bartender please, fill my glass for me

AH! It has been forever. A lot has been going on since my last post! I finally found myself a very unexpected job that I absolutely love. I randomly came across and ad on CraigsList for a vague job at a cafe in Sewickley. It said they didn't need anybody for summer work but I decided, what do I have to lose and emailed back. I was so excited to see that the owner emailed me back and told me to come in to fill out an application! I had an "interview" on the spot (and by interview I mean casual chat with the owner) and found out I got the job. I cannot even express to you how excited I was since I applied to about twenty places, half of which I would have probably died of annoyance and hatred at. Anyways, the name of my new place of employment is Cafe des Amis. It's this adorable little French cafe hidden away in an alley that not too many people would know about. But it's great working there. I didn't think I would actually be in the kitchen, cooking or anything like that but as it turns out, I am! I learned how to make crepes within the first half hour of work and apparently I'm a natural at it (which is extremely shocking considering I can barely flip a pancake properly). I'm also really good with a knife...good or bad thing I'm not completely sure? But each day that I've worked there I learn something new whether it be about running a restaurant or cooking food or whatever it may be - it's been exciting! I feel like such a dork using so many exclamation points but oh well....!!!!!!!!!! I've finally found a job that I don't hate going to which is a lovely change from my last two experiences.

I have to say, my favorite part of my job so far is making the crepes. Yummy! I even for some reason get a kick out of making the giant tub of batter. But it's just so fun! I remember in my senior year of high school, I got the idea to work at a bakery and someday work up to having my own place. I told my Mother about it and she doesn't think I have the dedication to wake up at 5am to cook food every day...or maybe she just doesn't think I can do it. Period. Either way, I really wish I could have gone to school for that. I found a school back in high school and got the pamphlet and application and everything and was so excited. Sadly though, my Mother thought I should at least go to "real school" first and then decide if that is really what I want to do and maybe I could go to cooking school later down the road. The problem with wanting to own my own place would be that I have no business experience whatsoever. I really should have been a business major or something along those lines if I had really wanted to do this and then go to cooking school after I graduated. Sometimes I feel very out of place in my major...I get the feeling it isn't really what I was meant to do every once and a while and I just get this horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I just can't shake. I feel like if I were to switch majors at this point, my Mother would be disappointed and I would have wasted two entire years of classes and projects and work...all for nothing. Although teaching is something that can allow me to have a huge impact in the world. Yes, yes I know what you're thinking. Oh no, Rachel is losing it and is turning into one of those loons who goes around town blabbing about how they want to save the world and yada yada yada. But I just get the feeling that I should go DO something all on my own. I really would like to go on some kind of mission trip...it doesn't have to be religious really because sometimes, especially if visiting a third world country or anything like that, I feel like whatever religion the volunteers are is getting pushed on the native people and that just isn't what I want to do. Anyways, the people that I know who have done these kinds of things have always had positive things to say. I have never heard a bad story or complaint about it and I would really love to try it. If it doesn't work out and I hate it, I can still be doing something meaningful with my time instead of sitting around in a big air conditioned house, going shopping or hanging out with friends all summer long. Just something I've been thinking about I guess. There's just too many opportunities out there that I would be so grateful to be able to take part in and sometimes it just feels like the world is passing me by and all my friends have these great big plans and have goals and dreams to accomplish and live out...I just want to do something. Start to end, by myself, selflessly. Is that too much to ask? Gosh, going from my new summer job at a cafe in a small town seems really lame compared to where this babble session ended up going, doesn't it?

Thanks for reading :)

Love,

Rachel

p.s. - It's summertime! Go take some time to yourself and hang out with DMB, my most favorite summer band (which I know doesn't seem to make sense, but listening to his music seems strange to me any other season of the year).