Description
After two months on the road with friends, it's back to reality. I’m settling in Blenheim to work at a campsite. On the menu for this new chapter: a noisy construction site, a cold boss, and colleagues with surprising life stories.
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
After two months on the road with friends, it's back to reality. I'm settling in Blenheim to work at the campsite. On the menu for this new chapter, a noisy construction site, a cold boss and colleagues with surprising life stories. Chapter 11: Each day has enough trouble on its own. After Christchurch, it was time for me to take flight and get back to work. My savings were dwindling, but I still had enough to keep moving. However, I wanted to take the opportunity to give my bank account a little health check. So after two months of traveling with my crew, I said my goodbyes and headed toward Benelm. I had received a positive response for a housekeeping position. My main task, making beds in a holiday park, cleaning the common areas and general scrubbing. I arrived early for my interview and headed straight to the reception. Hello, I'm looking for Liam.
Hello, that's me. You're Sebastian?
He asked. Yes, that's me. I'm a bit early, sorry.
Can you come back in 10 minutes as agreed?
yeah, no problem. I step outside and wait passionately, while a bastard of a wind repeatedly slaps me in the face. My interviewer doesn't even look busy. I can see him through the window making himself a coffee. Liam is in his 40s, though he doesn't look like it. Of Chinese origin, his face seems untouched by time. His bowl cut, on the other hand, looks like it was plucked from another era. His small glasses constantly slide down his nose, and he's forever adjusting them. Once the 10 minutes are up, He signals for me to follow him into his office behind the counter. He sits down and tells me to go find a chair from behind the reception desk. I obey, already finding his attitude grating. He grabs my CV and starts scanning it.
You don't really have any experience in housekeeping.
He points out. No, unfortunately, but I'm in my bed every day, you know. I joke. Liam doesn't even crack a smile. On the other hand, I'm a fast learner and I can work independently. My adaptability is my strength and I plan to stay for at least two months if you hire me.
Do you have a car?
If you let me stay here for free, I can park on the site and come to work every day, no problem. Lyme seems convinced and gives me the ground tour. The place is big, not massive, but it holds a lot. 12 standard rooms, 8 with kitchen, 8 with private bathrooms, 2 studios and a lodge with 12-door rooms. Plus the shower blocks, the lounge and the kitchen. On top of that, there's that vast camping area with power and unpower side. There are barbecues, benches, noisy ducks, curious waka birds, dozens of rabbits and a massive construction site. The bridge that takes people off the highway into Blenheim sits right above the camp. They're building a new one and of course it's taking forever. The work has only just begun. I'm guaranteed to be woken up at 7am every morning.
That won't bother you, I imagine.
Liam asks with a smirk, as if testing my breaking point. Nah, no problem, I reply firmly. Now what about the housing? Can I park my van and stay here for free? We strike a deal. I pay him two weeks rent, which he will keep as a deposit, and return when I leave. It's his guarantee that I will stay the full two months. The next day, the work begins. I'm paired with Ash. She's quite a character. In her 50s, face marbled life, a slight scar on her nose, and a guarded expression. She's the one who's supposed to train me.
Where are you from?
She asks nonchalantly. Belgium. Near France and Germany?
Ah, is that where all the drugs are?
Er, no, that's the Netherlands.
Alright, shame.
She cites. I keep quiet and listen to her instruction. Ash presents herself as the star of the holiday park.
I'm the fastest one here. Standard room like this, I can do five before the break. It does an hour and a half.
She reminds me. I'm impressed. Even if the rooms are small, there are still three beds to make, dusting to do, vacuuming, and windows to clean that are thick with condensation. It's 10.30 a.m. Time for smoko the famous 15-minute break. Ash leads me to the break room and whisper as we pass another colleague.
You see that woman? That's Beth. She's slow. Unbelievable. By the time I finish her room, she's still stripping the whole sheets. She has to be doing it on purpose. Watch out for her.
We gather in a room to reception for coffee and biscuit provided by Liam. I try to throw a few words of Mandarin at my boss to spark a conversation. Without a hint of warm, he snaps back a long sentence. I tell him, still in Mandarin, that he's speaking too fast for me.
