so it begins...

the first day of class has come and gone.

how did it go? other than being a bit tired from waking up at 4:30am (overly anxious) and being freaked out by the instructor, very well... i think. the instructor's a funny funny man. i think he just really enjoys scaring newbies to the program. but hey, if i'd been instructing at the school for 32 years, i'd need something to keep me entertained too! he is a cool guy though and really loves what he does... just very serious about the program and what he expects out of his students. in all honesty, he just wants to prepare us for the "real" world and see us do well. as with the rest of the faculty, he takes great pride in what he teaches and the products he produces. it's no wonder they call the department head, "The Terminator". the faculty doesn't tolerate BS. if The Terminator sees or hears about something you did and frowns, you can be sure that you're either in big trouble or GONE! He heard about a student going the the toilet and just walking out without scrubbing up first... terminated! the student was asked to withdraw from the program. crazy! i think everybody in the class started to get a bit nervous at that point and think, "what have i gotten myself into?!!"

another thing i learnt today... DON'T BE AWAY, LATE, OR SICK!!! away one day and that's 10% of your grade. away two days and that's 20%. away for three days and you can say bye bye. even if you're late, that's 5% of your grade! at around now, i was really starting to think that i had enlisted myself in the army! but hey, i understand. pull this crap in any restaurant kitchen and you're gone. this isn't the army... this is life and that's what they're preparing us for. hard but fair!

so yeah, i better get myself accustomed to being in class by 7am every morning... fast! hopefully i'll be able to keep up with all these youngsters, as i can easily say that i'm the "old man" of the class. i may not look it but i am... and probably by at least a good decade! when the instructor asked, "who's not legal drinking age here?" at least 5 hands, maybe more, went up. i just rolled my eyes. i think about it now and chuckle but it definitely wasn't funny at the time.

so here's what i'm up against:

1) youngsters
2) 80% of them who have worked or are working in the industry
3) very early morning starts
4) strict program rules
5) The Terminator

do i have a chance? will life experience and maturity prevail over youth and industry experience? Terminator vs Herminator? i guess time will tell... but one thing i can tell you... i always love a challenge ;)