First Impressions

I like the other teachers so far. They seem pretty cool. There are two young men (D and N) and one other woman (M). I share the second floor with M (the kitchen and living room are on the first floor) and D and N share the third. We each have our own rooms.

M seems really nice, but I don't think we have much in common. But then again, I haven't really talked to her much. She likes running and was a psych major. I'm jealous that she didn't get stuck with a match section like the rest of us. Math and I REALLY don't get along.

I had drinks with N once before this - he and I don't have too much in common. But he's very nice, very energetic. He's interested in keeping himself healthy. The best way that I can describe him is sort of new-age type stuff. He's into yoga and biking and has that general "Peace be with you" sort of attitude.

D seems more like me, but a little quieter. He and I enjoy some of the same TV shows: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Southpark.

It's going to be an interesting dynamic...

P took us to lunch at S's restaurant, but S wasn't there. The meal was fairly uneventful, P told us about what was to be coming up during orientation (he was REALLY excited about our sailing trip). He talked about a few of the board members. We found out he's a Red Sox fan; we found out D is OBSESSED with anything having to do with Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania in general, especially Penn State football. D and N had an interesting argument over who was more badass, Bear Grylls or Les Stroud.

At the end of the meal, however, P asked N (who is a server at a restaurant, currently) whether servers mind when a customer hands them a plate when they are clearing. N said yes, that he hated it when he has an armful of plates and someone shoves something at him. I mentioned that when S was a server he liked it when customers stack plates. N was scandalized.

N "But stacking plates messes with the aesthetic of the restaurant. It LOOKS bad. I just have too much invested in the restaurant to do that. "

Okay. Yeah. Kinda... okay.

D "Invested in...? But it makes it easier and faster for the server to clear if the dishes are stacked. I mean, you're there to make money, right? Why wouldn't you want your customers to help you out a little?"

N "But it messes with the aesthetic. It doesn't look right in a classy restaurant. If I walk by and I see dishes stacked in the middle of the table, it's not the same..."

D "It's not like if I go to a classy restaurant and see someone's stacked their dishes for the server that I won't go back. I mean, it's not a big deal."

I mentioned that it was simply a courtesy to the server, makes things easy for them.

P was just kind of staring at us. He looked sheepish. "I just wanted to know if servers mind when I hand them a dish while they're clearing." Ohhh P.