"Can I take your order?"
Trip Start
May 31, 2006
1
22
170
Trip End
Ongoing
Porto Petro,
Spain
Friday, June 30, 2006
So overall, we would be working our asses off (literally) until October. I am still unsure if I will be able to pull it off. Like I said, I am not accustomed to this sort of working schedule and intensity; all I can do is promise to give it all I have.
I never knew such pain in my feet was possible. I actually never thought that eleven hours of constant movement (without sitting except for when I have to pee) would take such a toll on my body. I know this is the transitional phase of being semi-sedentary to completely motional, but I never imagined such pain. The human body has evolved to be in constant motion but I think I am transgressing Evolution. I now have a new-found respect and admiration for waitresses and waiters. This is a hard, hard job.......
By the end of the day my feet are practically numb. Today Ed prepared a bucket of hot water with thick sea salt for my swollen aching feet. I was crying from the sharp spasms in my feet when we got home, and although he was just as tired as I was, he prepared a tiny foot spa for me.
Even though by the end of my working day I feel fulfilled and proud I worked so much, I am doubtful of my energies when I imagine my life for the next three enslaved months. Working 7 days a week at this rate will probably put me in a wheelchair faster than any broken hip at the age of 80 can.
The restaurant will continue to grow as it's only been open for 3 weeks. The people who go there, which are mostly German and British, always mention how much they like the place, the food and the service, and although they are not big tippers, they are warm friendly people who always seem eager to know more about me. When I tell them I am Argentine and aspiring to travel the world for an undetermined period of time, they grow instantly curious. There's nothing better than sparking up someone else's curiosity. Suddenly, even though I am the one waiting on them, they are the ones who end up expressing their envy on my lifestyle.
I have even found myself giving out tips on budget-travelling, which even though I have done little of thus far, I have impressed the rich European clients in the restaurant.
Overall, what really drives me in this job is the contact with the people. I am amazed at how open and generous people can be for giving them your best service, your shiniest smile, and your wittiest chit-chat.
Daniella, the cook's help, the sweetest Italian woman on earth, speaks to me as if I knew Italian from birth and although we have slow conversations, I teach her Spanish and she teaches me her beautiful language. We have been getting along amazingly well despite the language barrier, and although we can't communicate 100%, there's a mutual chemistry which allows us to understand each other well.
In the meantime Ed has shown his amazing organizational abilities when he surprisingly left the bar all spic and span for the night shift. He organized the bottles, the fruit, the liqueurs, beers and wines, together with the bottle cases and different glasses. I admire him as a worker because he never seems to get tired. He has the same amount of energy throughout the day even though he occasionally stops to say "ouch my feet" but then continues to run around non stop. He also always makes sure I am ok when performing my duties and looks after me giving me small pep talks when I say I'm exhausted towards the end of the day.
I just don't think I am as a good as worker as he is but hope to learn from him through this experience. Although we've worked in the same company before, we've never worked together like this before. I can say for sure so far it's been a positively enriching experience and we're even getting along much better than before...if that's even possible.
And at nights, we come home together to our sea-side apartment and cuddle into bed together, too tired to even speak, but secretly joyous that we just have each other at the end of the day.
