{"id":169764,"date":"2024-06-18T13:31:26","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T11:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=169764"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:24","slug":"hot-water-never-bores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/06\/18\/hot-water-never-bores\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot water never bores"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today I have a try-out day at Picnic to see if I’m suitable as a delivery driver. Driving around in one of those funny carts and bringing groceries to people seems pretty chill. When I’m almost there, my shirt sticks to my sweaty back. Between a couple of garbage cans in an industrial area I change my shirt for a white dress shirt. I am quite proud of this tactically planned action.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPauline Wiersema<\/a>, \t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLevien Willemse<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Once at the Picnic warehouse, I introduce myself to my supervisor for the day. He hands me a Picnic polo shirt. \u201cNow you\u2019re presentable!\u201d he says, smiling. We walk past the cafeteria, where paper cups are scattered across the floor. The supervisor laughs again. \u201cOh no, a mess has occurred!\u201d<\/p>\n

While delivering, the supervisor explains the order of the actions I must perform. He begins with: \u2018you give the shutter a big stud down, then it will open\u2019. The subsequent instructions about scanning crates and efficient unloading didn\u2019t quite stick. When I pull down the shutter, I pull open my index finger. A jet of blood forms a dark red stain on the white cart.<\/p>\n

On the way to the next neighborhood, the supervisor talks about himself. \u201cI\u2019m really coffee-addicted man, I need that shit. I easily drink ten cups a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

I like this job, so I ask a follow-up question. \u201cDo you drink a lot of tea as well?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo man. You know what it is with tea? That shit is boring taste-wise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I get it. I used to know this guy who got private saxophone lessons at home. One time he had lessons while I was there, so I sat at the kitchen table, reading some Donald Duckies. When they finished, the guy\u2019s father came in and he asks this teacher if he \u2018would you like something to drink?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The supervisor interrupts me. A flap on the side clappers open and close against the cart. \u201cYou didn\u2019t push it shut hard enough, the attendant says as he hangs out the window of the moving cart and slams the flap hard. \u201cThere, fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n

I continue my story: \u201cSo, the guy is like \u2018yeah, okay, sure\u2019 and that father offers him hot water. That teacher, of course, is like \u2018huh, hot water?\u2019 and the father is like \u2018yeah, I really recommend it! I exclusively drink hot water now. I find coffee too strong, and tea gets boring, but hot water never bores!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The attendant chuckles forcedly. \u201cSick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Towards the end of the shift, I am slightly better at delivering. Chatting with people at the door during delivery is going fairly well. However, I do have to plug the cart in twelve times while parking at the warehouse. The attendant says he\u2019s going for a quick smoke. Waiting in an office, I decide I do want to work at Picnic. Once back, the supervisor tells me he doesn\u2019t think I\u2019m right for Picnic. \u201cYou\u2019re more of a thinker than a doer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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