what I have learnt after a decade in the Food & Beverage Industry
I have worked as a bartender – more specifically, a bar-back, a manual labourer who assists the bar captain with washing glassware.
I have worked as a barista, making coffee with expensive machines, at both slow-paced and fast-paced outlets.
I have worked as a cook, preparing dishes according to a specified recipe (I must have cooked tens of plates, if not hundreds of plates, throughout my cooking career.)
I have worked as a waiter, bearing the brunt of customer displeasure about food that takes longer to arrive than they would have liked. (which is most of the time).
What was all this for? Especially considering my undergraduate eduation in Computer Science, at prestigious universities.
Firstly, of course, I have made money. Minimum-wage or low-wage, it's still wage. (The question to myself is: have I used the money wisely?)
Secondly, I have built relationships, with colleagues and with customers. This is fulfilling, emotionally. Even fun. It's fun to work in a team with co-workers who know what you are thinking, at a glance. (“we use eye-contact to communicate”, one co-worker said about our built-up camaraderie).
Thirdly, I have developed a sense of respect, for the erudition of chefs and baristas who have spent many (often painful) hours on getting better at their craft and profession. And many of them are not done yet – they are keen on continuing education: learning from other industry professionals, whether through healthy competition, or regional conferences.
Fourth, I have gained a better awareness of what my strengths and weaknesses are. For example, I have discovered that my fluency in the English language – both written and spoken – is better than most of my colleagues. That is to my advantage, in this country. However, I have discovered that I am slower than most of my colleagues, when it comes to producing an item of food or beverage, on a repetitive basis. (say, twenty cups of latte in a row). That is to my disadvantage, especially in a outlet that experiences a high volume of customer-orders per working hour.
Fifth, I have overcome some of the limiting beliefs inside my mind, that I didn't even know I had. “I can't do it”. “this is such a demeaning job.” “only failures in life do this kind of job.” but thanks to King Jesus, now I have a sense of self-respect. I realise that not everyone on the street can make latte art on demand, even if given suitable equipment. Yet I am confident that I can do so, as long as I keep my skills honed and sharp. I feel a sense of healthy pride and confidence. (not to be confused with arrogance, nor insolence, nor presumptuous-ness). As an aside, I think this industry teaches me to be humble, as there is always someone out there with a wonderful new technique that I haven't heard of. And that someone won't teach me unless I have the proper attitude.
I see that the above are qualities and experiences that no university can teach me. I have no regrets about having spent the past ten years in such a way. It has been difficult, and now it feels rewarding. (notice I say “and”, not “but”).
Thank you.
what's next?
Some possibilities.
One, I could go to universities again to learn some field of study. Assuming I have the time and money. And health. (the prerequisite of any endeavour is health. once you have no health, you are just sucked in a vortex of pain and dis-ease. It leaves you with no energy for anything else – to borrow a term from the field of poverty reduction, it imposes a cognitive tax).
Second, I could spend more time with my siblings-in-Christ. They are no longer young. And their bodies are bringing them pain with increasing intensity. (A sister limps when she climbs up the stairs, due to a mysterious pain in her back, that doctors have yet to diagnose; and a brother has to make never-ending visits to a hospital to see if a tumour, which is growing in his nose, will pose a danger). My days are numbered, as is everyone else's – the fact of the matter is that we were all dying, since the day that we were born – and I want to spend what little time I have left, with God's people. (note to myself: identify God's people wisely, for false prophets and false Christs abound, in this end-times).
Third, I could seek wisdom like a jade-gatherer digs into the dark recesses of the soil beneath, to see if any treasure appears. (as the writer of the Book of Proverbs, in the Bible, expresses it: “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction”). Wisdom is security, as cash – and gold bars, and their like – is security.
Four, I could attend to the poor, the ill-treated foreigner, the orphan, the widow. But I must balance this with strategy and discernment and insight, lest I suffer “burn-out”. And indeed, there is an element of danger, as many human beings among these groups may present false claims, even disputing among one another. (see the article of the so-called Judgement of Solomon, at Wikipedia.)
Five, I could live out, (however awkwardly, within the limits of my imperfections and weaknesses), the oft-quoted instruction in the Biblical book of Micah, Chapter 6, Verse 8:
“O [mortal] man, the Lord has shown you what is good. And what does He require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”