PATTY'S RETAIL SUMMER

Yesterday, I talked about my job this summer as a shuttle bus driver, and today, I'll touch a little on Patty's thoughts regarding her job in the General Store. Since we're both down to only 4 more work days, I think it's time to also reflect a little on Patty's work experience. Her employer, Delaware North Corp. (DNC), is one of 3 concessionaires here at the Grand Canyon. Their role is limited to the store here at Grand Canyon Village, and the smaller store at Desert View. Xanterra, and the Grand Canyon Association are the other concessionaire's who have larger roles here at the South Rim.

Inside the General store is a pretty good sized grocery store, which includes fresh meats & vegetables. It kind of reminds me of the grocery store in Skagway, Alaska, which was much smaller, but included a little bit of everything. Adjacent to the grocery section, is a gift shop which includes a large selection of camping supplies, footwear, books, apparel, and all of the usual tourist trinkets. Most of Patty's work hours have been on the gift shop side of the store, but she has spent a good percentage of her time cashiering on the grocery side as well. Learning all of the In's and Out's of grocery retail is a whole lot more than just sliding items past the bar code scanner. She has often stated that she has a new appreciation for folks that work as grocery cashiers.

When Patty interviewed for the job, she was told that probably about mid summer, when other workers, mostly from foreign countries, started arriving, that her work week could be less than a full 40 hours. That was OK with her, potentially allowing for more time off to explore the area, and do other things. The extra time off never materialized, but it really didn't matter, because she still had time to participate in a lot of Ranger programs, and explore on her own. When Nancy was here for 10 days, those girls didn't let any grass grow under their feet!

A group of young adult workers from the southern states Baptist Church, adopted Patty as "Miss Patty", earning them a high place in her category of pleasant, respectful co-workers. From the "Baptist Kids", to the "Taiwan Kids", to the local workers, the relationship with her peers was quite positive.

Patty's overall experience with DNC has been almost entirely positive, with little on the other side of the spectrum. She has enjoyed the family atmosphere, the encouragement to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction, and the companies commitment to a greener path through recycling, and other environmental friendly policies. She was recognized several times by DNC for her ability to provide outstanding customer service, and was rewarded with a very nice hydration back pack. The relationship between supervision and workers was excellent, and she has enjoyed getting acquainted with her co-workers, who in large part, are/were from foreign countries. Patty has often made the statement "I need my people fix". Well, this summer has certainly provided her with an opportunity to be well fixed with an exposure to people from all around the world. Neither of us had any idea that so many people from foreign countries visited the Grand Canyon National Park.

During several discussions, we both have stated that we would like to return next summer, and that simply wouldn't be the case, if either of us had a bad work experience. It's nice to be in a position where working for a few months is more in the category of an adventure, as opposed to a necessary commitment, due to the requirement of a financial gain.