Working

Yesterday I started my first work day. I had Evening Cafe from 6:30-12. And let me tell you, it was a very humbling experience. I’m very glad that I had it as my first shift because what it involves is cleaning up after everyone, and especially cleaning up after the dinner meal. Every night the people working on the Afternoon shift cooks dinner for all the staff and the guests of the hostel. Well yesterday’s meal just happened to be Mexican chicken and it was really stuck on to all the pans. Again, like I said… a humbling experience. I worked almost the whole time on one pot, just soaking and scrubbing and soaking and scrubbing, but still putting other dishes in the dishwasher and wash the stove and counters and still getting people coffee, juice, or tea. By the time 10 came, I was exhausted and I still had 2 hours left! When I finally got home, my head was spinning and I was even too tired to really sleep; but finally after a few hours I was able to rest.


Today I had some training on procedures in the café and on Monday we’re going to work on them some more. But also today I had Afternoon Café and I was really nervous! I can cook for my family (sometimes  ), but the idea of cooking for over 20 people was horrifying. Plus trying to read a recipe that is in English and all your ingredients are in Dutch, is a little difficult. I didn’t realize how easy it is to cook at home, until I was looking all over the fridge for the mustard, and it was right in front of me!! It wasn’t in a little, yellow bottle! And it didn’t even look like a word that could resemble mustard. Hopefully I’ll learn to pick up some of the phrases soon. But all my worries disappeared, cause I was being trained (so I had help) and everyone said they loved it! First I thought they were being nice, but I tried it and it was really good. Haha….. But now I’m exhausted! I hope tonight I can sleep really well.

Tomorrow I have Morning Café and hopefully I can get through making breakfast for everyone.

Here is a picture of my bike and a picture of our basement that is our bike room.  I hope you can see it.  It's not the best looking bike, and it makes a lot of weird noises when I ride it that make me a little worried, but I'm very happy to have it.  It's a lot longer walk to the hostel than one would think.