Door 13- Work in the Witch House

On August 14th, Matze drops me off at the restaurant and we first go to our future accommodation at Barbara's daughter Enya's, then to Rick's garage, where a group of employees are sitting together with beer and burgers. Barbara seems cheerful- but she has already had a few gin and tonics- and in a much better mood than when I auditioned almost 2 weeks ago. 2 other girls ride with us back to Maleny, they are daughters of acquaintances from Germany and lived with Barbara. I will also stay here for the next 3 nights, and on Sunday I will drive to Donnybrook after work and not return until Wednesday. The days are deeply stressing me, I want to secure this significantly better job for us, for more money and to complete the 88 days. Barabara makes it impossible for me to approach the work as independently as I am used to, because of things I don't know, she doubts my education and my intelligence, and in most other cases she wants something different. My tension naturally doesn't make things better, and it is also noticeable to the guests. Barbara also has no hesitation in insulting me in front of the guests, 30% of whom understand German, the others, despite the language barrier, realize what is going on and are uncomfortable to horrified. Apparently, she doesn't even notice how unprofessional it is. There are no other trained employees in the service, the 2 girls help occasionally, but Barbara does not treat them the same way as me. When I finally am back with Matze, I sleep much better, but the thought of her still gives me a stomachache. He gets a day off, and we drive to Noosa, I enjoy the sun and the beautifully clear water. When I sit on the train to Landsborough again on Wednesday morning, where one of the chefs will pick me up, I feel miserable. I keep telling myself that it's not always easy in a new job, that I can do it, and that I can satisfy her. As soon as I see her- already at 8:30 extremely tense and moody- I lose interest in my job. I am grateful for any task that allows me to avoid her, but there aren't many. Somehow, I get through the week, take the barista course that Barbara demanded (she believes that I have no idea about hot drinks), and motivate myself with the thought that Matze will be here soon. Admittedly, the woman sometimes pushes me to the limits of my self-control and, what is worse, makes me doubt myself. On August 31st, 1 day before my birthday, Matze comes with all his things and picks me up after work. Barbara's husband Klaus has been back from his visit to Germany for several days, but it hasn't really improved her mood. Sometimes everything is harmonious, then suddenly they start arguing and I become the vent for her frustration. Nothing changes with Matze's arrival, and despite his loving attention, I feel like I'm in the worst nightmare, with no hope of any improvement. Starting a conversation with her about her choice of words, which took all my courage, has brought nothing. Matze gets along well with the people in the kitchen, with whom he shares the dishwashing and prep kitchen area. It gives me stomach and headache that I have such problems with Barbara. A probationary worker for the service comes, 6 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and Barbara has no good words for her. The nice girl doesn't come back. That's a shame, but it wakes me up: it's not my 'failure'. It's the frustration of a woman in her mid-forties, and I don't have to put up with it. But what else? I definitely don't want to go back to the strawberry field, but Matze urgently needs his farm days....