When I started to write this blog in the first entry I mentioned that I was planning to spend sometime abroad during my year-off. At the end of November this chapter began.
30th
November, 2015
I had been planning for months to live and work abroad
for a while. Yesterday I left Csongrád at half past 7 in the morning and took a
bus to Budapest to meet the guy who drove 4 of us to Baden-Würtenberg, Germany.
Perhaps a car is the fastest and most convenient vehicle to travel to a little
German village in the heart of Black Forest. If there are 4 women who are
closed together in a car for 12 hours, it is obvious that we can listen to life
stories, get to know peculiar, sometimes pretty hard life situations. The two
middle aged women who travelled with us left their families behind to work in a
meat factory near the German-French border. They are working 16 hours per day
sometimes, live in overcrowded hostels just for making the ends meet, pay the
bills and loans they have at home. Here it is a “slice” from the Hungarian and
EU reality at the beginning of the 21th century beyond migration problems.
Comparing me and another woman sitting in the car we
are privileged. Working in a wellness hotel in a fabulous valley seems to be
whipped cream on a cake…however it is not definitely like this...
Well, my decision definitely has a different
background than most people who have chosen to lead this life.
I had a choice. I decided to give up my profession and
try myself in a new life situation. It is not the same as it was at the second
half of my 20’s. Then, after teaching a few years, I also took a year off. I
was so desperate that time. I wanted to escape and explore the opened world
where we could travel freely. I wanted to learn English.
That time my personality was still immature. I didn’t
know myself. During that year in the USA, NYC finally I learned English and in
parallel more or less I grew up. It also became obvious and important for me
that I am Hungarian. I am part of a Middle/East-European cultural circle which
is mine so deeply. This life experience
in abroad was at least as important as five years university studies.
So when I was sitting in the car on the way here,
Black Forest, that much younger me was in my mind. Anyway, I don’t speak the
country’s language again but at least I speak English. However, my mother
tongue, Hungarian is my forever love, the deepest element of my national
identity, learning another language is always exciting and challenging.
Next morning I’ll start working. And I will have my first German class here in
the evening.
I’ve just forgotten to mention: from my flat, on the 8th
floor the view is fantastic. I can see mountains and always listen to the stream.
1st December 2015
My first working day is over. Since being a pioneer I
haven’t wore a uniform. This is the 1st
time in my adulthood when I have to wear it which is basically a pretty one.
But something happened to me in the last few months or the German cloths
factory made a mistake...? Well, a mug’s witty subtitle “ No school, no job, no
problem” has worked at my case in the last few month. But my size is still M or 38/ 40 according to the European
standard. Maybe my ex-boyfriend wouldn’t call me ballerina nowadays according
to my shape but I’m not overweight at all...
To cut the long
story short, when I tried on my uniform the size 40 was so tiny… I got size 42
which is too long and a bit loose. Maybe I should have been a plus size model
instead of being a chambermaid… J
At least I could polish my nails…
I don’t think I should give any info about my job
after just one day impression. On one hand, I’m still learning… On the other
hand we have an ethical code as any workplace have.
Basically I have practise in working with women, even
in international team. I am doing it now, too. After spinning long hours
together it is great to relax in my little cozy flat, listening to the stream,
checking e-mails, blogging, relaxing. And I’ll have my first German class
tonight. Wish me luck!
2nd December
I started my day at 6.30 a.m. like yesterday. But
today the rainy weather was over. There was no flood in the basement anymore. Even
we could have enjoyed sunshine if we had had time.
While my hands were working my thought were around the
German language class. Our teacher is an 80 years old gentleman who is mentally
absolutely fresh and physically in a pretty good shape too. In his condition it
is really a blessing to reach this age even more. His class was just perfect
for me. There were 3 people there. Two of us have pre-intermediate level and
me, who is beginner.
I have to say the method was evergreen and perfect. He
gave different tasks for us according to our level. Even there was group work.
I got a special list of most frequented words we use in the hotel. My
colleagues’ practised new grammar structures but I was involved in it too. All
of us could follow and everybody learned stg new. It seemed to be very simple
and easy. But I know well how hard to reach this effect especially with adults
during an evening class. So congratulations.
I closed this day with a glass of dark German beer.
