*Warning: This post has nothing to do with the Beatles, Ringo, or the color yellow.
So growing up American, I have had my fair share of fast food. There are some places that I had more than others. They were cheaper, faster, and easier. So some fast food restaurants were viewed more as a treat. They were the ones that I only had on special occasions. The one that comes to my mind is Subway.
Subway was something that I probably didn't even know about until I was older, and then it was something that I maybe had two times a year at most. It was more expensive, and it was something we didn't have very often.
Even when I got to college, and at one point there were about 3 Subways in our town (It's a small town), I didn't have it very often. I once worked in a call center in college and it was above a Subway. It always smelled like fresh bread in that call center and for years I associated Subway with Western Wats. While working at Western Wats I had Subway only one time.
Fast forward to the year 2006. I had been out of college for a little over a year. I was looking for another job, as my first job was a nightmare. I had been interviewing, and I landed a job as an Operations Analyst for the Subway Development Corporation of Washington. For those of you not familiar with the way Subway runs, here is a quick run down. Subways are franchised. There is a headquarters in Milton, Connecticut. There are regions called Development Area. There the Development Agent helps franchisees with all areas of operation.
This is where I came in. I was assigned so many stores and had to go in each month and inspect my stores, help with marketing, finances, etc.
So on September 5, 2006 (A year ago next Wednesday) I started as a Operations Analyst for Subway. The first leg of training was actually working in a store and learning the ropes, for a week.
Then they sent us off to Subway school. So my two coworkers and I headed up to Milton, Connecticut for two weeks for intense training. We spent anywhere from 8 to 10 hour days in a classroom and/or a store training. We only had one day off, in which I slept the entire day. I've never had so much information crammed down my throat in my life. To give you an idea of how intense. Everything is done by computers, but Subway wanted to make sure you knew how to do it all by hand, so we looked at inventory pages, and financial sheets, and blah blah blah....
After two long weeks, an excellent pillow fort made on my king size bed every night because I had a thousand pillows and rubbing elbows with hopeful franchisees, I graduated top of my class and I am now certified to run a Sandwich Shop.
So what is my point you make ask? Well as I said. I didn't have Subway very often.
Well from the moment I started training, it's when it all began. The store I first trained in for 4 days, let me eat sandwiches. Then in Connecticut, it got worse. Subway HQ feeds their employees lunch for free, everyday. The menu, an all you can eat sandwich bar with every topping imaginable. (Luckily they did throw in a change of choice every once in a while, meaning, sometimes they added rice). So we had Subway everyday there as well as in our training store.
Then I came back to Virginia, and started my work. For the next 2 1/2 months I spent almost everyday in at least one Subway. Now these owners in hopes of good evaluations or just kind heartedness were forever offering free food. Now I'm one who likes free things, so I would have a sandwich, sometimes more depending on my mood. (By more I mean chips, drink, cookie. I didn't mean more than one sandwich)
I never got tired of this. There was enough variety to switch it up. Unfortunately I hated the job and left in the middle of December. It was not my cup of tea.
A few months later, I realized my disdain for Subway restaurants. I couldn't even go near one. The smell made me sick, and the thought of eating there made me want to gouge my eyes out. So I took a six month hiatus.
Well my friends, yesterday I was buying lunch for one of my employees (I know work at a staffing firm),and she wanted Subway. I decided to take the plunge, and have a sandwich. And believe or not, I was actually able to stomach it.
What did I get you may ask?
Why the Sweet Onion Teriyaki of course.
My only regret is that I never tried enough of the choices while they were free.
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