¿Parlez Vous Francais?
I always like to have at least a $50 bank in $5’s and $1’s. In my mind, time is money. I try my best to be as efficient as possible to ensure I serve as many people as possible. Having change at the ready is another one of my trade secrets.
While I was at home counting my $1 bills, I found myself counting in French. I don’t speak fluent French. In fact, I first took French class in middle school…Ah, middle school…
Those were dark times. I was bullied from 7th-9th grade. I was incredibly shy. I was socially awkward. Didn’t know how to verbally fight back when the nonstop teasing began. And on top of that, my firecracker of a grandmother was fatally wounded in her home while I was in middle school. So for a kid, life wasn’t quite normal.
There was one teacher who helped me. She was my French teacher. Not only did she introduce me to a totally different way to communicate. She helped me with the most important life lesson I carry to this day. I may not be able to control my situation but I can always control the way I respond to the situation. This lesson helps me inside and outside the restaurant.
Thank you French teacher. Thank you for helping a shy girl grow into an assertive woman.