Well, didn't you stay six months in Taiwan? You didn't learn much then.
I nod, embarrassed, feeling a surge of dislike for him. He's cold, condescending and frankly a bit of a prick to his staff. Then there's Ben, 65, dressed in blue over roads. He's the park's handyman. He chops wood, fixes leaks, mows the lawn, builds the playground, you name it. He immediately asks where I'm from, and then, just like Ash, he monopolizes my attention. A former helicopter pilot, he lived life at 100 mph. He was a big backpacker back in the day, traveling across the US and Mexico.
Then, around H35, I felt like I'd done everything I wanted to do. I came here and asked for a room in exchange for a little work. 30 years later, here I am.
He says, I'm stunned. Ben has a salary now, but he has lived in one of those tiny standard rooms for 30 years. Christ, how does he do it? I get bored so easily, I can't imagine staying in the same place doing the same thing for that long. The break is over, I head back out with Ash.
Watch out for Liam.
She warns.
The guy isn't reliable. One time, the previous owner's dog bit me and tore off a piece of my nose. Look, look, I still have the scar.
She says. pointing to the mark I had noticed earlier. ouch. I reacted.
Oh, you know, life hasn't been kind to me. I'm homeless. I live in my car with my dog, Colleen. I was lucky to get a contract here. I'm saving up for a carillon. You will be easier than the car.
As the day goes on, Hache proves to be an unstoppable talker. Her stories are a relentless stream of misery. She shows me an electronic monitor strapped to her ankle and tells me she has a few more months to go.
I didn't do anything to deserve this.
She says, eyes welling up.
I survived cancer and lost all my hair. Now I have this short cut with extension.
It was the peak of a mountain of sadness. When the ship finally ends, I have only one desire, to hide in my van and think of nothing. Ash, without meaning to, is a bowl of negative energy. I mean, it's understandable given what she's been through, but it's impossible to change the subject or talk about anything other than her. What had I gotten myself into this time? And I was only day one.
Description
After two months on the road with friends, it's back to reality. I’m settling in Blenheim to work at a campsite. On the menu for this new chapter: a noisy construction site, a cold boss, and colleagues with surprising life stories.
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
After two months on the road with friends, it's back to reality. I'm settling in Blenheim to work at the campsite. On the menu for this new chapter, a noisy construction site, a cold boss and colleagues with surprising life stories. Chapter 11: Each day has enough trouble on its own. After Christchurch, it was time for me to take flight and get back to work. My savings were dwindling, but I still had enough to keep moving. However, I wanted to take the opportunity to give my bank account a little health check. So after two months of traveling with my crew, I said my goodbyes and headed toward Benelm. I had received a positive response for a housekeeping position. My main task, making beds in a holiday park, cleaning the common areas and general scrubbing. I arrived early for my interview and headed straight to the reception. Hello, I'm looking for Liam.
Hello, that's me. You're Sebastian?
He asked. Yes, that's me. I'm a bit early, sorry.
Can you come back in 10 minutes as agreed?
yeah, no problem. I step outside and wait passionately, while a bastard of a wind repeatedly slaps me in the face. My interviewer doesn't even look busy. I can see him through the window making himself a coffee. Liam is in his 40s, though he doesn't look like it. Of Chinese origin, his face seems untouched by time. His bowl cut, on the other hand, looks like it was plucked from another era. His small glasses constantly slide down his nose, and he's forever adjusting them. Once the 10 minutes are up, He signals for me to follow him into his office behind the counter. He sits down and tells me to go find a chair from behind the reception desk. I obey, already finding his attitude grating. He grabs my CV and starts scanning it.
You don't really have any experience in housekeeping.
He points out. No, unfortunately, but I'm in my bed every day, you know. I joke. Liam doesn't even crack a smile. On the other hand, I'm a fast learner and I can work independently. My adaptability is my strength and I plan to stay for at least two months if you hire me.
Do you have a car?
