Yesterday we were really hoping to get a day off at the hotel. After all those check-outs, new guests moved in, and they don't always need service after the first night, everything is already clean. However, Christina finished with us as usual: "Tomorrow at 10".
I hadn't slept until 5 a.m. the night before, I was writing. I got so carried away that time passed unnoticed. I love it when there's no one around, no one distracting me; the night is the best time for active brain work for me. And the internet is much better too. I was chatting with my sister, listening to music – dreaming. I wanted to go to the ocean, and I probably would have if I hadn't been so sleepy and didn't have to work in the morning. And I would have gone to watch the sunrise if it were around 4 a.m. here. I didn't wait for it.
Surprisingly, I got up easily! At 9:30 the girls came in to check if we were asleep; they knew we also had to work at 10. We got up, had breakfast, porridge with milk, bacon – I don't always eat like that in the mornings at home! This is already the norm for us, just like mutual assistance. If someone gets up earlier, they make breakfast, the other washes the dishes.
We didn't manage to get off work early from the hotel either. It seemed like there was much less work than yesterday, but we worked much slower. I even felt awkward in front of Christina; we had just received our salary and couldn't pull ourselves together at all.
Yesterday's meatball soup tasted much better overnight. We had a good lunch; personally, I never miss an opportunity to eat! I immediately wanted to sleep, but I didn't want to waste the sunny hours. We went to the beach, the girls swam, and I slept, but very restlessly. It felt like I was burning, that my swimsuit was falling off... We spent an hour or an hour and a half on the shore, and I had to go to work again. Such a strange feeling: you're walking from the beach, in a swimsuit, heat, summer, vacation... You come, change into black covered clothes, get on your bike, and in 15 minutes be ready to serve customers! My restaurant doesn't associate with a resort town at all; it's quiet, calm – everything is proper, top-notch.
A few days ago, I risked shifting gears on my bike. Why did I risk it? It's very old, covered in rust in places; it feels like if I press the button, the pedals will fall off. I was afraid, I didn't try. And then I realized that I needed to go faster, I was spinning the wheels almost in neutral. And I risked it, I liked the result. Today the road was almost empty, despite the fact that it's a central street (after Independence Day, vacationers left back to work). I rode fast, with the breeze, arrived in 13-15 minutes. I enjoyed the ride!
Today I was one of the bussers again. I don't know where Mike is now. This is the second Monday he hasn't shown up. From the schedule, I realized that all his next shifts will already be in a new position – he is being promoted to a waiter. In principle, it's deserved.
Unfortunately, there were few customers. Jaret left after an hour without serving a single table. Half an hour later, Lisa left. Tim, Bob, and I remained. They had two tables each. Bob especially needed my help, well, not exactly mine. Help in general. A lot of work fell on us. Tim wasn't as busy, and he's simpler in general. He saw my upset eyes and said "relax". And I was trying very, very hard to do everything right! I think I know my job well, but I don't always understand details like when to clear plates from the table, whether the guests have finished eating or not. Many little things, for example, should empty bread plates be left on the table? In general, what should be left and what shouldn't. There are no rules as such. As Tim told me later: "all you can do is look, observe, and wait for non-verbal cues". The waiters themselves somehow tactfully handle all situations. Being a waiter here is a special science. They can stand at a table for half an hour, joke, talk about themselves, listen to guests, give advice. In general – communicate. It's the complete opposite for us!!!! And my modest, barely audible "Is it done?", "can I take it" fits so poorly into the atmosphere that, it seems to me, it even spoils the level of service. And when people start answering, joking – try to understand what they said, not to mention the response!
These are the thoughts that wouldn't leave me. I see that I am needed, but Bob doesn't even want to ask me for anything. I felt like someone who is better not to be asked for anything, it's faster to do it yourself. I've been in such situations many times myself, only from the other side, I imagine what he thinks of me! Oh..
Actually, I overthink a lot. Not everything in life comes easily, especially in an American (specifically this kind of) language. But that's why I'm here! I want to try and grow! Moreover, there is an incentive - my mistakes didn't affect the tips, I received $27 from Bob and Tim.
Today I asked Andrew for days off on July 29th and 30th! The system is: you write your name and off dates on the board with chalk. When the chef makes the schedule, he will take it into account!
My life is wonderful here. I'm sitting on the porch, in my underwear and a T-shirt, late evening, warm, cars driving by and late tourists passing by. The air is humid and warm – a fairy tale!
