Bon Voyage and hello America Vol.II

So, the last time that I spoke to you about the land-of-the-NOT-so-free I was busy trying to adapt. All that I can say is that it feels as though months instead of two weeks have passed.
Things are incredibly cheap here. We go to the Wal-Mart that is the size of Makro; open 24/7 and have just about everything. Although, I must admit, I can understand the reason for the Americans looking the way that they do. They really try to kill you with variety!

We have humming birds and squirrels in the gardens here so the shops sell all these feeders and treats for them. The squirrels are really cute and extremely naughty because they eat EVERYTHING.

The beaches here are very small in comparison to the beaches in SA. The water is cold, and flat. No waves, no surfing. Really disappointing. Some beaches here allow alcohol and some don't. So, that is ok. The sand is white and clean and the sun here is potent. You should have seen the kids that were here for spring break - burnt like the English in our summer in SA. Sickly pink. You would think that the people in a first world country would understand the dangers of the sun a little more. But no.

The Brazilians here are a lot. They are so friendly, but the sad thing is that many of them are only money orientated and not in the job for the love of it. They simply do what is required of them and no more. No concept of making sure that everything is done properly or of working for a promotion. A lot like the nation that is running our country...

Heard about the elections. Good luck guys.

There is a Brazilian guy here that also works for my company and he is the computer technician. He speaks very poor English - when he manages to speak it at all. He is also engaged to someone back home, so we tend to hang out together and we even try to have a coherent conversation. Sometimes it works and sometimes I feel like I need a phrase book or a translator.

My boss is extremely nice. I really like her and she does so much for me and for the community. What I really like about working for her is that I get crosstrained in so many areas that my cv will really start looking impressive after this. It's like killing several birds with a one stones.

Apparently I sound either British or Australian. Good grief! I just want to sound South African. Is that too much to ask? Then there is the communication barrier with these REDNECKS. They are soo strange.

I work part-time for $7 per hour and get paid time and a half for anything over 40 hrs per week. I am currently eligible for that. Soon, I'll be able to buy a car!

I really enjoy my job. I am formally the cashier, and the seating hostess. All I do is ensure that there is always freshly brewed coffee and several pitchers of ice water. In America - I have found - that you can go to no restaurant without them filling you with water till you grow a second bladder or something. I close all the bills off (checks); cash off the waiters (servers) and work out the 3% tip that goes to the runners (bussers) and then I cash up the shop and bank the money. The cool part is that I still get to deal with the customers - up to a point, and when they get annoying I refer them to someone else, like their server. I also get to do Take Away orders. I have to make desserts, milkshakes and stuff like that. It's a lot of fun. Some people are really stupid though.

Oh! The place where I work is called Café Palm Breeze and it is situated in a hotel called Perdido Beach Resort. We have a breakfast bufet from 6 until 11 am or something. Then we serve lunch from a menu and then we are closed from 2-5pm. The night shift is from 4-10pm or later. Depending. I usually walk out at 11.

The restaurant next to ours is called Voyagers. Fine dining with a view - if you don't believe me, the manager has to wear a tux to work.

I get 40% discount on anything at the hotel. Probably not the alcohol, but we can eat at Voyegers minus 40%. Very cool.

I know it sounds as though I don't work a lot, but do bear in mind that I work at the office as well. So, in effect, I really do have two jobs. Seven days a week.

At the hotel we get 30 minutes break before work and the cafeteria has food for us for free. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I'd rather pay to have other food, because the food really does SMELL bad. I get nauseous just thinking about it. Nice idea, just don't let the health inspectors in there. They might close you down!

I find that I have become very patriotic towards South Africa, but I still don't think that I will be returning to live very soon. Not when the opportunity to travel is so big.

The laws here regarding alcohol and cigarettes are funny. For instance, you can't buy either one without having them check your ID if you look under 30. Really now!

We went to a bar last night called Nolans. (My boss and myself). The people there are all old though. Not 40s. 60s and up and they line dance. There is a live band but they are ok - if you like that kind of music obviously. The old men don't leave you alone, though. It's like: Go home! Leave me alone!

They close around 1. Then there is the Keg. They are open till really late and they draw the crowds from all over that still want to drink after 12/1 o'clock. Jeeze, the guys there are so touchy! They dance with me and then they try to get all fresh with me. Thank God I am engaged so that I have a really good excuse for them not to touch me. The one guy even had the audacity to tell me that I wanted to kiss him. I was really shocked. It's more like: I don't think so! Not in a million years or with a two-prong fork. Maybe a trident, so I can spear you to the wall and leave you there, yes. But kiss you? No.

So, I am having a lot of fun over here. I find that I can drink as little or as much as I want. It has no effect on me. The next morning, though, it feels as though I finished a bottle of tequila. This weather is not conducive to drinking. Not at all.

I get the pleasure of checking IDs at the restaurant as a hell of a lot of college students just arrived and they are all going to try to drink.

I must admit one thing, though. For the first time in my life I prefer to speak Afrikaans to myself and to people over the phone. No one understands me. It's not like in England where you speak Afrikaans to yourself and someone answers you back in Afrikaans.

I am probably the only South African here at the moment. There are one or two people that actually live here, but I haven't met them yet. So, I can actually speak Afrikaans to myself. Really effective.