Started out the day training to use the register machines and doing some training for some of the more difficult things, like selling memberships and the like. It was all pretty straightforward and with the practice I got today, I think I'll be pretty set for working in the Gift Shop. Nothing too crazy there. :)
After the training I basically just started working alongside Jamie, a CRAZY awesome co-worker. Its funny, cause every time I have walked into Lowell, she's been there, so we were joking about how I thought she was the only worker AT Lowell. She ended up showing me the ropes today though and kept telling me I needed to "learn to work like her". She's actually leaving the observatory in like 3 weeks, so I have to absorb as much info from her as I can!
We spent the majority of the day working the gift shop. She has an awesome, friendly attitude that I really wanna try and emulate. All the customers (and me as well) loved talking to her. Really got a standard to live up to now. We went to lunch together and got to know each other a little better over some Bigfoot BBQ and she hit me up with all the secret, cool stuff the observatory lets us workers do. Talked to me about how to handle problematic customers and some crazy situations she's been in. Turns out she has had a few times she's had to call cops in for some really (almost dangerous) situations.
After lunch, I followed her around while she gave two tours and let me just say... She is an AMAZING tour guide. She's super engaging with the customers, has a lot of really, really awesome jokes she throws into her information, to the point where I was laughing hysterically at some parts (as were all the other people taking the tour). I have a lot more information now that will be good to be able to refer to when I give tours and I MAY end up stealing a few jokes. ;) I've taking a few tours now and hers was my favorite so far. I still have a lot of other people to shadow though, and I think that everyone has their own way to make it interesting and fun. I'm excited to develop my own tour, as they send out a 30 page (!) booklet of information and you basically pick and choose which topics you want to focus on. Since she's a 13 year resident of Flagstaff, she gave some really cool history lessons as well! (DID YOU KNOW: Flagstaff is the biggest Ponderosa Pine forest in the United States? Also, if you drink 1 tablespoon of the sap from one of those trees, you can die.)
After the tours, I went to talk to my boss to find out when next I work, as I wasn't quite put on the schedule yet. I get tomorrow off, but go back in on Wednesday night to train on how to close the observatory at night. I'll also get tested on my gift shop work on Thursday, and then I'll start training for tours that same day! I asked if I could get my hands on one of the booklets or get some reading material to prepare myself a little better for Thursday, and my boss gave me a copy of "The Explorers of Mars Hill" a 260 page book on the history of Lowell Observatory. So I'll be busy tomorrow zooming through that!
I'm gaining a LOT of respect for this place. I went from never hearing of this observatory to realizing that the Big Bang Theory actually got started here! Basically, they found evidence of the Expanding Universe here and that led Edwin Hubble to explore that, and to look for evidence of the Big Bang. It turns out there is a LOT of really great research going on here, and even the mission statement the observatory lives by is pretty amazing. "The mission of Lowell Observatory is to pursue the study of astronomy, especially the study of our solar system and its evolution; to conduct pure research in astronomical phenomena; and to maintain quality public education and outreach programs to bring the results of astronomical research to the public." Its awesome to see scientists wanting the public to know what they are up to.
In other news... I've started appreciating tea a lot. I think I'm going to try and make this a nightly ritual, as its very relaxing. :)
I didn't know that about the pine trees killing you. That's pretty awesome :) I'm also glad you're really enjoying yourself, that's awesome.
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