By the way, I may sound “bitter” or “regretful” but honetly my 6 months experience as a Barista were never regretful. I will always be proud that I had been a partner even for a short period of time because I learned a lot of things.

I’ve been meaning to create this particular entry while I was working as a Barista, I only get to compose this after almost 2 years. Dami kasing nangyari and gagawin. I almost forgot na may blog pala ako. I’m trying to revive my wall kahit walang nagbabasa. I just want to write a blog where I can share everything and show to some people.

Anyway, I created a list of customers Baristas hate to encounter. Why? Because they are stressful enough to lose our passion. I could not list all of them, but I think this is enough for other people to understand them.

1. Uber-Personalized names on the cup

we all know that when you order a coffee in Starbucks, the barista will ask for your name. So that when your coffee is ready, you will be called out. However, it’s really annoying when you start to complain on how we spell your name.

As a person, I hope customers will consider the following factors why we spell the names differently than what they expected.

- A simple name could have several variations like, ann-anne, Laney-Lanie, Kris-cris, Lyn-Lin, Vanie-Bunny, Jan-John, etc.

- We encounter lots of customers everyday and oftentimes, we mixed up names. Oftentimes, it happens to those who have a unique or long names or nicknames, we unintentionally/accidentally write the wrong name.

- When the customer’s voice is too weak.

My point is: coffee shop is extremely different to the NSO/SSS/National Registry. Name error in a grande cup will not ruin your life. Unless you are a social climber who wants to upload the picture of the frappuccino you ordered to your twitter or Facebook account.

2. Hoarders

Have you ever wonder why the Starbucks inside the mall does not include the tissue and Splenda to the condiments bar?

Customers take as many things as they could possibly get, more than what they really need. caraffe (Milk, Non-fat Milk and half & half) in the condiments bar are for condiments for hot or cold drinks only. Do they really need a cup of milk when they order a Frappuccino drink?

We all know that a drink in starbucks is quite expensive, but is it really that expensive that you will hoard the tissues and condiments?

3. Opportunist and Absurb customers

They are a customer with unbelievable demands. I may sound harsh but really some of them are really unreasonable. We always encounter customers that is ordering a no-foam cappuccino. FYI: Cappuccino is light and foamy. If they want something that has less foam or no foam at all, they should order a latte.

Starbucks also a place for opportunity for some people. A place where you could plug-in your electronic devices, Do Number 2 and drink free milk or water.

4. Starbucks as a Family place

Only in the Philippines, Starbucks has become a fast food chain or a family dining area. If they really want to bond as a family, I think they should go to a decent restaurant not in a coffee shop. Can a family enjoy a place that is meant for friends and business meetings? I’m not against families who wants to have a good time but somehow they are irritating. Here’s why:

They come in a group, asking for table reservations (Starbucks have no reservations policy), complain when there is not enough seats for them (because seats are for small group of people) and leave the place messy like a restaurant (is this still a coffee shop?).

5. Pa-Sosyal Customers

One thing people don’t know is that class is different from “acting” like they have with class. Some of them are:

- Customers you can’t understand because they talk with a slang or like they have a braces on.
- When they say Frappe instead of Frapuccino. Only in the Philippines, Frappuccino sounds like crap.
- They always start with “Can I get a…” or “I’ll have a…” or “Aahhh..” or “Ummm…”.
- They will ask you to come to their table because there is an empty SINGLE grande cup waiting to be disposed. BTW, trash can is just a step away.
- Ask you to come to their table to get their order.

6. Psychotic Customers

They are demanding, Absurb, cruel and desperate. This kind of customer is like the combination of 1, 2, 3 and 5 of what I have mentioned above. It is the least thing a Barista wants to deal with. Once they argue, everything will lead to many destruction. One wrong move to them, you will be having a talk with your manager.

What people don’t know is that Barista could not argue with the customers, even if the Barista is right. Starbucks have a “Customers is always right” policy and they will give everything they possibly can to satisfy the customers. Regardless of the situation, the customer always get what they want. I must say that I’m lucky that I’m not in that environment anymore. Therefore, I created this post so that somehow some people will realize how they act. I just want Starbucks to be like a Starbucks in other country. However, since the culture here is different and I know Starbucks in other country have issues too, I won’t be expecting people here to change.

 
I remember one time when I was still working as a Barista my supervisor once told me, “Lutang ka nanaman!”. Well I can’t help it! I’m watching “Lovely Complex” before heading off to work. Guess what? The entire shift I’m really anxious to know what’s gonna happen after Otani dumped Koizumi. So right after the shift I started watching the next episode. I just realize that my obsession with anime is not healthy especially if you are working directly in that kind of industry. Even though I love anime, I don’t want that to take over my life.

