Shops and malls playing Christmas carols from open to close remind us of the list of presents we may try to purchase. Also, it’s the season to go out and chat in real time, face-to-face, having a special meal with those special ones. 

Whether you want to pamper yourself for being good during the year, or you want to celebrate the advent of the new year with your peers or coworkers, going out to eat is the premise for this season.

If you are the one inviting, or you and your party will split the cost of the bill, here is my cautionary tale for you to avoid surprises when the check arrives.

I recently went out with my family to the Seaport area to a Christmas fair called the “Snowport.” 

Looking for Betty the Yeti, trying different bites in the food area and visiting the little stands full of all sorts of crafts, we spent close to three hours. 

We tried food and beverages from four different stands and all of them, except for the small stand selling hot cocoa and hot apple cider, were using Clover point-of-sale (POS) machines. Those POS have a noticeable 8-inch screen for the client to tap the card, select the tip and chose how we want the receipt –or not- to be sent. 

Wait, what? 

I understand a tip for service in a restaurant but why do I have to tip if there is no service given by the provider besides handling the food I’m already paying for? Which most of the time, is more expensive than going to a standard restaurant.

The venue has a limited area to sit down, one with beach chairs and a reduced area with benches covered with a tent. With a captive audience of thousands of people visiting on a bright but windy Sunday afternoon, there was not enough space to sit down. Eating — standing up — waffles dripping with chocolate can be very messy, especially for kids. So, what is the service tip for?

Tips suggestions on those screens can vary from 15% up to 25%. There is the option of “No Tip” but as the person behind in the line can easily see the client tapping the screen, there is a kind of pressure to add a tip just “not to look bad.”

We continued our visit, and my kid was chanting “I want this…I want that,” incessantly. 

Wait, what? (Part II) 

Money does not grow in the trees. So, I took advantage of my kid learning math, and before getting too far, I said, “This is your total amount to purchase whatever you want, take note of the things you like (luckily, she carried a tiny notebook and a pencil), and then do the math to make the right choices. No extra penny will be given.” 

Assigning yourself a general budget for Christmas or if you are a parent, giving a limit on your child’s shopping could be helpful.

When the cold was getting intense, we went for dinner. We drove 20 minutes from Boston Seaport to Somerville. 

Nothing luxurious nor too fancy, but cozy and with a promising delicious culinary experience is what I chose to close the field trip welcoming the Christmas season. 

We were the first ones to arrive at the tiny casual restaurant. The staff were chatting placidly. The music was a little loud and repetitive and slightly annoying. However, we were laughing and talking about various things, and when we were hesitant to go for or skip the dessert, the bill arrived. 

I almost fainted. The receipt had a list of tips percentages to choose: 20%, 22% and 25%, the equivalent value in money and the total including the tip. As a rule for a non-royal service, I add, without thinking, a standard 20%, which turned the check into close to $200. 

Wait, what? (Part III) 

We were three adults and one kid. We ordered three entrees and four beverages. I shared my meal with my fussy eating kid. How did it turn out to be that expensive? 

It was not an everyday meal, but it was neither “Fugu,” a poisonous blowfish considered as a Japanese delicacy, nor even a filet mignon. It was basically a stew of chicken, stew of lamb, a vegan choice, and non-high-end drinks. 

My husband and I scanned with our eight eyes the bill again. We realized the “tip” equivalent of 20% was already added to the bill. As we were not told about it, we mechanically were adding the standard tip in Massachusetts of 20%, exacerbating the total cost of our one-course dinner. 

Under state law, section 152A, “service charge” is defined as fee or charge in lieu of a tip that the customer would expect to go to wait staff, and it is treated as tips because it belongs to the employees who provided service to the customer. 

Also, the legislation says that employers can impose “on a patron any house or administrative fee in addition to or instead of a service charge or tip” but employers need to “inform” their patrons that fee is not assigned to staff employees. 

This is the case for banquets like a wedding reception or a large party of guests, where the quote has an item that says, “service charge” and specifies that is not a tip. 

Nonetheless, it did not say “service charge,” it did say “Gratuitity 20%.”

We should have been informed the tip was already included before ordering!

Ultimately, we left the 20-seat restaurant without adding extra tip and agreed to “no need to come back.”

So, if you are going out for dinner, remember to double-check if the chosen eatery includes the tip. If you are going with relatives or friends, ask after how many seats they consider a group and how much the service fee is. 

Lastly, make sure to express among your party that the check will be split evenly including taxes, fees and tips, and please be mindful with what you order. Don’t go for the most expensive item on the menu! Also, beware of those pals that prefer to pay what they order based on the itemized cost in the menu. That price does not include taxes, neither service fee (if it’s charged) nor tips. 

