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Ruth Stroud's avatar

Thanks for the shoutout, Hoang! I thought you did a good job with the “rabbit hole” that is kosher food. I like the many subjects you explore in your food writing for The Takeout--a good gig (and read) for those curious about food products, places and trends. ...Also that was an interesting story about your early job as an college orientation leader. Many of my first jobs weren’t so pleasant. They were primarily lessons in what I DIDN’T want to be or do. Perhaps I’ll write more about that sometime...

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Hoang Samuelson's avatar

Hah you're right Ruth. The jobs of our youth are generally NOT fun. I realize that the jobs of our younger days are just that- a way to make money. As you get older, and with more experience, you tend to have higher expectations of your bosses and the companies you work for. Maybe that's just me. And when people/places fall short, it's disappointing. Being an orientation wasn't my first job in college or first job at all, but it was the first job where I had like zero expectations. You should totally write about those "first jobs" you had back in the day! It would make for an interesting read.

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Ruth Stroud's avatar

Thanks for the encouragement, Hoang! I think you’re right--I probably should write about some of my “first jobs.” Some of our first jobs are just to make money, but then you’re disappointed when they turn out to be sheer drudgery. But you often learn something from that experience too--if only that you need to find a job that satisfies you at least in a few ways--or perhaps you learn, as I sometimes did, that there are redeeming aspects of jobs that you at first believed had none at all. Hmmm. Thanks for the idea, Hoang!

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Sinù Fogarizzu's avatar

Lovely read as usual Hoang, those spring rolls truly woke up my appetites.

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Hoang Samuelson's avatar

Thanks Sinu! Glad you like it :)

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David Terrell Ph. D.'s avatar

Job satisfaction is not completely related to pay, even though it is an important factor. Bus as you said, people is for me the most important. The "culture" of an institution is critical.

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