Stella Dimoko Korkus.com: America Wonder -The Beginning Part 4

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Wednesday, December 20, 2017

America Wonder -The Beginning Part 4

This the continuation from Yesterday's Part three....Na wah





On the night I moved out from my uncle's house, my baby and I slept on the floor but we had a very peaceful sleep. Ababio took me to shops that sell cheap where I bought mattress and cooking utensils. He bought food items for me, so I could save money since I had no job then. 


Thank God for American apartments that are pre-equipped with gas cooker, refrigerator, dishwasher(the only decoration in the kitchen) and microwave. My flatmates were a very young and neat Yoruba couple. We lived happily.


Paradise needs continuity. I intensified my job search. Within a week, I met one Indian man who offered me a job as a cashier. He said he wanted someone with experience. I told him I was a cashier at Mr Biggs. He was like, where? It was a slip of the tongue lie but it got me the job. Most cashiers in America stand. Mine required me to stand for eight hours.


The following day, I was introduced to my senior colleague, a Guyanese. She asked me my age. I said 32. She said, "you are much older than me. I am 19". I replied, " good for you, baby". An hour later, she told me to arrange goods scattered by customers. All those customers that pick something in one aisle and drop it in another aisle as if na relay race take time o. I was tired due to the standing committee. I said, " baby, I thought I told you my age. Why are you sending me on these kind of errands. Please, I am tired". She replied, " if only age will get the job done". African mentality won't kill someone. I respected my old age and carried out her instructions.


It was my first job ever as a cashier. I was not very fast. Customers would ask for a product, I would ask another cashier for the aisle. Other times, I wouldn't even know what they were talking about.


One guy asked me for one ChapStick. I thought he meant chopsticks. I replied," please sir, this is not a Chinese restaurant. We don't have chopsticks ". He smiled and pointed out what he wanted behind the counter. It was then I realised ChapStick was Lip Balm. Other times when there was no one to assist me, I would tell the customer we were out of stock.

On the fifth day, the owner of the store fired me. He said the Indian man liked me and hired me, not because there was vacancy. My inexperience didn't help matter. I moved on.

I went to the shop next door where female clothings were sold.

Me to Manager: " Good day Sir. I am here to resume work".

He laughed and told me they didn't advertise any vacancy. I told him to hire me because I had a daughter to take care of and I was willing to work hard. He gave me job application forms. When I went to return the forms, I didn't meet him. I still don't know if the lady I met gave him my form or if she used them to wrap roasted corn.

Chinyere was ready to go back to Nigeria. She suggested she brought the baby back to Nigeria, so I could focus. It was a good idea because the baby could always come back anytime. I asked her what I could do in appreciation. She said two things. She wanted me to pick up her last paycheck. Secondly, she wanted me to take her out to dinner at Chinese All-You-Can-Eat buffet. No big deal. I agreed.

She arrived earlier for dinner. When I came in, I met her with two men and two women at the table. She introduced one pot bellied obese man called Sam as my uncle's close friend. He will be discussed in the next part. Story plenty.

We had dinner and every Israelite went to their tent. Something happened that made Chinyere not to travel with my baby. I was sad because I used my savings to buy a lot of things for her, as baby wey dey go Naija. I also sorted out the air ticket.Wasted efforts, so to say!

Remember that on the day of the great slap, I went with Chinyere to her office in New York for recruitment. The manager said there was no vacancy.

When I went back to get her cheque, the manager was confused. She asked if I wanted a job or to pick up a cheque. I told her that Chinyere was my sister. She exclaimed, " why didn't you tell me?" She spoke on the phone with Chinyere and I was given the cheque. She asked if I still wanted a job. I said yes. I resumed the following day as a cashier. I was trained for two days. I also gained experience from the Indian store. This new place was much bigger and the staff members were multiracial. We had Bengali, Korean, Turkish, Akata American, Mexican, French and Spanish workers. We were only three West Africans (two other guys) but I was the only West African cashier. We had a bakery, restaurant, supermarket, coffee and pastries section and Meat section all in the same complex.



