I've finally hit my six-month raise at my fast food job, so to celebrate that, here's what I've learned from my job in the past six months.

I like to call myself a "shop hopper" because between school and moving, I've been part of three stores in six months, all in various locations quite far from each other to the point where even sometimes my coworkers are confused as to how I ended up there.

1. Every store is its own little family.

I've been lucky to be welcomed into three very different families, each as amazing as others. I have numbers of friends from each store because the bond became THAT strong. We cry together, we laugh together, and we're passive aggressive towards each other at some points. When you spend twelve to eight hours a day with the same people, you form a bond that's indescribable.

2.You learn WAY too much about everyone's personal life.

Sharing is caring, guys. What are we expected to do, work in silence? That's ridiculous. You hear about whose child is sick, weird facts about people's dogs, and anything else you can possibly think of. Whatever it is, we've probably talked about it.

3. Everyone knows WAYY to much about your personal life.

As I said before, sharing is caring.

4. Every store follows the same rules but has their own style and vibe.

I've been to stores that are for the book by the book.,and been to others that like to follow the rules but still make the environment fun and friendly. At some stores, the laid-back vibe is potent and sometimes it's a more serious vibe. It depends on the team, the shift, the location history and current status in the district.

5. Everyone on the staff has their own weird food quirk.

Me? It can't touch. It'll drive me nuts. I've worked with a coworker who will only eat hot dogs if the bun and the dog are separate. Or some who think honey mustard is a salad dressing. Don't judge. We all have something weird about our food.

6. Everyone has unspoken "Assigned Parking Spot."

Whatever you do, do not park in the managers parking spot. They know whose car is whose. We ALL know what your car looks like and if you are in the wrong spot you WILL get sideways glances all shift. You brought it upon yourself.

7. It breaks my heart every single time I leave a store.

I just get so attached, so quickly, to customers and staff. Every store I've been to welcomes me with open arms and reluctantly lets me go to move on to where ever I decide to be. I never know if I'll decide to return, and every staff I'm connected to, except the one closest to school, accepts that. Will they see me again? I don't know. I go wherever the wind blows. but I always hope to return to one of my little families and i always lowkey miss them when I'm at a different store.