 
For some reason I got this pattern, a certain period of time where I’ll be an Otaku. That is every 1st quarter of the year. Like this year, I happen to watch depressing/disturbing documentaries abour Hitler and stalin, so I ought to watch something that would make me happy and forget all those disturbing reality. The first thing that comes out of my head, Shoujo Anime! I look for Lovely Complex but I can’t find it so I end up downloading Maid-sama. After watching Maid-sama I end up watching Skip Beat again! Honestly, Skip Beat is my favorite anime of all time, because of Skip Beat I’m now an occasional manga reader. Even reading manga at work!

 
I should say I’m lucky to have a work like this, where I could read manga. Unlike before, my colleages don’t care what I am reading because they are also doing unauthorized browsing.

We started the year preparing to travel somewhere in Western Visayaz. It’s the first time we are gonna visit Bacolod and Iloilo. The place is not so different in Manila but everybody is pretty much talking in Ilonggo (what do I expect?). But before we get to Bacolod and Iloilo, something stessful happened.

HOME

Me: Dad, wala tayong check in baggage kasi piso fare lang yung nabili ko. (for the 4th time)

Dad (nag-iimpake): Oo na, kasya yan.

Me: Magdadagdag tayo pag mabigat yung dala natin.

Dad: Ano ba yan! Ayusin mo na nga yung mga dadalin mo!

AIRPORT

Check-in counter:

Staff: Mam, may payong po ba yung mga hand carry?

Me (looking at my parents): wala”But I got a strong feeling na may nilagay silang payong sa bags.”

Terminal fee section:

While I was paying for the terminal fee… a certain bouncer-looking guy ask my dad to check in the baggage kasi sobra na sa 7 kg yung mga maleta. Honestly, I’m too irritated na to talk to my father! Ang kulit kasi! Grrrr! So we end up paying for the extra baggage! Define – Hassle!
After paying for the extra baggage, dumaan ulit sa scanner yung mga bags and guess what? The security told me, “Mam, pakitanggal po yung payong.” with irritation in her face. Another hassle nanaman! So wala akong kamalay-malay na may payong pala sa backpack ko!! Grrrrrr!!!!! Imagine my backpack is super sikip na and opening that backpack in that place is really incovenient kasi hindi ko pa alam kung saang part pa nilagay ni Dad yung payong. So opening and closing the backpack is a challenge talaga!

Waiting Area:

Sa 116 yung waiting area namin, so Dad being the makulit him, nakita sa LCD TV na iloilo yung nakalagay and insist that hindi kami dun dapat naghihintay! So lakad nanaman, naghanap ng nakita na… bumalik na ulit kami sa waiting area na pinag-stayan namin. I have a 7+ kg backpack with me while following Dad. So I was dead tired and I haven’t got a sleep since kakagaling ko lang sa work that night.

Imagine it took us a lot of talk and walk before we could check in peacefullly. Next time I will remind my dad more.

SEPTEMBER:
My parents invited me to come with them in Boracay!!

OCTOBER:
My parents and I went to Boracay!! I will post the pictures.. later!!
My mom and sister’s birthday, nasa work ako…

NOVEMBER:
I bought my first iPod Touch 4g 32 GB!! Of course! from my hard earned money.
We went to Star City with PCCW colleages.
Got super close with everyone in the team and to our floor supports.

DECEMBER:
We went to Enchanted Kingdom with my Batchmates to celebrate our 6th month anniversary!!
Christmas Party??!!

NOTE: I will try to post pictures and stories (some reviews also) about my memories last 2010. This year has been so nice to me…
I hope 2011 will do the same…

Right after my “non-regularization” I start to look for a job, honestly I’m clueless where to start. I don’t want to do walk-in so I waited for someone to call me. Telus called me for an assessment but bagsak ako sa IQ exam, hehe, I used to passed it all kaya lang kulang sa exercise yung brains ko.

Since I’ve failed the exam in Telus, I started to talk with some other applicant. Though, I want to go home na kaagad hindi ko magawa kasi I’m dead hungry! So sinamahan ko na lang silang kaumain para may kasabay ako. Grabe I could see people looking at us kasi they’re so maingay, btw they are bisaya so you know the reason. I still have some hesitations kung mag-aapply pa rin ako kasi wla na akong resume, but I still end up going out with them. While walking we saw this unionbank plaza bldg so I suggest we go there instead of going to Pacific hub. Inside the building I have no idea where to apply but since pinagpilitan nila sa 17 floor I have no choice but sumama na lang sa kanila. To end the long story short they were eliminated, I’m hired! Once they got the letter, they just left me. I think masama loob nung isa kasi hindi man lang sya nagpaalam.