It was a very busy place. Workers were friendly. Managers were fair and firm. The pay and hours were higher than in New Jersey. I was still standing to work but it was fun. I was known as the humorous and ever-smiling cashier. I worked here for four months before I quit honorably.


40 comments:

  1. Estee I no comot today nah...please do Santa post. I never participate for once. Please do Christmas for me inugo.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. Hahahah, the hustle is real . Am patiently waiting for the remaining segments.

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  3. Replies
    1. Well as a pro she don become, onwela 'choose and choice'
      You go fear naa

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  4. Why so short?? This is a rip off 😑😑

    Your attitude as the first cashier is enough to fire you. Lmao. Out of stock ke?? How am I suppose to pay you salary when you keep telling people we don't have something 🤣😂😂

    But why do you want your lil baby back home? It's not fair on him or her. She's less than 3yrs old. She should be with you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If she had succeeded that would have been the best decision ever. She needs to worry about herself for now, baby will be alright.

      Delete
  5. Why do you like suspense like this?do and finish the story, one day I might send in my sweet bitter experience,in the Abroad.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Interesting!

    Lol @I respected my old age.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Plz come and finish the story, I'm loving it

    ReplyDelete
  8. You've got me glued to this series 😁😁

    ReplyDelete
  9. Quiet interesting and captivating. Pls don't delay in bringing the next part

    ReplyDelete
  10. Can't wait for the conclusion of this story.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Abeg come tell us what it's really like in American bcos am thinking of relocating with my baby too
    I need d true situation of things and how to go about it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If u dont b have paper to work you will hear whinnn! I feel bad when I see fellow Nigerians who are not authorized to work here but I don't blame them anymore after my last trip to naija in July and I saw the condition of naija.

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    2. A beg leave your baby in Nigeria with trusted hands. You can go back after you get settled. Especially if you're coming with out papers.

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  12. If you had put in time and effort to apply for a job in Nigeria I'm sure you'd have gotten a cushy one considering your experience in the oil industry. But see you're standing for 8 hours and working in places you're far above just because you have to stay in the US. You were willing to send your baby back to Nigeria because of your American dream. Haba!

    ReplyDelete
  13. ok next.









    *hangs leg on the wall*

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  14. Stella pls always put the link to previous parts of the story. As interesting as this is, it is real! This is the reality of living here without work authorization aka expired visa. You will suffer, especially if no relative is willing to accomodate you. Bills are expensive, cashier job not enough to afford rent, bills and nanny or daycare for the child. Daycare is 1500$ a month, more than what she earns as cashier. Pps think well before taking the risk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was going to say that, she glossed over a lot of the truth.and believe me, she must have compromised too,she omitted that too. This is not truth enough a beg. It's deceiving.

      Delete
    2. Cheeksi, thank you o! Thank you for pointing out the truth. I try to explain to people who want to sell everything in 9ja and move here that without papers, your suffer head will be on another level o except luck shines on you, which is very rare. But when you talk, they'll say you don't want them to come and enjoy like you.

      They've adviced me to stop discouraging people, leave them let them come and experience it.


      If someone harbors you as an illegal, you can also implicate the person because in some states, like TX, it is illegal to harbor illegal immigrants, it's like being complicit in a crime. Some people may feel they can't catch you but know that in the US, a crime can go unnoticed for years, but one day you'll get caught, a simple traffic stop for broken brake lights can open a can of worms and land you in trouble.

      Please people just be wise. Please.

      Delete
  15. Nice story...waiting patiently for the rest...




    Bv kristy

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice story...waiting patiently for the rest part of it...




    Bv kristy

    ReplyDelete
  17. I go read this sweet story to the End...

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mama why u dey put us on suspense now...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Interesting story. I'm also in the U.S, initially just to give birth and leave. Now my husband is saying I stay after giving birth there. I've been wondering how l'm gonna cope, I have a son with me already and another on the way.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I enjoyed it.. love the suspense.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I went to birth,was allowed entry without a date of when to leave. Can I stay back? What can I do?

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is very interesting. Well done Stella.

    ReplyDelete

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