Wait, I’m sad?

[fbhjr]

Yesterday was my summer intern’s last day. We took her to lunch and wished
her well going back for her master’s degree.

At the end of the day I did the exit interview for her.
One of the questions was about what they liked most about the internship.

“I like that everyone eats lunch together,” she said. “Other places where
I’ve been an intern, everyone just sits at their desk and reads during
lunch. Here most of the folks eat together and that’s really nice.
“Wait,” I said. “I normally eat at my desk and read…”
“And, we missed you. It’s sad you didn’t eat with us more.”

I guess it is nice to be missed.
But, the half an hour or so I usually get to myself as I eat in front of my
computer is often the high point of my day.
I can look at the news, write an entry like this, write to the Godkids, or
read something.

I like most of my coworkers. The times I have to eat with them, like
yesterday’s goodbye dinner, are fine. I don’t go out of my way to avoid
them or anything.

But, having a quiet time in the middle of the day is very nice for me.
I don’t have to answer questions.
I don’t have to ask questions.
I don’t have to think of something that can be discussed.

I guess I’m sorry if folks feel they are missing out on me.
But, if they want that, they need to hire me to peform.

Comments

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

Ummmm...if lunch time was the best thing I am not sure if she really likes what projects you had her doing. I would enjoy some social interaction at work, but the lunch 30 min is a recharge time for many... I know do not WANT to eat with some of the folks I work with. I also think my boss needs a break from her people.

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

Ummmm...if lunch time was the best thing I am not sure if she really likes what projects you had her doing.

Not necessarily. I really liked my first TW job and the projects that I got to work on. But one of the best things about that job was that I felt like I knew the people I worked with because we all ate lunch together every day. Feeling like you're part of a team just might be the best part about any job, no matter what the actual work might be like.

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

True, team work is important... But in my experiences I would have answered with team work, team atmosphere instead of lunch.... And I have had excellent team work without eating every day with folks. It just sounds funny to me.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I think she was offering it as one example of why it is a friendly work environment, not the only example.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

"We will bond over FLAME, Young Intern!"

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

Awww. it is nice to be missed, but quiet time is so needed during a work day. Every break I took (when I worked), I would pray it would be alone.

[meathiel]

I totally get you - I'm always torn with spending my lunch break with the colleagues in the park or check LJ or stuff like that ...

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

it's nice to know you're missed, but hey, it's your free time and you can spend it the way YOU want!

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Sounds familiar.

In fact, today was the 'last day' of two part timers in a department and they had a big smorgasborg at lunch today.

I usually eat right at 12:00 and sort of…rush…through it and try to keep out of the way.
Sometimes I'm late getting to lunch and 12:30 is when that department has a lot of people eat lunch together.
It looks like they really enjoy the time and do a lot of talking.

(I sort of like being quiet and alone for my lunch, it's sort of my "highlight")

Most of the time if I'm on the tail end of my lunch and they come in, I feel like I'm in the way and I try to get out of there.

Today I had gone out to eat (I try to go once a week, usually Thursday, and it is a sort of highlight as I sort of get tired of being cooped up
inside the place all day), but I had brought it back (slices of pizza)…I walked into the lunch room and there was this big going away party.

One of them said "help yourself" and I sort of looked at my pizza, almost mournfully, compared to the veggie platters, humus and other things
they had prepared. But, I did notice a few things had nuts and I don't think they really know about my allergy, but then, none of this was about/for me,
so I felt totally awkward about just being in the room and wolfed down my food and then zipped back to my desk.

I didn't even really know who these people are. I did overhear one of them was going to the Botanical Gardens and I almost mentioned a former Higgins
coworker that is (maybe) there. (although 1. I never liked that person and 2. I'd say that and…Then what…What does that mean, how does that add anything to the
conversation)…I felt even more awkward eating food that wasn't really intended for me in the first place. And how does eating food make me part of the circle I never really figured that out in any of the workplaces I've been in.

I just felt so uncomfortable. They clearly have a tight-knit circle and I feel like I'd just be in the way.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I would totally want quiet, me-time for lunch! It sounds like she;s a pretty solid extrovert.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

I'm interested to know about summer interns

Do they get paid?
Or is it just work experience to put on your resume for when you are looking for a full time job?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It depends on the internship.
I have always paid mine. Not a huge amount, but not bad either. (Usually about double the legal minimum.)
But there are places that do the "We pay you in experience" thing.
I've never worked places that do that, but they exist.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

ah I see
thanks for the info