The townie is back, folks. Well, actually, I never left. Why would I want to after the superb summer that just passed me by?
While most of you were interning at various banks and businesses or summering in a place where the ocean water doesn't give your skin the distinct orange/green tint now plaguing Revere and Everett; I was here, in mighty Medford, mastering the art of landscaping.
My canvas? Your very own Tufts University. That's right, I worked at Facilities here at Tufts all summer and have since been called the "best mower this side of the Mystic." That's why I decided to start the semester off with the top five best reasons to work at Tufts Facilities.
5. The machinery: If you're a girl, then this category doesn't apply to you, unless you're Martha Stewart on steroids. If you're a guy, then you've obviously fantasized about the majesty of a high-powered gas lawnmower, also known as a Scag (these are the ones that have a roller behind to stand on so you don't have to walk ... sick). It's as American as apple pie, and has some serious horsepower.
It's so nice, in fact, that I decided to purchase one of these lawnmowers in lieu of a car. I figure, since I never leave Medford, I won't need a vehicle that can go over 20 mph, and I can cut people's grass as I go. A dream of mine is to someday start my own TV show souping up lawnmowers and call it, "Pimp My Scag". Although, that sounds relatively like a low-grade, unoriginal porn website ... perfect for the townie persona.
4. Work attire: If I worked at an internship in Boston, my outfit each day would have to be well-kept, classy dress clothes. This would not be an easy task for a townie such as myself. We all know the nicest thing in my closet is the new Champion sweatshirt I got on sale at the Ghetto Glen Mall. Nothing says "I don't belong here" like a hand-me-down suit with mustard stains on it. At Tufts Facilities, mustard stains would actually add to the color scheme of my outfit.
3. Tufts Campus: I learned very quickly that my relationship with this campus is extremely love/hate. I loved it when I mowed the President's lawn on a breezy summer day, when the shadows of the billowing trees form a peaceful canopy. I hated it when I need to mow death slope next to the Memorial Steps. Seriously, there were at least 42 times where I thought I was going to fall off the Scag and have it fall downhill to slice me into townie cold cuts.
2. The commute: Door to door, I'd say it took me, at most, a minute and 20 seconds to get to work. That's unreal. I bet a lot of you had to take public transportation to work, and in my mind, I think I'd rather be punched square in the groin each day rather than get on the T. Also, being able to go home for lunch saves about $500 a summer, and if I'm done cutting my area a little early, shouldn't I take a nap in my comfy bed? Yeah, I should.
1. Co-Workers: The guys at Facilities are a fun and welcoming group who can make something as mundane as setting up chairs on the quad as fun as going to the Comedy Connection. Most of the day was spent making fun of each other in some way or another. My nickname by the end of the summer ended up being "Where's Pete?" due to the fact that I finished my work a lot faster than most people and hid at my house.
In all seriousness, when you're walking to class one day and you see someone on a lawnmower or in a facilities shirt, say hello, or maybe even tell them their work looks great. Luckily for you and me, I'll still be working a few hours a week this fall, mowing my heart out on the quads like only a townie can.
Pete McKeown is a senior majoring in English. He can be reached at peter.mckeown@tufts.edu.
