Do you have one minute?

Keeks, live in San Diego:

When I thought back to it, it had been a year and a half since I last interviewed for a job- riding the bus from Chonburi to Sriracha, roaming around the Assumption campus asking for "Mit Su-DAH" and sealing the deal for Mac to join me in Thailand.  As I drove out to Mission Hills, hoping I was dressed enough like a flower child, I thought this one might be a little different.  There would be competition, and I wouldn't be able to win them over by showing off with my Thai.  Plus, there wouldn't be any language barriers, right? Well, you'd be hella surprised, dude. 

It turns out the director interviewing our group was once married to a Thai lady.  Small world, I guess, although he met her in Miami and couldn't say more than "sawasdee" (and poorly too!) He was intrigued by my experience and had lots of questions for me, not entirely related to the position unless you can find the connection between Thai cuisine and oil spills.  Canvassing sounded like a good deal- hanging out during the day and talking people into saving the beaches.  I started on Valentine's day.

It was pouring rain and 45 degrees outside- not the sunny California weather I had fled the mountains chasing.  My job was to greet every person coming out of the Trader Joe's and ask them if they had "one minute for the environment?"  One guy told us that the "only was to save the environment is to kill yourself!", and countless others offered that the environment was "fine" before driving off in their Ford F-350 or H2.  I quickly learned that the job would require strength and confidence (supplemented with handfuls of chocolate chips to maintain energy) and for all the people who did have a minute to hear me out, I got a lot of practice and was well on my way to making staff.  When you boil it down, canvassing is a sales job.  We have a daily quota of $125 and are expected to sign up two to three sustainers each day.  A "sustainer" is someone who becomes part of the monthly-giving program and agrees to let us access their credit card- or checking account- each month for funds necessary to save the world.  And all they get is a bumper sticker!  That, and positive social change (which you can't really plaster all over a Toyota Prius.)