Finally something to report!

After almost a month of absence in this little corner of our common friend, the internet, here is a first sign of life. As an excuse, the busy work routine, to which we are currently succumbing, should suffice (or so I hope). It's not even a matter of lack of free time, but rather of the inability (after arriving home exhausted and drained) to put one's thoughts into clear and somewhat witty words. Moreover, it is very easy to convince oneself, after a day's work, that one deserves a lot of laziness.

It is said that only boring people get bored. Therefore, I must be a pretty boring person because in the past few weeks, I have been bored quite a bit, partly because I spent many evenings waiting for Richard, and partly because of my exhaustion-induced escape into the endless depths of the internet. Because even that can become boring after a while (who would have thought that). At the same time, I have become aware that I will probably never have so much (potentially useful) time in my life again. I should be out there in nature, jumping around, climbing mountains, swimming in the sea, reading books, writing books (why not), acquiring incredible amounts of knowledge, or maybe learning Elvish or something... whatever. But somehow, I don't muster the strength for that. Or do I not have to? Maybe I actually deserve to completely relax after a long day's work and let myself be entertained by series/youtube videos and do nothing more than that. In any case, I feel like I'm slowly suffocating here. Which (in my defense) is also a bit due to Akaroa, which is stunningly beautiful but really small and overwhelming in its smallness. And exploring the Banks Peninsula, the peninsula on which Akaroa is located, is best done by car, which we don't have. But in the end, we won't stay here forever and in about a month, we can leave the mundane work routine behind.

I admire those who have been working here for years and who will possibly continue to live like this for many more years or even decades. Now I understand why our colleagues have become like a small family and why so many couples have formed among them. Work becomes your life, there is not much outside of work. Even I sometimes look forward to work just to be around people. This definitely scares me a bit about the future, when the REAL work routine begins and I have firmly resolved to find a job that I really enjoy 100% and move somewhere where I can find fulfillment outside of work as well (those who are already fully integrated into working life are now probably smiling sympathetically and thinking, 'We all wanted that once, sweetheart')...

Well, enough complaining for now, because finally there is something to report! And it's not about boredom, work routine, or existential crises! I promise you New Zealand nature of the finest kind with a touch of adventure and an explorer's charm, and I have proof that I'm not completely wasted/desocialized (I can even prove it with photos). Last Monday, I borrowed some kayaks with my German work-and-travel colleague Anna and a few Germans and French people from her hostel to explore the surrounding landscape by water. It was simply breathtakingly beautiful. The sun was shining, the water was clear and turquoise, and there wasn't a soul in sight for miles. A perfect moment to leave behind the thoughts that constantly revolve around work and to switch off. But see for yourself! Additionally, Richi and I have firmly decided to try out one of the surrounding hiking trails on our next day off (tomorrow). Reports and pictures about that will follow in the next blog entry...

And what else is there to report? Well, at work, we have settled in quite well. I know where everything goes and where everything can be found, how to properly roll cutlery into a napkin, how to prepare a garnish on a plate or a milkshake, how to properly present a bottle of wine, and FINALLY, I also know how to properly open the parasols on the terrace (so that finally solves the last mystery...). I have learned a whole bunch of new words, with lettuce (pronounced lettis, which means salad, but not the prepared salad, but rather simple salad leaves) probably being my new favorite word. We have our little jokes with the colleagues (each of them has a more or less large quirk) and we know some of their personal matters.

It is definitely very interesting to get a glimpse behind the scenes of a restaurant, or rather behind the swinging door that the waiters enter from the kitchen into the restaurant with acrobatic balance and carrying three plates. Behind that door, there is definitely a lot of hustle and bustle, I can tell you that. I have gained a huge respect for the profession of a waiter. Here is a little case study of how it probably happens several times a day:

New guests enter the restaurant. I ask if they are here for lunch or just want a drink. Lunch? Alright. I seat the four-member family at a table and give them the lunch menu and some water. Could they also have the children's menu? Of course. Just as I am about to fetch it, my colleague's call draws my attention to the fact that some coffees need to be brought to the guests. That has priority. From the corner of my eye, I see new guests taking a seat in my area. As I bring the coffee to the right table, a customer complains that she asked for cinnamon on her coffee, not cocoa. I take the coffee back. A colleague points out that a table in the outdoor area needs to be cleared because seagulls are already devouring the leftover food. Coffee placed, problem reported. Now quickly clear the table. A guest calls out to me if he could have the Wi-Fi password. Sure, I'll bring it to you. Another guest wants to see the bill. Sure, I'll bring it to you. What was it again? Children's menu, Wi-Fi password, bill... I murmur to myself. A fully loaded colleague informs me in passing that he has already taken the drink order from table so and so. Alright.DING it sounds from the kitchen. Bringing the food to the guests is top priority. I rush into the kitchen, put down what I have in my hands, and take the food. Ouch, the plates are damn hot! Okay, everything done. A brief moment to catch my breath and I can fulfill all customers' wishes. Would you like something to drink? A Sauvignon Blanc Oyster Bay, please. 150 ml or 250 ml? 150, please. I search for the right wine on my tablet, with which I take the orders. It feels like hours later when I find it among the thousands of other types of wine (and that even BEFORE the screen of the device turns black). And to eat? Well... I would like the cheeseburger, but without cheese, without onions, without meat, and can it also be gluten-free? Oh no, wait, then I'll take the seafood chowder... After all guests have made their decisions, I send the order to the kitchen. Now I have to check if the order has arrived correctly in the kitchen, and I must not forget the cutlery, and I still have a reservation in ten minutes for which I have to set up the table... But then it sounds again: 'coffee to take'...

As you can see, it can get quite busy. But what I really love about being a waitress are the guests. Because for the most part, they are really friendly and accommodating and they all want to know where I come from and what my future travel plans are. The other day, I chatted a bit with a very nice New Zealand/Australian couple about traveling (my journey and the journey of their son, who will soon go on a school trip to Germany). In the end, the man put a 20-dollar bill in my hand with the words 'travel money'. Or the other day, in a quieter moment, an older gentleman spent a good 10 minutes telling me about his trip to Eastern Europe before the fall of the Berlin Wall and how he did something on the black market (unfortunately, I didn't fully understand that as he mumbled a bit). Sympathetic guy. But it looks like I have temporarily hung up my career as a waitress and can now pursue my career as a dishwasher/milkshake maker at the Deli, because that's where I'm currently more needed.

There is one more piece of news. For some time now, we have had a new roommate, who started working as a chef at Bully's. Pawan. Pawan from India. He is about 21, wears a turban, listens to Indian music nonstop, and sings along loudly, cooks Indian food in the evenings, and often has very energetic conversations with his relatives and friends on the phone in some very energetic Indian language. Sometimes, he starts singing out of the blue. He's practically a human embodiment of a Bollywood movie. Sometimes, he starts laughing suddenly and with no apparent reason. That's a bit creepy (but also cute-creepy). He is also a big football fan and can name all the names of the German national team (better than us!), which he proudly demonstrated to us. He's really very cute.

Okay, after receiving a few complaints from the computer keyboard that I should finally stop hammering and that my fingers probably won't be untied until tomorrow, I have no choice but to wish you a good night or a good day (depending on where you are in the world). Pictures will follow later, promised (also for some of the other entries).

Take care and do better.

Until then,

Richi and Maggi, Monday 6th March 2017, Akaroa 9:12 pm