She Must Have Thought We Were Valets!

This summer, I worked for a company called University of Dreams. Basically, 125 college students intern in Chicago for 8 weeks of their summer and have an awesome time. The company also does this in 12 other cities, but I was chosen to work for their Chicago program as a summer staffer.

We summer staffers were given a 2 day orientation, a one day break, and then came move-in day for the students. The dorm we were housed in was Baumhart Hall, one of Loyola University’s many housing complexes. Anyway, Baumhart is located on Pearson Avenue, which is a one way street. All throughout the day, we helped students move their stuff from their parent’s cars/airport vans/ taxis, and got them registered.

This is where the two day orientation came in- we were instructed to be incredibly cheery throughout the day, because it was to be a long one. Now most cars/trucks/vans that stopped down Pearson that day were eager students ready to spend their summers in Chicago…notice I said MOST.

We had been moving students in for about 4 hours, and we were in full cheer mode- the students were excited, we were excited, and it was an all-around great atmosphere. There were 8 of us staffers, and by this time, we had naturally paired off to grab students and move them in. I was partnered with Kim Hoffman who had participated in the London Program in 2008. She was a Chicagoan, like me, and she was a published author. I liked her right away- she was goofy enough to be fun to hang around, but she also had a serious side….after all…you can’t be a published author unless you have half a mind to start a book AND finish it. She was a great sport with the pictures, as she was willing to do the goofiest stuff for the camera. Kim and I had become a pretty competent duo on the street; we’d flag a car down, introduce ourselves, send the student to the registration table, and move them in. It was simple and effective.

There were so many people moving in at once that we cometimes couldn't distinguish students from non-students!

Kim and I had our fair share of missteps though; on more than one occasion, we flagged down an empty cab, which didn’t make the drivers too happy, and we had flagged down cars which had nothing to do with University of Dreams. After explaining the situation to these confused drivers, we sent them on their way, having a good laugh in the process.

About 5 hours into the day, an extremely small car came driving down the street - it wasn’t as small as a Smart car, but it wasn’t as big as a DeLorean, either. Initially, Kim and I shrugged it off, since there was no way that two people and eight weeks’ worth of stuff was in that car. But it started approaching our curb….slowly…then slower….then it stopped right in front of our building. Kim and I gave each other an “oh, shit!” look, and rushed the car in a fashion not too different from a dog who rushes the front door when he hears a key enter the lock.

The passenger side door opened, and this lady in her twenties stepped out. She was really pretty, and stylish in a way that I’d expect a 20-something to be.

“Hi, I’m Jeremy!” I said, almost a little too enthusiastically.

“I’m Kim!” Kim replied, in the same, overexcited cultish camp counselor manner that I had nearly perfected that day.

“I’m Gina.”, the 20-something replied.

“And I’m Kenneth” ,said the driver, a bald black guy who wasn’t intimidating enough to be a bouncer (nor did he have the stature in a car that small), but was cool enough that he’d be a good person to grab a beer with.

We all shook hands after exchanging pleasantries, and then….it started.

Kim: “So let’s get you checked in”

Me: “…and while Kim takes you over there, I’ll start grabbing your luggage.”

Gina and Kenneth didn’t look as excited as Kim and I.

Gina: “Umm…what?”

Me: “Oh, crap.”

Kim and I then realized that neither Gina nor Kenneth was a student in our program.

Kim: “Oh wow, we thought you were a student in our program!”

Gina: (after having a good giggle) “I’m flattered, but no. I teach just a couple blocks away, and he (Kenneth) drops me off here, since it’s the easiest place in the area.

Me: “I’m so sorry! We must have looked crazy bum rushing your car like this.”

Gina: “Actually, no. Kenneth and I thought that there was something new going on out here, but we didn’t think it was your program.”

We all awkwardly said goodbye; Gina walked away to work, Kenneth drove off, and Kim and I had our best laugh to that point.

Kim: “Who did she think we were?”

Me: “Valets…that’s the only reason I could see them pulling up to the curb!”

Kim: “True, but then why are we valets wearing Dreamer shirts?”

Me: “Good point.”