"Where do you work," I got asked at a recent get-together with old classmates I don't see a lot of. Then she answered her own question: "Let me guess, nasa call center ka 'no?"
Excuse me?
I studied several years, and then managed to graduate in the face of a bitch who all but sat on my grades to keep me from leaving school successfully. And then I placed eighth in the national board exam for social workers.
That's eighth place. In the entire country.
So no honey, I don't work in a call center. I'm a social worker. And I work in a foundation. With former street-children.
And even if I did work in a call center, I'd still be offended. Saying "Let me guess, nasa call center ka 'no?" implies a certain disdain for people who work in call centers, as if they're settling for something less. It's kind of rude, don't you think?
I'm sure no offense was meant, but offense I did take. Sort of. And when I'm (semi-)pissed, I blog.
I should get some credit eh, and not still be defined by the fact that English is my first language.
I don't know if anyone's noticed, but I have some kick-ass brains to go along with my mastery of the language of Western imperialists.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
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6 comments:
why do you think she assumed that? could it be because you speak good english or because it is, as an acquaintance once said, the "standard job" nowadays? ho-hum...
i salute call center agents nga eh kasi i feel they have a high tolerance for BS-ing lol. from what i've heard kasi there are plenty of rude callers out there, not to mention the pervs. and then there are those who are simply clueless. as my professor said, working in a call center is hazardous to your health -- referring to a graveyard shift i believe.
I think it was probably a little bit of both eh, English + standard job. I'm sure my friend meant no offense. I was just a little pissed at the assumption that I'd be doing something just because lots of people are.
And I feel call center agents should get a lot more credit than they do too. I have friends who've done it and they tell me it's definitely high stress. I'm sure I wouldn't have the strength to put up with some of the asshole callers they have to.
i don't know why, but i also don't like being mistaken for a call center agent. it's unfair. whether people admit it or not, may biases na against cc agents. plus, most cc agents are annoying. but not all.
i got that same thing soooo many times!!! i can't tell you...
people just ask, "so you work at a call center?"--people i don't know, at mrt, in the jeep... the funniest one is a person who asked me 3 times if i worked at a call center even after saying "no, i'm an engineer" thrice too!
working in a call center isn't really a "standard job." maybe it might seem to be, for people in our age and close circles, pero hindi ganun kadaling makapasok/magtagal sa cc industry. every day i see a room full of applicants, and i very well know that at the end of the day, only 3-4 will be able to get a job offer.
if and when i do get that question, "nasa call center ka 'noh?"
i'd say, "hell yeah."
i don't really care if people think it's not a "real job" or whatever. most of the people who have that notion wouldn't even dare try doing what i do.
Yeah! You go girl! I tip my hat off to you. No one should make any assumptions about work they've never experienced ano?
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