If you let me stay here for free, I can park on the site and come to work every day, no problem. Lyme seems convinced and gives me the ground tour. The place is big, not massive, but it holds a lot. 12 standard rooms, 8 with kitchen, 8 with private bathrooms, 2 studios and a lodge with 12-door rooms. Plus the shower blocks, the lounge and the kitchen. On top of that, there's that vast camping area with power and unpower side. There are barbecues, benches, noisy ducks, curious waka birds, dozens of rabbits and a massive construction site. The bridge that takes people off the highway into Blenheim sits right above the camp. They're building a new one and of course it's taking forever. The work has only just begun. I'm guaranteed to be woken up at 7am every morning.
That won't bother you, I imagine.
Liam asks with a smirk, as if testing my breaking point. Nah, no problem, I reply firmly. Now what about the housing? Can I park my van and stay here for free? We strike a deal. I pay him two weeks rent, which he will keep as a deposit, and return when I leave. It's his guarantee that I will stay the full two months. The next day, the work begins. I'm paired with Ash. She's quite a character. In her 50s, face marbled life, a slight scar on her nose, and a guarded expression. She's the one who's supposed to train me.
Where are you from?
She asks nonchalantly. Belgium. Near France and Germany?
Ah, is that where all the drugs are?
Er, no, that's the Netherlands.
Alright, shame.
She cites. I keep quiet and listen to her instruction. Ash presents herself as the star of the holiday park.
I'm the fastest one here. Standard room like this, I can do five before the break. It does an hour and a half.
She reminds me. I'm impressed. Even if the rooms are small, there are still three beds to make, dusting to do, vacuuming, and windows to clean that are thick with condensation. It's 10.30 a.m. Time for smoko the famous 15-minute break. Ash leads me to the break room and whisper as we pass another colleague.
You see that woman? That's Beth. She's slow. Unbelievable. By the time I finish her room, she's still stripping the whole sheets. She has to be doing it on purpose. Watch out for her.
We gather in a room to reception for coffee and biscuit provided by Liam. I try to throw a few words of Mandarin at my boss to spark a conversation. Without a hint of warm, he snaps back a long sentence. I tell him, still in Mandarin, that he's speaking too fast for me.
Well, didn't you stay six months in Taiwan? You didn't learn much then.
I nod, embarrassed, feeling a surge of dislike for him. He's cold, condescending and frankly a bit of a prick to his staff. Then there's Ben, 65, dressed in blue over roads. He's the park's handyman. He chops wood, fixes leaks, mows the lawn, builds the playground, you name it. He immediately asks where I'm from, and then, just like Ash, he monopolizes my attention. A former helicopter pilot, he lived life at 100 mph. He was a big backpacker back in the day, traveling across the US and Mexico.
Then, around H35, I felt like I'd done everything I wanted to do. I came here and asked for a room in exchange for a little work. 30 years later, here I am.
He says, I'm stunned. Ben has a salary now, but he has lived in one of those tiny standard rooms for 30 years. Christ, how does he do it? I get bored so easily, I can't imagine staying in the same place doing the same thing for that long. The break is over, I head back out with Ash.
Watch out for Liam.
She warns.
The guy isn't reliable. One time, the previous owner's dog bit me and tore off a piece of my nose. Look, look, I still have the scar.
She says. pointing to the mark I had noticed earlier. ouch. I reacted.
Oh, you know, life hasn't been kind to me. I'm homeless. I live in my car with my dog, Colleen. I was lucky to get a contract here. I'm saving up for a carillon. You will be easier than the car.
As the day goes on, Hache proves to be an unstoppable talker. Her stories are a relentless stream of misery. She shows me an electronic monitor strapped to her ankle and tells me she has a few more months to go.
I didn't do anything to deserve this.
She says, eyes welling up.
I survived cancer and lost all my hair. Now I have this short cut with extension.
It was the peak of a mountain of sadness. When the ship finally ends, I have only one desire, to hide in my van and think of nothing. Ash, without meaning to, is a bowl of negative energy. I mean, it's understandable given what she's been through, but it's impossible to change the subject or talk about anything other than her. What had I gotten myself into this time? And I was only day one.
