The new year 2012, my CT friends visited me in Steinway ST where I was working . I asked him to find a job for me because  delivery by bike would be very bad in the snow. I hadn't seen the snow before although the  famous snow city in my country, just 30 miles farther than my city, Meknes.

 

                    One day my friend Monir called and told me about a gas station in Bridgeport  was looking for somebody to work night shifts.I used to work in the sandwich shop in NY and my only day off was on Thursday . I took the train to Bridgeport where there were two Syrian bosses. Both asked me to quit my NY job, so I started training with them .The training was very short because I had to start on Friday early in the morning on the cashier alone ,without knowing any English, any skills, and without any ideas about the cigarette names ,chips, candies ...etc. The only thing I learned in the training was how I give  gas in the bumps. There were 6 bumps . When the customers asked me about something I couldn't get it .They started using their hands and showed me .Many of them were rude with me ,but I didn't understand what that meant.

           The first three nights at work were slow but after that I started being  very busy on Monday. There was a school  behind the gas station . Many costumers were going to their jobs. About 7:30 am the small store became full .There was a huge noise when the customers started yelling at me because the machine didn't work . Many of them asked me to give them their  receipts or money back ,but I couldn't .The machine stocked .I was in trouble. I became very nervous .I didn't know what happened .I started calling my friends, but they didn't answer because it was busy at the time.

             I don't remember how long it was when my friend Monir answered me , then I told him the story .He started to explain to me on the phone ''turn off, turn on , do this ,do that'' but nothing .The customers still stared  at me with  angry faces .I didn't knew how much were stolen by those students ,but I was sure they had a big prize that morning.

             Finally, Monir asked me to put the cashier  paper, but no body showed me how. Also no body showed me where I found that paper. that time no more student in the gas station ,only  three  costumers who were still waiting for their receipts  .I went to the office then I brought  the paper .I tried to put it in the machine, so I did ,but the machine was still stacking. There were other paper I had to put it too.

         when I put the second paper the machine worked. I gave those customers their recepts  and I started working . The boss came about 9:30 am I told him every thing ,but he said  don't worry. Maybe he knew my training wasn't enough ,or  he didn't have a chance because nobody wanted to work in this dangerous gas station. it was robbed  several times .

 

        Not long I moved to work with a Tunisian owner in a dollar store where I thought it was better for me to work with my coworker ,especially, if that coworker was from my country,but that man was very tough with me .He gave me a hard time .He made me  miss my country. He was too bossy,  picky and jealous. 

        When I told my  boss about how that man treated me he laughed and said 'Aziz is a good man ,maybe you misunderstood him '. I think I should have enough experience to understand how some Arab bosses work. They like to see when their workers fought and didn't like each other. Because of those crazy bosses that I was made them to know what happened in their own businesses since every body control his enemy .

        

          From that time I hated to work with Arab bosses or  coworker. But without speaking English and no driver license I had no  chance .I tried  to be more patient  with my coworker, and more patient with unusual customers who could kill me for 50 cents or one cigarette.

 

        I was working in the dollar store at 5 pm to 11pm, then I went to the gas station at 12 am to 7 am . Both of my jobs were at the  same area where most of the customers  sold drugs or they were robbers ,homeless or prostitutes. That time I discovered the dark side of Bridgeport where my green dream almost would  become a nightmare many times. I was in danger because I was being threaten various time, my car was stolen after one week, so I would quit those jobs as soon as possible .