I hope makapasa ako sa training because I know it’s going to be hard and I don’t want to look for a job muna.

October 12, 2009 – First day of training in Starbucks Support. It was fun! I’ve met so many people. From that day onwards, I’ve started to become uber busy since I’m working as a Full time Barista. This is also the day I officially graduated in TUP with Degree. I’ve met Cor, my bestfriend sa store.

Sa store together with Cor, we were introduced sa iba pang Partners: Anj, Ria, Erwin, Eros, Mj, Nina, Blend, Rach, Issa, Camille and Brydee.

October 16, 2009 – Last day of classes in Support. Everybody in the class took each others email add / contact numbers to keep in touch to one another.

November 2009 – The start of Starbucks Christmas Season. The beginning of every partner’s rush. My learning coach Erwin is leaving na! I think he lost his passion na. Sayang he’s one of my favorite partner in the store.

I’ve met Chel, she’s kinda late since we started.

December 2009 – Grabeh! I want to sumpa those people who keeps on coming to the store like there’s no other starbucks store than us. Some customers make away pa to us. Super stressed talaga up to this moment!

I’ve met Espie! Kapalit ni Erwin sa store.

The good news is…. I’m extended for another 3 months! I’m so thankful talaga kay Ria that time! I was like shocked and I didn’t know how to react after she said that. I’m more thankful to know that I’m going to be a Part-time na lang. You know naman kaka-pagod kasing mag-full time sa Starbucks pag rush yung store.

Last day ni Camille, few days after Christmas! I miss her so much!

CHRISTMAS IS GOOD! MAY DUTY PA RIN KASI AKO! I HAVE TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A GOOD BARISTA IN FRONT OF HOT-HEADED CUSTOMERS.

NEW YEAR IS GOOD! BUT AFTER AN STRESSFUL DUTY I WOULD RATHER SLEEP THAN WATCH FIREWORKS OUTSIDE OR EAT “MEDIA NOCHE”.

There’s still more stories to tell about my whole new experience this year.

I’ve only been here for a month, but the first time I set foot here I knew I’ll never gonna last for more than 1 month. Why? Because of the smell! I’m really sensitive kasi sa smoke. I mean this is already the worst case scenario to me, working in a polluted environment. It’s night shift pa naman! Of course, super antok ako and the cigarette smoke is really worst, it makes me sick talaga! These indonesians talaga, they’re inconsiderate @$h0les! I want to live longer talaga but they’re taking away 20 years of my life because of their second hand smoke!

Another thing, people here don’t know how to speak proper english, maybe I should blame the indonesians, grabeh! everybody here literally speak Barok English! When I’m the one who is doing the transaction to them I talk to them in tagalog! Kasi they’re going to have a hard time understanding me if I speak proper english and besides I don’t want to talk that way outside, it’s very embarassing! They should also learn how to speak tagalog kasi they’re staying here.

I swear! I have to resign na before magkaroon ako ng tuberculosis and mahawa ako sa bad habits and english nila.

Things I love here:
* It’s a relaxing job, super petiks, you’re not doing anything kasi.
* Bayad yung breaktime, kasi 8 hours ka lang talaga dito sa office, you can eat pa sa table.
* Since night shift ako, wala akong problem sa traffic.
* People naman here are somehow nice.

Some other problems naman are:
* The pay is unreasonably low; no holiday, overtime, night diff and allowance.
* There is no benefits, what if nabuntis ako bigla,  then wla akong maternity benefits?
* I’m not that close to the people here, well it’s my problem naman din kasi I never try to be close to them, what for? malapit na akong mag-start sa starbucks!
* They block the internet connection to the sites I love to go to, like facebook.
* People here are trying hard, trying hard to be sosyal, cool and maganda. I swear!

So I think I just post it here now, even if I’m still staying with the company…

I tell her my concern and apparently I’ve never signed a contract at all, it was a mock contract, hahaha, I use my own term. All I did pala last sept 1 was filling out forms for Philhealth, PAG-IBIG, ATM account and Employee’s Background. Kaya pala the contract I signed that day is kinda vague to me. Buti na lang I get a chance to read the contract clearly na.

I ask na lang Ms. Maan if pwede tomorrow morning na lang ako pumunta sa main office. May work pa kasi ako at 12mn but of course hindi ko sinabi. She said naman na it’s OK kahit mag-sign na lang ako ng contract kung ipapasa ko na yung mga requirements.  But since I’m excited I opt to come to the office after kong mag-out sa work tomorrow, on the way na rin naman kasi.

Anyway, the contract is the same naman with the first one I signed, but meron na syang starting date and until it’s effective.

If you think the term is used “mock contract” is unappopriate, then tell me…