I had my first (and mandatory if I want to keep my unemployment bennies) appointment at CNY Works. I expected the letter from them, as spouse had been through unemployment several years ago. Go to the orientation meeting and they pretty much let you alone for 13 weeks. Play the game.
The offices are in a nice building in the plush Franklin Square section; hmpf, luxury digs to help the workless -- but they crammed as many people as possible into the space, so I feel better. Tax dollars at work, and all that.
My group orientation started right on time and all seats were filled (about 40 people). I sat between a young man and an old guy. The old guy had long greasy hair and kept talking and humming to himself. The young man showed him how to turn off his cellphone. The old guy smelled funny -- not BO; I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it was a familiar scent.
Our presenter was Xavier, who is also the only Spanish-speaking presenter at CNY Works, so he's been dealing with 150+ Spanish workless each week for months, and now us. Poor Xavier rushed through the powerpoint info -- he'd been through this before and it wasn't that fresh to any of us workless, either. No questions? Okay! Blessedly released, Xavier fled and another rep looked through paperwork, checked IDs, and that was that. The orientation was scheduled to last 1 1/2 hours, but I was out the door in 50 minutes.
Critique: Beneficial. CNY Works offers plenty of free computer classes and workshops, which I definitely need.
Back in the semi-clean city air on the way to my car (free parking! in the city!), it suddenly struck me what the old guy smelled like -- pot.