Just because I deserve it.:)
Tomorrow I will have a day-off. I’m planning to go to
the neighbouring town and in the afternoon I’ll definitely make pralines.
3rd December
Life sweet life when I’m
having a day-off. I could sleep till almost 9 a.m. When I woke up I was welcome
by this view on my balcony.
The morning flew away doing some house chores. In
the afternoon I took a bus to visit the neighbouring town. I travelled with
some primary school pupils. They were around 8 years old. Two little twin
sisters having dark brown eyes and thick shiny beautiful dark brown hair. And
some boys, some of them looked like little ones in Turkish “Suleiman” soap
opera. One of the boys offered me his seat when I gave mine to an elderly
couple. Hm, all of them were calm, not tired at all, well behaved and
absolutely cute. And one of the girls was looking for stg the same way in her
pink school bag as my niece always does.
When I arrived at the town first
I went to the tourist information centre to get some free maps. One of the
ladies had perfect English. She was nice, helpful and informative. In the
office there is an impressive collection of cuckoo clocks. Next time I’m going
to take photos of them.
After then I took a walk and
after a while decided to look for a supermarket. But where…? An Asian boy came
in front of me. It was a good idea to
stop him and ask info in English. He gave clear info in great English. Anyway, it
seems people usually speak some English in this Schwarzwald area and give info
nicely. Late afternoon I made some pralines with ginger-lemon filling. I’d like
to say thank you and gives them as little present to those ladies who are
working in the office in the hotel. Especially one of them was so helpful and
made my start here smooth.
4th December
One more day-off. I hope my housedame keeps it as a habit...
In the afternoon I’m going to
a swimming pool with a colleague of mine.
5th-6th
December
My timetable was different
during these two days. On Saturday I worked between 9 a.m. -13:30 p.m. and
16-21 p.m. On Saturday it was a bit different. From 9 till 14 and from 17 till 21.
I was afraid of working till so late. However, it was not as awful as I
expected. It depends on the company. I liked my co-workers both days. On
Saturday two young Portuguese girls, one Croatian and 2 Hungarian formed a
group. On Sunday there were three Hungarian and 2 Portuguese women together in
the evening group. Both days tired but laughing women left the hotel at 9 p.m.
And I assume I had some role in it :)
I’m still waiting for the
mechanic who will install my internet box. The box is here for days, the guy is
nowhere… It is not urgent for them. It was promised they would come within 3-4
working days. Well it was said on Wednesday and today is Tuesday. So far I
haven’t experienced that legendary German punctuality. The streets are clean,
garbage is collected selectively. There are many solar panels on the roofs.
People are not in a hurry except at my workplace.
In the last 15 years I have
already been to many hotels as a guest. In the USA, Belgium, Portugal, Austria,
Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Check Republic, Greece. I
had great time in simple guesthouses, was amazed from the Portuguese wellness
hotel and got dirty bathroom in the heart of Brussels in Hotel Marriot. A five star hotel, any of them is about
luxury. I like nice, cosy interieur, pampering wellness centres with
jaccuzies and thermal water. But the way how a five star hotel
like this working is pretty far about let’s say “sustainability”. It means wasting water, energy etc.
Why shall we change the
guests’ bedclothes in every second days? On the first day – just carefully – I asked
one of the Hungarian colleagues whether we are green here I mean we use
environmentally friendly cleaning materials and change just those towels which
are on the floor as I experienced in some hotels. The answer: What? Forget
about it. The magic chemical in Germany is spiritus. Like Windex in America. To
be honest I haven’t felt the smell of spiritus since my childhood. Our
chemistry teacher used it in Bunseng-heaters.
In the afternoon I looked for
a touristic path. While I was walking up I realised I packed my old pair of
sticks instead of the new one… I can’t believe it… one of them doesn’t work
well. But finally it didn’t influence me admiring the beautiful fur/pine trees,
the landscape and enjoying the fresh air.
Today, on 9th
December I have started my full working week. Thanks for the last evening
German class more or less I know those words which are the most frequently used
during making the rooms ready. One of our housdama was so happy and satisfied
with me when she realized it while she was checking us.
It is getting late. I won't start early tomorrow morning but still should learn some new German words... Chüss!
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