Obviously everything is bigger here, it's just a fact - the food portions, the shopping centres, the trolleys at the supermarket. It's just plain bigger here - and I've been driving the Boy mad pointing all of the 'big' things out, and probably embarrassing him too by pointing and exclaiming loudly in my brash accent "oh my god, it's huge!" (now don't any of you get dirty minds there).
After we finally go through the ordeal of finally choosing which tin of tomato's is best, guessing which tube of toothpaste doesn't taste like dirty socks and generally having the Boy explain every second item in the store - then it's time for the register.
Here's where I have the most fun. People are just so damn enthusiastic here! Firstly there's the hello, where they make you feel like they've been waiting all day for you to walk up and have them ring up your basket of goods, "Why hi there! How's your day been?" and it's like they actually care! You could've sworn you had just arrived at your weekly psych session and settled down onto their couch for some analysis. At times my head bobs up in case I actually know this person (pretty long shot since I've met all of about 10 people so far), I'm so sure that we have some kind of connection, some kind of past experience together - but nope, it's just the smiling face of your local supermarket assistant.
Now I'm a pretty enthusiastic young lady and I still am just flabbergasted at how full on these people are - at the coffee store it's the most intense. My favourite moment has to be how excited they are for you just to order:
Manic Coffee Girl: "Good Morning! How you doing today?"(breathless, no pauses between words at excessive volume for serving someone their first coffee of the day)Sheila: "Oh hi, I'm great thanks, how are you?" (pushing myself to add exuberance despite lack of coffee)Manic Coffee Girl: "Oh wow I'm just wonderful today! So how may I help you?" (beaming smile and staring at you expectantly as if begging you to make them 'helpful')Sheila: "Can I get a skim latte thanks?"Manic Coffee Girl: "Great choice! That's great! Now you want any flavours with that?" (So pleased to be able to fulfill my request I expect them to burst from the effort)Sheila: "No thanks"Manic Coffee Girl: "No problems, great choice. Any suger?"Sheila: "Two thank you"Manic Coffee Girl: "Two? Sure, super, OK! Now what size would you like? Small? Medium? Large? Extra large? Extra, extra large? Gallon? 2 Gallon?"Sheila: (horrified that anyone would order anything larger than a medium) "Small would be great, that's just perfect! Thank you so much!" (determined to out enthusiasm this woman, nothing will stop me!)Manic Coffee Girl: "Small? OK that sounds great, can I get you anything else today?" (Enthusiasm dropping a little at the horror of me only ordering a small when you could order one as big as your head).Sheila: "Nope that's it!"Manic Coffee Girl: "Sure thing, you just wait there and I'll be right with you a jiffy!"
By now I'm sagging against the counter utterly exhausted by keeping up this endless enthusiasm. How can it possibly be that I'm not the most enthusiastic person around?! It's been my 'thing'. I'm the enthusiastic, energetic one - I've been described as 'cheerfully annoying' because I'm so damn cheerful?!
I find myself looking inwards, have I lost my spark? Have I become a cynic? Where has my enthusiasm gone? The stress, the pure effort of being enthusiastic is exhausting! I'm having performance anxiety! How can I possibly be more enthusiastic?! I'll just have to come up with a new strategy... perhaps some flair?
