At the AAA in Vancouver

When I booked my room for this year's AAA in Vancouver, I didn't think too much about it. It was quite cheap, the reviews accordingly, but without funding, it had to do. It can't be too bad, right? When I arrived in Vancouver on Tuesday, public transportation didn't work as expected so I decided to …

Still Alive. I Think.

It's been a while. The job at the coffeehouse, in addition to teaching and (unpaid) academic work, drained all my energies, and—eventually—made me sick. I had to reduce and/or cancel everything I love to do. But in the end that wasn't enough. And all I did was: work. So, I had to make choices. Do …

Making Coffee: My First Few Days

I thought I'd share a few impressions about my first few days at the coffee house. I'm a first-class barista now. Not. Okay, so: my first two days were quite good. I have great colleagues (mostly), most of them are patient. The customers are similarly nice and patient. My third day, a Saturday, quickly turned …

Can I Make You a Coffee?

Today was the day. My first (proper) day as barista. My head is spinning. Coffee, coffee, coffee. Caffè Latte. Latte Macchiato. Cappuccino. First milk. First espresso. Lactose free. Almond milk. Flavors. No flavors. Hot milk. Cool milk. Tee, please. Do you remember that I don't drink coffee? The first thing I had to do today: …

A Future In Coffee? (Part II)

Last week I talked about my job interview at a coffeehouse (A Future in Coffee?). And today was the day. After these last days with the horrible boss I considered quitting if today would go well. (Not immediately, though, but maybe after the first two weeks or so.) I met a few of my (potential) …

A Future In Coffee?

A few weeks ago, when I panicked about health insurance, sick leave, and paid leave (what a dream!), I applied for a job as barista. With very mixed feelings. Did I do my PhD, investing so much time, money, and (mental) health, to become a barista? I started thinking. What if they want me? And, …

The Precariat

The Precariat. I did not know we have a term for this socioeconomic state. But apparently, we have had a name for it for quite a while—since the 1980s, according to Macmillan. A combination of ‘precarious’ and ‘proletariat,’ the precariat originally described temporary workers without a social safety net or employment protection. Since 2011, the …