“Never be astonished by what’s out there. How the game is played in the field is quite not as we all expected.” that’s what some old acquaintance always told me. To me nigga was bluffing then although truthfully I have come to terms with his words. With just barely a week as an intern at this construction company, quitting has already crossed my thoughts.
Since kick off on Monday, I have missed one day already not necessarily counting the 1st May, Labor Day. Today is Friday and surely my last work day of the week; great I love Fridays. “Son, how’s internship working out for you so far? Dad really gets my brain cells dead with his perturbing question and over caring attitude. What appropriate answer was he really expecting from me? Obviously for any mind in my state of nature – fair for an answer was 95% fitting; not only for that, but to dodge those other questions on his list. Day one usually is a welcoming one introducing you to your site engineers, supervisors, technicians plus your fellow freshmen. Here at the site wish for just two things; reasonably large internees’ numbers and all males. You have a girl amidst boys, you’re going to do her work times two, you’re just a hand full at a site they go mistake you for unskilled manual labor. So before I enter the second week and the third then forth then till my hours elapse, let me first remind myself of these annoying instance. Then decide where my loyalty lies – quit or remain.
First I will talk about the food. This part really gets me shedding some tears; for sure am starting to. With just a 5 x 5 centimeter slice of bread and tumpeco of dry tea with no traces of sugar particles or the slightest of its presence on testing, you’re off to pushing wheel barrows filled with load twice my weight. Not once or twice but you do it whole day. One slice for anonymous wheel barrows, damn if I had a hunger alarm at my fore head, it would signal just after the first wheel barrow ride. Lunch, now that’s another hurdle. It’s the renowned high school 24/7 delicacy; posho and beans. Many are already showing frowns on your faces – showing your screen that look of disgust. But with the enzymes rioting in the stomach, a plate of this repast could feel more of biriyani rice and pasty or sushi on the surface of your tongue. Self service is strongly prohibited here these guys round plates – eat. Time management is very essential here if at all you want to eat just 5 minutes behind schedule will automatically earn you no meal.
Identifying who’re the skilled or semi skilled, your superiors and who your peers are from mere first impression may be tricky but these guidelines helped. Upon arrival those peeps eye tracking your every move, quite idle standing aimlessly or loitering from corner to corner of the site, new or from dry cleaners over rolls. These are your peers. Whoever won’t mind you at first sight and looks busy that’s your superior no questions. The builders just seem to distaste any signs for modernity. They resent English speakers, those wearing spectacles, guys who think scientifically. All they want and talk about is Kabaka, women and sex they call it the builders code. And that’s the only thing I adore about these chaps their patriotism and adult humor. To them sex oriented conversation are free sessions to everyone. Yesterday one gave us a brief of his autobiography; he proudly confessed having a kid in every region of the country. The joint – weed is the order of the day. They may talk ill of it in the outside world, at this site it’s the opposite people advocate for its use though still taking precautions. What’s even funny there this site supervisor whose diet is entirely on joints and water no posho no beans. You bleached now regretting no worries; the sun burns here can help doing the replenishment of the black pigment for you. Ever find a purely light skinned builder doing shuttering I bet my money on this.
To succeed you have to beat the odds make it even then struggle from success so I will stay for the sake of their humor and clouded local comedy. After all, it’s just intern training am not on any ones pay roll. Work when I have guts. Hustle elsewhere for the money.
MATAATU_L
