Scooping Sheros

The ice-making / water dispensing machine at Planet Care has been non-functioning for about a month now.  This is a machine where customers usually engage in the process of self service and fill a cup with ice or with water or with both.  Since this machine does not work, people ask me for ice. There is a larger ice-making machine behind the juice bar where I work.  It does not make crushed ice, though, like the self-serve machine makes.  It always disappoints customers who love the crushed ice to receive little blocks of ice when I scoop it for them.

Here's what my day looks like.  I get to work, usually 6 minutes late.  I clock in and note what needs to be re-stocked at the juice bar. I initiate the process of re-stocking. When a customer comes up to the counter, I must stop whatever I'm doing and take their order.  If it's their first time getting a juice or smoothie, then I have to play part doctor, part chef, part psychologist, part motivational speaker.  This can take a while.

After I take their order, I must create the desired beverage.  This takes anywhere from 2 minutes 53 seconds to 3 minutes 47 seconds.  I've timed myself.  As orders start stacking up, I tell people how long they can expect to wait based on an average of the times I recorded previously.  When the coffee runs out or gets cold, I have to brew more.  When the ice tea tastes too sweet, too watery, too strong, I have to fix that.  When the water dispenser that we're using while the ice-making / water dispensing machine is broken, I must re-fill it.  When I don't have the supplies needed to make a drink, I must run to the another part of the store to fetch them.  Ultimately, I establish a flow for myself, though it is a bit chaotic.  However, when a customer approaches the counter holding out an empty cup, I must stop everything in order to scoop ice into their cup.

Today, an older woman, possibly in her seventies, held out an empty cup and made smacking gestures with her mouth, licking her lips in between.  I gathered she was extra thirsty.

I always apologize to customers for being forced to beg for ice.

This afternoon, a woman remarked in a frustrated yet light hearted tone of voice, "What?! This machine is still broken?!  Wasn't it just fixed?  I rely on this machine."  I told her that for the time being she can rely upon me to scoop ice for her.  She explained that after she finishes teaching school (High School special education - reading), She goes to the park for a good long walk.  Then she comes here, thirsty, hoping to serve herself some ice and some water.  I told her that I am happy to serve her and grabbed a cup and filled it with ice.  I told her that the water in the self service container was our reverse-osmosis filtered water and she was impressed.

I liked this woman very much so I started asking her questions.  In which park did she take her walks?  How does she motivate herself to go after work?  When she mentioned she was a teacher, I asked where and what subject she teaches.

At one point, she made a comment about how only the people that really love to teach can handle teaching these days.  I told her that I knew of several teachers who love to teach but are completely frustrated with the whole system.  And she began to tell me about how the schools want her to test her kids and fudge numbers and make it all seem like everything's roses roses.  "It has nothing to do with teaching my students to read."

Then, she leaned towards me and said, "Do you know how I teach my students to read?"

"No."

"I have students in high school that are reading on a second grade level.  But I'm teaching them to read by reading.  We read in class.  We read aloud.  We read to ourselves.  We talk.  We ask questions about what we've just read and we learn from each other.  If someone says, 'What does that word mean,' I say, 'Let's look it up.' And we look it up and we talk about it and we read some more."

Then she told me that she currently has a class that is crazy about ancient Egypt.  "All they want to read about are mummies and the pyramids.  So we find books on Egypt.  Did you know that the creation of mummies was an accident? We learned that today.  We learned that the bodies of the Egyptians were buried deeply in the sand away from the reach of the Nile.  And the grave robbers who looked for treasure, unearthed these bodies which the heat of the sand had somewhat preserved by dehydrating all the body's fluids. We learned this today!"

She went on to tell me about a class that only wanted to read about Rosa Parks.  And another that was fascinated with the Underground Railroad.  And she told me about how she bought, over time, a Kindle a month until she had enough for every student in her class.  A Kindle.  For every student in her class.

I was in love with this woman.  I said to her, "You are a Shero!"  She laughed and made a dismissive movement with her hand.  "No! Really!  You bought every student in your class a Kindle?!  That's unheard of!!!  You created an opportunity for knowledge out of your own pocket.  And you love to empower your students with knowledge.  Do you know how rare that is?!  You are a Shero!  You need a cape!  And a big emblem on your chest!!!"  She laughed and thanked me as she walked away.

She is a Shero.  Maybe I should make a cape for her.

Scooping ice is the way I met my new Shero.  I am grateful.