I Worked at a Chinese Restaurant in the '90s | Plus THE JOB REPORT Job Hunting & The Shangri-La

What do a 66-minute job assessment, getting rejected from a lunch lady position, and a Chinese restaurant in North Dakota have in common?

Apparently...my life.

In this episode of Born to Ramble, I'm introducing a new recurring segment called “The Job Report”, where I'll share the ridiculous realities of job hunting after being laid off—including bizarre hiring assessments, unrealistic salaries, and the increasingly surreal job market.

Then we travel back to 1997, when I worked as a hostess at the Shangri-La Chinese Restaurant in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Between secret boyfriends, unforgettable coworkers, neverending delivery orders, sweet and sour chicken, dolphin ankle tattoos, and one unforgettable convenience store "robbery," this may have been the most entertaining job I've ever had.

If you love funny true stories, nostalgic 90s memories, restaurant chaos, memoir-style storytelling, and laughing through life's absurd moments, you're in the right place.

In this episode:

* The launch of "The Job Report"

* Ridiculous modern hiring practices

* Why job hunting in 2026 feels impossible

* Life as a teenage hostess in the 1990s

* Funny restaurant coworkers I'll never forget

* Sweet & sour chicken, Seinfeld, and secret romances

* One prank that became legendary

If you've ever worked in a restaurant, survived retail, or wondered how hiring became this ridiculous, you'll probably see yourself somewhere in this story.

🎙️ Subscribe for new episodes of Born to Ramble, where stories, humor, nostalgia, and everyday life collide.

#storytelling #podcast #funnystories #restaurantstories #jobsearch #90snostalgia

About Born to Ramble

Born to Ramble podcast features audio essays and stories by me, Nikki Settelmeyer, and others. I love creative non-fiction, memoir, and hilarious real stories with a sprinkling of tragedy. Special episodes delve into the “Craft of Writing.” I love writing and I love talking about it. I love talking. #voice

“Hosted by writer, children's author, and creative writing instructor Nikki Settelmeyer, each episode explores the funny, messy, and meaningful moments that make up everyday life—from corporate burnout and midlife reinvention to parenting adventures and the stories hiding in ordinary moments.” –Anonymous

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