other, usw? Good for you.
My weekend- thanks for asking. Yesterday (Sunday August 6, 2006) I competed in a triathlon. Yup, that's right. I was one of 3400 women that braved the cold and extremely nasty water in the Cherry Creek Reservoir to compete in a race about a disease that would (if it hasn't already) affect us all. I am no doctor, nor am I very confident in my ability to run mathematical tests to determine a percentage of women that will be diagnosed with this disease. If you want more information about breast cancer or cancer in general, I would check out the National Cancer Institute's website which is www.cancer.gov.
At the Tri for the Cure yesterday, I was hit with a sudden realization that what I am doing right now could affect me and my chances of getting this disease. I almost teared up when I saw a female finish the swim that only had one breast. Not only did she have to go through the pain of being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, but she had surgery and STILL had the strength to get up and do a triathlon. That was amazing.
Last year when I did this race, I honestly was just in shock the entire time (could have been because of the lack of oxygen in my brain or that my body was hurting profusely since I did not train at all). First, I couldn't get over the fact that everyone was cheering each other on. I had perfect strangers telling me that I was doing great, to keep pushing, that it was all downhill from here. I've been in a couple of 5Ks before and no one cheers each other on, unless you know that particular person. Second, I was just looking at the sea of pink and wondering which one of us competitors would be diagnosed with breast cancer. That is the only sad part about this race (well, not counting drinking the reservoir water)- knowing that in my wave of 30, about 5 of us would end up being diagnosed. What about those 5 women and their family and friends? What about their co-workers, their neighbors, their doctors and nurses? Sure, only that woman is diagnosed but we all feel it somehow.
Now is where I do my plug about getting regular check-ups and doing monthly breast exams. I know I am constantly telling my friends to check their breasts. Sounds gross and like I am overstepping my boundaries as friend but then again, I don't want to have to see my friends suffer through a disease like breast cancer- I would be there if one of them ever is diagnosed but I think prevention is the way to go, i.e. Ladies, monthly breast exams are the way to go!
Back to the Tri for the Cure: I said this last year and I will say it again- I am going to train for next year's race. My scores improved even though I didn't prepare for the race, so imagine what my time would be if I had trained. I can only wonder.
Then again, ask me next year.

(FYI- 2557 was my bib number).

Blurry battle lines: du oder Sie?

I experienced a conversation in my class this week that left me with many questions. Sitting in a grammar course during the summer is interesting in itself. Some of the topics that are discussed in class can really open your eyes and make you ponder about your habits with other people. It is one thing to talk to yourself (which we all do-it is okay) in which ever manner you want but it is another can of worms when speaking to other people, including classmates, co-workers, parents, usw.
Back to my story- In German, there are two ways of speaking to people: either the formal way (Sie) or the informal way (du). According to German grammar rules, the du-form is what you would use with friends and close family members; otherwise, you use the Sie-form (Obviously, this is just a basis explanation of du and Sie). The piece that had everyone discussing excitedly is when are you close enough to someone, like a co-worker for example, that you stop using the Sie-form and start using the du-form? Also, in which situations would you change back into the Sie-form?
So why was this topic so fascinating for me? Because I live with this struggle everyday. See, I work on campus (in case I hadn't already told you- haha). I also talk with Metro's staff and meet them at campus functions or even off-campus. Therefore, I have to think sometimes before I begin speaking: Is this someone that I need to be formal with? In what type of situation are we in at the present moment? Who is around? Even better- who else is listening?
Let me tell you a story: Once I spent my spring break in Grand Forks, North Dakota (stop laughing- honestly, it is the newest spring break hot spot). While there, I did not talk too much. I did a lot of observing. It was refreshing to see people that I normally interact with on campus in a new environment. I believe that their true personalities emerged like a butterfly from its cocoon (sorry- bad joke). Also, it allowed me the opportunity to connect with many other people in ways that I normally wouldn't be able to, i.e. they were comfortable in the situation and able to speak and act freely.
My reasoning for bringing up this adventure is to relay the satisfaction that I experienced AFTER returning from the trip when everyone was back to business. See, I was able to fine-tune this beautiful skill I have achieved over the year of being able to talk business and personal when the time is right and in the situation that is required.