(We are in Spanish class. The teacher, for no apparent reason, is showing us a random YouTube video of someone singing a song that sounds like English, but isn’t.)

Teacher: “It’s pretty easy to do that in any language. Like in Spanish: ‘Arriba, arriba!’ And Chinese would be like, ‘Ching chong, ching chong!’”

Class: *stares in shocked silence*

Teacher: “Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”

(She offered no actual apology, and only retracted it once she saw our reactions. At least TRY to hide your blatant racism around students!)

(My doctor has prescribed me a four-month supply of a new medicine, to see if it will help with my migraines. I get it filled for the first two months at my local pharmacy without a problem, but the third month I am told I have to call my insurance to sort out a problem. After fighting my way through the automated system and identifying myself:)

Me: “My pharmacy told me that I need to call you about one of my meds.”

Operator: “Yes, it looks like that has been flagged as a ‘maintenance medication’ in our system, so it can only be filled at a regular pharmacy twice. After that it needs to be filled as a three-month supply via mail order.”

(This is news to me, but then again, it is a new insurance plan, so I am not that familiar with it.)

Me: “Okay, but I only have two more months on this medication; my doctor just gave me a four-month script to see if it works for me.”

Operator: “Yes, you just need to get set up on our online system to get it in a three-month supply.”

Me: “That’s the problem: I don’t have three months left on it. Can I get a two-month supply?”

Operator: No, it has to be a three-month supply because it is a ‘maintenance medication.'”

Me: “But I only have two more months on this prescription; it’s a trial to see if it works.”

Operator: “That’s fine; just get set up on our online system and you can get a three-month supply from now on.”

Me: “No, I can’t. I probably won’t be on this that long, and my prescription is only for two more months. Are you saying I need to go to my doctor and get a new three-month prescription in order to fill my last two months?”

Operator: “No, you keep the same prescription; just order a three-month supply online. Do you need the website address?”

Me: “No, I think I need a new prescription, because mine is only for another two months.”

Operator: “No, it must be three months.”

Me: “So, I need to get a new prescription from my doctor for three-months’ worth, or stop taking it now?”

Operator: “No, just enter your prescription online and select ‘three-month supply.'”

Me: “But I don’t have three months left on this medication.”

Operator: *sighs loudly* “I can give you a one-time exception to pick up this month from your pharmacy, but after that you really need to start getting it in a three-month supply via mail order.”

(I decided three months would have to be enough of a trial on that medication; it wasn’t working anyway, and that phone call to get more definitely triggered a stress migraine.)

(This happened on a very busy day around Christmas, with the lines winding from the front down several aisles. Mostly people have been waiting in line patiently, when a woman comes barreling through the line and sets her items at my counter.)

Me: “Hello, ma’am, I’ll be happy to help you but these other customers have been waiting longer.”

Woman: *who I now notice reeks of urine* “THERE IS NO LINE! IT’S MY TURN!”

Next Customer: “Just let her go through. We can wait.”

Me: “Okay, do you have a rewards card with us?”

Woman: “A what? What are you asking me?”

(I hold up a card to show her what it looks like, and she nods and starts rummaging through her purse as I bag her two items and wait as patiently as I can while eyeing the large queue behind her. She finds it, and I scan the rewards card. She grabs her bag and tries to leave.)

Me: “Ma’am, I’m sorry but we’re not quite finished yet. I still need payment.”

Woman: “I JUST PAID YOU! What are you talking about?”

Me: “No, that was just our rewards card. I still need a payment card or cash for the items.”

Woman: “I don’t have a card! My husband has it!”

(At this point she just walks away, so I void off the sale and start helping the other customers. 10 minutes later however…)

Woman: “I got the card!”

Me: “Okay, great!” *rings items in again* “Go ahead and slide the card for debit, or insert the chip for credit.”

Woman: *stares* “What? What do you want me to do?”

Me: “Erm… is it debit or credit?”

Woman: “TOO MANY CHOICES! WHY ARE YOU GIVING ME TOO MANY CHOICES?! JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO!”

Me: *trying not to laugh at this being too many choices* “Slide your card, and put in your PIN.”

Woman: “Why is it asking if I want cash? I don’t want cash! Why is it doing this?”

Me: “Just hit ‘no’ and you’ll be fine.”

Woman: *muttering*  “…too many choices…”

(The card got declined, which was fun to explain, and the best part was it turned out she had cash on her the whole time and ended up paying that way. What should have been a one minute transaction took nearly 20 minutes total overall, all while trying to politely ignore the overwhelming smell of urine. Who knew debit cards were so complicated?)

(I am in a calculus class in college, a class I already took in high school. It has been a long week and a long day, so my head is definitely not all there. Our teacher assigns us to work with partners on a problem. We quickly realize that neither of us can remember the equation for the area of a circle.)

Teacher: “Are you two stuck?”

Partner: “Yeah. We forgot the equation for the area of a circle.”

Teacher. “Oh, that’s unfortunate.” *he’s not known for being the most sympathetic* “Would you like me to ask the class?”

Me: “No.”

Teacher: “Would that embarrass you?”

Me: “Yes.”

(I have social anxiety, so, yes, it would very much embarrass me. Suddenly, a quiet voice from behind me speaks up. It is a boy who I have several classes with and chat with on occasion.)

Classmate: *to the teacher* “Say I’m the one who’s asking.”

(The teacher moved to stand by him and asked the class. The class provided the answer. I turned to look at the boy, who smiled and gave me a thumbs-up. Thank you for easing my anxiety and asking the question!)

(I am working at a cash register at a grocery store. I am almost finished with a customer.)

Customer #1:  “Have a good day!”

Me: “You too, ma’am, and a Happy New Year!”

(The next customer comes up.)

Customer #2: “You know, you were very rude just now!”

Me: “I’m sorry you think that, sir; what did I say that was rude?”

Customer #2: “Some of us are Jewish, and it’s not the new year for us!”

Me: “Sir, I am Jewish as well, but I don’t write that the year is 5775 on documents.”

(I finished with his items, and the customer walked away, grumbling.)