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Description
After two months on the road with friends, it's back to reality. I’m settling in Blenheim to work at a campsite. On the menu for this new chapter: a noisy construction site, a cold boss, and colleagues with surprising life stories.
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
After two months on the road with friends, it's back to reality. I'm settling in Blenheim to work at the campsite. On the menu for this new chapter, a noisy construction site, a cold boss and colleagues with surprising life stories. Chapter 11: Each day has enough trouble on its own. After Christchurch, it was time for me to take flight and get back to work. My savings were dwindling, but I still had enough to keep moving. However, I wanted to take the opportunity to give my bank account a little health check. So after two months of traveling with my crew, I said my goodbyes and headed toward Benelm. I had received a positive response for a housekeeping position. My main task, making beds in a holiday park, cleaning the common areas and general scrubbing. I arrived early for my interview and headed straight to the reception. Hello, I'm looking for Liam.
Hello, that's me. You're Sebastian?
He asked. Yes, that's me. I'm a bit early, sorry.
Can you come back in 10 minutes as agreed?
yeah, no problem. I step outside and wait passionately, while a bastard of a wind repeatedly slaps me in the face. My interviewer doesn't even look busy. I can see him through the window making himself a coffee. Liam is in his 40s, though he doesn't look like it. Of Chinese origin, his face seems untouched by time. His bowl cut, on the other hand, looks like it was plucked from another era. His small glasses constantly slide down his nose, and he's forever adjusting them. Once the 10 minutes are up, He signals for me to follow him into his office behind the counter. He sits down and tells me to go find a chair from behind the reception desk. I obey, already finding his attitude grating. He grabs my CV and starts scanning it.
You don't really have any experience in housekeeping.
He points out. No, unfortunately, but I'm in my bed every day, you know. I joke. Liam doesn't even crack a smile. On the other hand, I'm a fast learner and I can work independently. My adaptability is my strength and I plan to stay for at least two months if you hire me.
Do you have a car?
If you let me stay here for free, I can park on the site and come to work every day, no problem. Lyme seems convinced and gives me the ground tour. The place is big, not massive, but it holds a lot. 12 standard rooms, 8 with kitchen, 8 with private bathrooms, 2 studios and a lodge with 12-door rooms. Plus the shower blocks, the lounge and the kitchen. On top of that, there's that vast camping area with power and unpower side. There are barbecues, benches, noisy ducks, curious waka birds, dozens of rabbits and a massive construction site. The bridge that takes people off the highway into Blenheim sits right above the camp. They're building a new one and of course it's taking forever. The work has only just begun. I'm guaranteed to be woken up at 7am every morning.
That won't bother you, I imagine.
Liam asks with a smirk, as if testing my breaking point. Nah, no problem, I reply firmly. Now what about the housing? Can I park my van and stay here for free? We strike a deal. I pay him two weeks rent, which he will keep as a deposit, and return when I leave. It's his guarantee that I will stay the full two months. The next day, the work begins. I'm paired with Ash. She's quite a character. In her 50s, face marbled life, a slight scar on her nose, and a guarded expression. She's the one who's supposed to train me.
Where are you from?
She asks nonchalantly. Belgium. Near France and Germany?
Ah, is that where all the drugs are?
Er, no, that's the Netherlands.
Alright, shame.
She cites. I keep quiet and listen to her instruction. Ash presents herself as the star of the holiday park.
I'm the fastest one here. Standard room like this, I can do five before the break. It does an hour and a half.
She reminds me. I'm impressed. Even if the rooms are small, there are still three beds to make, dusting to do, vacuuming, and windows to clean that are thick with condensation. It's 10.30 a.m. Time for smoko the famous 15-minute break. Ash leads me to the break room and whisper as we pass another colleague.
You see that woman? That's Beth. She's slow. Unbelievable. By the time I finish her room, she's still stripping the whole sheets. She has to be doing it on purpose. Watch out for her.
We gather in a room to reception for coffee and biscuit provided by Liam. I try to throw a few words of Mandarin at my boss to spark a conversation. Without a hint of warm, he snaps back a long sentence. I tell him, still in Mandarin, that he's speaking too fast for me.
