Is it just me? Or is it hard to tolerate the smells of former workplaces?

[karma_gypsy]

O.k., so that didn't really make any sense ....

What I mean is, I've worked in three different pizza places for about five years or so and now, I can't really stand the smell of any pizza place. I know when you're starving, it's probably the best smell in the world ... but to me, it makes me slightly queasy ...

O.k., I'll admit, the last two pizza places I worked at, I had some pretty bad experiences ... but still ... is it just me?

[Andara Bledin]

Not at all.

Scent is the biggest memory and emotion trigger you have, so it's not surprising that the scent of pizza would bring to mind the upset you associate from working in those places.

My ex once got sick (probably flu, possibly food poisoning) rather messily not too long after having had a seafood salad when he was a teen. It wasn't until more than a decade later that the scent of seafood no longer made him queasy.

^-.-^

[Zyanya]

I worked at Disneyland

I still can't stand the smell of popcorn.

[Peppergirl]

I am 21 years out of Domino's. I STILL can't eat one of their pizzas.

Hell, about 5 years ago I was walking past one in a shopping plaza. It was a warm day and they had their door propped open. I nearly retched at the smell when I walked by.

So no, it's not just you.

[smileyeagle1021]

I can't stand the smell of parking garages after working for national car rental out in the garage for 6 months (then again I couldn't stand the smell of parking garages before I worked there... that is why I applied for a job at the desk, not the garage... and only accepted the garage job beccause they promised a transfer to the desk as soon as there were any openings... I quit because they passed me up for that transfer 3 times).

[bigjimaz]

Hell, I still can't go into a Ponderosa Restaurant and I worked there in 1980.

[Soulstealer]

Not work related but I once had to go to my old high school to pick up some paper work and when I was in there I started having a bit of a panic attack. I don't know why really, it would've made more sense had it been my old secondary school.

[Eric the Grey]

I worked at McD's in my Sr year of High School and I still cannot stand the smell of their food.

I'm 44 now...



Eric the Grey

[Difdi]

sour milk

I know the feeling. As I posted in another thread, a former job of mine involved cleaning up quantities of rotted (not sour, not even lumpy, rotted black milk) at a dairy. Prior to that job, I had a reasonable tolerance for the smell of sour milk; It wasn't pleasant, but I could tolerate it long enough to deal with the problem. Now, I actually get a flashback whenever I encounter soured milk to the reason I quit that dairy job. As a result, I can't empty soured milk without holding my breath (or risking making a far worse mess).

[GingerBiscuit]

I cannot stand the institutional smell that goes with schools. It's not a workplace, but my time at school was so hellish that that institutional smell automatically turns me into a panicked little girl.

[Evil Queen]

Trust me, it's not you. I worked for Huddle House (a 24 hour diner in the southeast, I've not found them out west yet) for a while and the smell of french fries still sets my tummy off.

[Misanthropical]

I worked in a steak house as a waitress many years ago. The smell of steak cooking still makes me want to hurl.

[crazylegs]

Walking into my old workplace and taking a good, deep sniff still reminds me of the soul crushing depressing atmosphere and mind numbing work. After a full year.

So yer, its not odd at all.

[Evil Queen]

I worked in a steak house as a waitress many years ago. The smell of steak cooking still makes me want to hurl.

Gah, now that's just depressing.

Does this mean I can have your steak?

[Lil Bunny]

As much as I hate to admit it, I cannot stand the smell of fresh cheddar biscuits. Damn you Red Lobster. *shakes fist*