Remember the idea of the season is to have fun and enjoy each other’s company wherever you go without breaking into your savings.

In the aftermath of the presidential election, most newspapers, Youtubers, podcasts or wherever you listen to the media, the trend topic is why, we the people, made Mr. Donald Trump go back to the White House.  

Statistics and possible explanations are served for every political party the same for the non-party. However, coming from a developing country where the political chaos reigns, I’m still impressed that it seems that people, the majority, were able to forgive all the accusations and proved charges against the returning president.  

On top of that, the two attempts of assassinations which fortunately did not work — I may not agree with most of his rhetoric, but nobody deserves that — played on his favor, making him a “hero” as he stated “I’d like to think that God thinks that I’m going to straighten out our country.”  

Being a Latina voter, I’m amazed for the increase of the Latino supporters to the Republican party considering his warhorse is his immigration plan, and the countless times the MAGA leader has openly poured detrimental comments against Latinos. Those comments have  encouraged his supporters — mostly white men — to be widely loud against Latinos, sparking racism and division in our country.  

In their defense, Latinos tend to value faith, family and traditions. The Republican party campaign included talking to Judeo-Christian leaders, and its leader stating “We are one movement, one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God.”  

This moving, spiritual and patriotic statement could have moved even to the most agnostic undecisive voter, not only to ex-Democrat Latinos.  

Most of them, as many as his faithful followers, coincide with the main reason is the economy. Harris did not make any effort to differentiate herself from Biden, but his political partner did not play very well in the economy, international politics among other relevant topics. The result shows most people are screaming for a change. Period. 

Whatever the reason is, no more ink nor time should be invested in deciphering the results of the election. Let’s look at the future and envision what we want for ourselves, our family, our community and our nation. 

Knowing the U.S. Senate is now 53 red vs. 46 blue seats, and the red hat leader being a strong persona, as he tends to impose his will, let’s all, we the people, regardless of if we support him or not, be the watchdogs on his second term.  

Like in the airport saying, “if you see something, say something.” 

“No one is above the law” and that is what I personally love and admire about this great nation. The political apparatus is stronger than anything or anyone.  

Let’s be alert, stop hating, and let’s work together.

“The best way to lose a friendship is by talking about politics or religion,” I learned many years ago.

Since then, I’ve tried to follow this advice, especially when I perceive that my relative or close friend is passionately advocating for their candidate without listening to anyone else’s opinion.

I consider that even heated conversations can be elevated as long as the ideas are supported with facts, and we do not fall into insulting or offending the opponent’s opinion.

Coming from a developing country where we have the record of having six presidents in the last eight years   due to  impeachments, resignations, corruption allegations, and huge public protests,  I was tired of voting for the bad or the worst my entire adulthood.

If you have not guessed, as the Paddington Bear says, I come from the “Darkest Peru.” So, when I became a citizen of this wonderful country, I was so excited to vote.

I remember my dad used to follow the U.S. presidential debates in the 80’s and 90’s with admiration. He used to say “Oh, the USA with its bright minds and great discussions full of ideas for the best of the society. How I wish we could have those candidates in our country!”

Well, Dad, thanks God you are in a better place now, so you won’t be disappointed that candidates these days are far from what you thought.

Of course, there is a big difference — in this great country, no one is bigger than the empire of the law. Whatever the result of the polls, the law will protect  the decision of the majority.

That is what I admire about the country I now call mine as well, our democracy. But we must not take it for granted.
So many people had fought in the history of this powerful nation looking for liberty in all its meaning.

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“United we stand, divided we fall.”

– Aesop, Greek storyteller

In the fable  “The Lion and The Four Oxen”

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“The land of the free and the home of the brave,” we sing with pride and I believe it is.   

However, I don’t know what or when exactly happened that the ideas are not contrasted nor fact-checked before standing for them. That is not brave at all.   

Families and long-lasting friendships can easily be torn apart because there is so much misinformation, and some people candindly believe what they find online or consume tidbits of  news through social media in 15 or 30 seconds reels. 

In class, we can agree on the room temperature and set an appealing number where we, all,  can coexist together until the dismissal.  But when the conversation is heated with political views in favor of or against any of the presidential candidates, the hot flashes on the opponent are evident, and the air becomes dense to breathe in the same space. We stare at the clock wishing the time runs faster.

Believe me, this will, too pass. Yes, we, as a country, are facing a challenging time, and probably we see the political environment at the edge of a crisis. However, we need to stay united.

It is needed a consensus, and it starts with mutual respect.

