A job is a job, if you like it, then that makes it that much better. I like my job, but like everywhere there are a few struggles. I know what you're thinking, "how can there be any struggles of working in an ice cream shop? It's gotta be easy!" It is easy, there's just a select few things that we struggle with. Anybody who has ever worked in the ice cream world will understand these six struggles.
1. The cones
I'll admit that I didn't know the names of the different cones before I worked in the ice cream world, but there a lot and I mean a lot of people who don't know their cone names. One time a customer got upset with me because I didn't hand them a sugar cone after they asked for a cake cone. Since we're on the topic of cones, this is a PSA that sugar cones are NOT small waffle cones.
2. Soft Serve
I'm not coordinated enough to balance the perfect swirl that is a giant tower of ice cream on a tiny cone. My soft serves always come out looking like The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Ice Cream Edition. If you're ordering soft serve from me, getting it in a waffle cone or a cup is the safest route for the both of us.
3. Sprinkles
I know in my last article I said can openers are the bane of my existence, but it might actually be sprinkles. These little spawns of satan are so messy. You can just look at them and then all of a sudden, they're everywhere.
4. It gets hot.
Working in an ice cream shop means the store is cold all the time, right? Not necessarily. Some ice cream shops don't have air conditioning, and the ones that do are either broken or on their last leg. The one I work in doubles as a restaurant so when our air conditioner was broken for three weeks, it was ranging anywhere from 85-90 degrees in the kitchen, especially when we got busier at night. Customers were sure to mention it was hot like we didn't already know.
5. Ice cream stains
During rushes, changing tubs, underestimating the strength of the shake machine, or literally just any time you're around the ice cream, you become one with it. I'm always covered in ice cream usually on my forearms. The biggest culprits for me are the chocolate ice cream and the blue part of the superman ice cream.
6. The Superman debate
Perhaps the biggest debate in the ice cream world is "What is Superman?" Some people think the red, blue, and yellow make one flavor. Other people think there is three different flavors. Then we have people like me who think it is just vanilla ice cream with tons of food coloring.
While I have my complaints, I couldn't imagine spending my summers anywhere else. When all is said and done, the people I work with, the tips, and the happy customers make it all worth it.