Well, didn't you stay six months in Taiwan? You didn't learn much then.
I nod, embarrassed, feeling a surge of dislike for him. He's cold, condescending and frankly a bit of a prick to his staff. Then there's Ben, 65, dressed in blue over roads. He's the park's handyman. He chops wood, fixes leaks, mows the lawn, builds the playground, you name it. He immediately asks where I'm from, and then, just like Ash, he monopolizes my attention. A former helicopter pilot, he lived life at 100 mph. He was a big backpacker back in the day, traveling across the US and Mexico.
Then, around H35, I felt like I'd done everything I wanted to do. I came here and asked for a room in exchange for a little work. 30 years later, here I am.
He says, I'm stunned. Ben has a salary now, but he has lived in one of those tiny standard rooms for 30 years. Christ, how does he do it? I get bored so easily, I can't imagine staying in the same place doing the same thing for that long. The break is over, I head back out with Ash.
Watch out for Liam.
She warns.
The guy isn't reliable. One time, the previous owner's dog bit me and tore off a piece of my nose. Look, look, I still have the scar.
She says. pointing to the mark I had noticed earlier. ouch. I reacted.
Oh, you know, life hasn't been kind to me. I'm homeless. I live in my car with my dog, Colleen. I was lucky to get a contract here. I'm saving up for a carillon. You will be easier than the car.
As the day goes on, Hache proves to be an unstoppable talker. Her stories are a relentless stream of misery. She shows me an electronic monitor strapped to her ankle and tells me she has a few more months to go.
I didn't do anything to deserve this.
She says, eyes welling up.
I survived cancer and lost all my hair. Now I have this short cut with extension.
It was the peak of a mountain of sadness. When the ship finally ends, I have only one desire, to hide in my van and think of nothing. Ash, without meaning to, is a bowl of negative energy. I mean, it's understandable given what she's been through, but it's impossible to change the subject or talk about anything other than her. What had I gotten myself into this time? And I was only day one.
Description
After two months on the road with friends, it's back to reality. I’m settling in Blenheim to work at a campsite. On the menu for this new chapter: a noisy construction site, a cold boss, and colleagues with surprising life stories.
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
After two months on the road with friends, it's back to reality. I'm settling in Blenheim to work at the campsite. On the menu for this new chapter, a noisy construction site, a cold boss and colleagues with surprising life stories. Chapter 11: Each day has enough trouble on its own. After Christchurch, it was time for me to take flight and get back to work. My savings were dwindling, but I still had enough to keep moving. However, I wanted to take the opportunity to give my bank account a little health check. So after two months of traveling with my crew, I said my goodbyes and headed toward Benelm. I had received a positive response for a housekeeping position. My main task, making beds in a holiday park, cleaning the common areas and general scrubbing. I arrived early for my interview and headed straight to the reception. Hello, I'm looking for Liam.
Hello, that's me. You're Sebastian?
He asked. Yes, that's me. I'm a bit early, sorry.
Can you come back in 10 minutes as agreed?
yeah, no problem. I step outside and wait passionately, while a bastard of a wind repeatedly slaps me in the face. My interviewer doesn't even look busy. I can see him through the window making himself a coffee. Liam is in his 40s, though he doesn't look like it. Of Chinese origin, his face seems untouched by time. His bowl cut, on the other hand, looks like it was plucked from another era. His small glasses constantly slide down his nose, and he's forever adjusting them. Once the 10 minutes are up, He signals for me to follow him into his office behind the counter. He sits down and tells me to go find a chair from behind the reception desk. I obey, already finding his attitude grating. He grabs my CV and starts scanning it.
You don't really have any experience in housekeeping.
He points out. No, unfortunately, but I'm in my bed every day, you know. I joke. Liam doesn't even crack a smile. On the other hand, I'm a fast learner and I can work independently. My adaptability is my strength and I plan to stay for at least two months if you hire me.
Do you have a car?