If I do not agree with your same candidate or if I do not with either candidate, I own  the right to be respected same as you.

I can listen to your opinion even if I disagree, but also, don’t expect me to spend my time or effort listening  to insults or offenses about your opponent.

Also, before sharing something against or in favor of your candidate on social media, make at least a little research in different reliable outlets or look for different journalists. Use your critical thinking and don’t share misinformation.

“Divide and rule,” was a military tactic used to create discord among people and “conquer” them so they could not get united against the one. Now think, “Who would benefit to see America not united?”

I changed my degree from Business Transfer to Communication & Journalism two semesters after I started at NECC. That decision was not easy to take, especially as I started to study in my 40’s, it is expected that at this age I have things clearer and as a mom of a child, I am supposed to be working and saving money for my child’s education, not stumbling around career pathways.

One way to confirm if I was in the right direction was through internships. 

Typically, the main reason for students to look for an internship is because it is part of their curriculum, for instance, for careers associated with health. 

Here at NECC, “there are a lot of programs that require experiential learning including but not limited to: Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, Medical Assisting, and more in the health programs. Culinary Arts, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Early Childhood Education, and more,” said Sandy Rochon, Director of Career Services. 

Fortunately, NECC also offers internships as credit electives for programs like: Business, Computer and Information Sciences, Journalism/Communications, Liberal Arts, and Psychology. 

Spring 2023, I did an internship as part of a 3-credit elective for TDI or Transformative Development Initiative in Lawrence, which is part of Mass Development, a government organization.

The main objective for this internship was to engage in a civic engagement/leadership at a nonprofit or a government office. 

At the time I joined TDI, I collaborated in promoting a project that helped small business owners to improve their storefronts with a grant up to $30,000.

I worked on the outreach, and sometimes it was not easy. I faced some owners who were skeptical about the project, and they thought it was a scam. Some others needed extra assistance to participate as they were not familiar with the required documents to apply.

Also, I helped to organize “Taste of Lawrence,” a public event to promote the diverse food in Lawrence. 

This internship helped me to strengthen my leadership and communication skills but beyond that, I could see firsthand the immense value of local organizations working together for a common cause, and engaging communities to make Lawrence a more attractive place to live, work and visit. It was an honor to serve the public! 

Spring 2024, I did a second internship but this time at the longest running and most trusted Latino media outlet in New England, El Mundo Boston.

This time I was with my hands on what I am studying for, Journalism. The list of hats I wore and things I did is long, but I just want to state, be ready to do the opposite to what you aim for, embrace it, learn about it and champion it. 

While I was dreaming of working as an investigative journalist, my first assignment was in the entertainment department.

I will not forget when I was asked to write content for their social media about the Latino actor in “The Mandalorian,” I was, “who? The Mandarins? Is it a children movie?” I was terrified because I was far from series, movies or even theatre.

Here is the other statement, if you do not know about the required task, look for help among your classmates. You could be surprised about how passionate your peer sitting next to you is about a subject you know nothing at all. Shaun Hood, the prior A&E editor of The Observer gave me a hand and introduced me to his world. 

I was invited to the premiere of the JLo movie, “This Is Me…Now,” in Boston Seaport to watch it and interview some attendees. I invited Shaun and he helped me out to identify who was who in the cast. I was invited to the Wang theater in Boston to see the musical Hadestown and interview the lead actor. Shaun told me everything about the actor, director, the plot so, of course, he went with me as my camera assistant to the interview and we met other cast members at the end. 

When Spring semester ended, El Mundo Boston asked me to do a second internship with them during the Summer and of course I accepted.

I worked closely with the CEO Alberto Vasallo on a project to promote food businesses in Lawrence. The event was a total success. I interviewed patrons and owners of restaurants, and of course, I got to try their food to report about it. 

I got skills needed in the media industry like video editing, reporting news, fact checking, and creating content for their digital outlets. I was a guest writer introducing new and interesting subjects in a compelling way. 

One of my articles published by El Mundo Boston was about artificial intelligence.

This was the first time the paper addressed this subject to its Hispanic audience, and this was my presentation card to get a free ticket to the three-day Artificial Intelligence and Education Summit organized by MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I pitched to my editor for full coverage in exchange for it and it was accepted. I am fascinated with AI and its possibilities. 

So, what are you waiting for!? Either for confirming or pivoting your career interests or for having the experience in first person how the “real world” is in the field you aim for, just wait no more. Contact your career advisor or Career Services office at CareerServices@necc.mass.edu or visit https://www.necc.mass.edu/workforce/career-services/ and let me know how it goes!