9 Long Days at the Wayne County Fair

So today marks the last day of my "summer job" at the Wayne County Fair. If you live in Northeast Pa, or even nearby in New York or New Jersey, you may be familiar with this fair. It boasts daily harness racing, a demolition derby, fair rides and games, and lots and lots of that greasy fried fair food.

I work at one of those food concession stands, though the one I work in isn't a portable trailer unit--it's a permanent structure that serves as a diner in the morning and a fast food joint in the afternoon. This is my second year working here, and although the pay is great, I do have my complaints. Working here just reminds me that I never want to work in food service besides during fair season. Ever.

You'd think fair goers are all happy and ready to have a good time. Well sure, there's that, but they're also incredible impatient, picky, and demanding. There's an unusual pattern that shows itself everyday. There could be periods of time when the concession stand is completely dead, and everyone gets bored and antsy. Then suddenly you have a monumental line of customers and you're running around like a chicken with its head cut off. (Disclaimer: No chickens were harmed during the writing of this blog) When you as a counter person are waiting for an order to come up, making iced teas, and fetching various sodas and making change, someone is asking for napkins, another is complaining where their food is, and yet another is eating their food right on the counter in the way of everyone.

On the other hand, I've made some useful observations of people while working at the fair. This is where my blog loses all rhyme and reason, and becomes a simple list of observations. Make of them what you will.

Observations:

Carnies (carnival workers) are a lot nicer than you'd think. And they tip well.

America truly is the fattest country. When I took a vacation in England, I didn't see a single fat person.

Kids are terrible, and the parents worse. You don't know bad parenting until you see them all at the fair.

For some reason, numerous people crave hot tea and coffee in the middle of the day--even if it's boiling hot outside.

You have to empty your tip cup repeatedly cuz someone might actually steal your tips.

Nobody knows how to use salt, pepper, or ketchup without spilling.

There is one more observation that gets into the political side of things, and I've decided to make that it's own separate blog. You'll see. I hope any fans of Chris Hackett (running for Congress) won't be too mad at me.