If you let me stay here for free, I can park on the site and come to work every day, no problem. Lyme seems convinced and gives me the ground tour. The place is big, not massive, but it holds a lot. 12 standard rooms, 8 with kitchen, 8 with private bathrooms, 2 studios and a lodge with 12-door rooms. Plus the shower blocks, the lounge and the kitchen. On top of that, there's that vast camping area with power and unpower side. There are barbecues, benches, noisy ducks, curious waka birds, dozens of rabbits and a massive construction site. The bridge that takes people off the highway into Blenheim sits right above the camp. They're building a new one and of course it's taking forever. The work has only just begun. I'm guaranteed to be woken up at 7am every morning.
That won't bother you, I imagine.
Liam asks with a smirk, as if testing my breaking point. Nah, no problem, I reply firmly. Now what about the housing? Can I park my van and stay here for free? We strike a deal. I pay him two weeks rent, which he will keep as a deposit, and return when I leave. It's his guarantee that I will stay the full two months. The next day, the work begins. I'm paired with Ash. She's quite a character. In her 50s, face marbled life, a slight scar on her nose, and a guarded expression. She's the one who's supposed to train me.
Where are you from?
She asks nonchalantly. Belgium. Near France and Germany?
Ah, is that where all the drugs are?
Er, no, that's the Netherlands.
Alright, shame.
She cites. I keep quiet and listen to her instruction. Ash presents herself as the star of the holiday park.
I'm the fastest one here. Standard room like this, I can do five before the break. It does an hour and a half.
She reminds me. I'm impressed. Even if the rooms are small, there are still three beds to make, dusting to do, vacuuming, and windows to clean that are thick with condensation. It's 10.30 a.m. Time for smoko the famous 15-minute break. Ash leads me to the break room and whisper as we pass another colleague.
You see that woman? That's Beth. She's slow. Unbelievable. By the time I finish her room, she's still stripping the whole sheets. She has to be doing it on purpose. Watch out for her.
We gather in a room to reception for coffee and biscuit provided by Liam. I try to throw a few words of Mandarin at my boss to spark a conversation. Without a hint of warm, he snaps back a long sentence. I tell him, still in Mandarin, that he's speaking too fast for me.
Well, didn't you stay six months in Taiwan? You didn't learn much then.
I nod, embarrassed, feeling a surge of dislike for him. He's cold, condescending and frankly a bit of a prick to his staff. Then there's Ben, 65, dressed in blue over roads. He's the park's handyman. He chops wood, fixes leaks, mows the lawn, builds the playground, you name it. He immediately asks where I'm from, and then, just like Ash, he monopolizes my attention. A former helicopter pilot, he lived life at 100 mph. He was a big backpacker back in the day, traveling across the US and Mexico.
Then, around H35, I felt like I'd done everything I wanted to do. I came here and asked for a room in exchange for a little work. 30 years later, here I am.
He says, I'm stunned. Ben has a salary now, but he has lived in one of those tiny standard rooms for 30 years. Christ, how does he do it? I get bored so easily, I can't imagine staying in the same place doing the same thing for that long. The break is over, I head back out with Ash.
Watch out for Liam.
She warns.
The guy isn't reliable. One time, the previous owner's dog bit me and tore off a piece of my nose. Look, look, I still have the scar.
She says. pointing to the mark I had noticed earlier. ouch. I reacted.
Oh, you know, life hasn't been kind to me. I'm homeless. I live in my car with my dog, Colleen. I was lucky to get a contract here. I'm saving up for a carillon. You will be easier than the car.
As the day goes on, Hache proves to be an unstoppable talker. Her stories are a relentless stream of misery. She shows me an electronic monitor strapped to her ankle and tells me she has a few more months to go.
I didn't do anything to deserve this.
She says, eyes welling up.
I survived cancer and lost all my hair. Now I have this short cut with extension.
It was the peak of a mountain of sadness. When the ship finally ends, I have only one desire, to hide in my van and think of nothing. Ash, without meaning to, is a bowl of negative energy. I mean, it's understandable given what she's been through, but it's impossible to change the subject or talk about anything other than her. What had I gotten myself into this time? And I was only day one.
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