Independence and Challenges

I am starting to enjoy the independent work more and more here in Les Baux. Working with the maintenance guy is not bad, and our Italian colleague’s patience and calmness are truly exemplary. And of course, the parties in the neighboring village are always great fun. This is how the days go by, and I am falling more and more in love with this little life in southern France.

This is the first week when I work independently, without supervision. On Wednesday, Francesco left specific instructions for my tasks. So, on Thursday and Friday, my only job was to follow the list. Essentially, I did gardening for two days. Of course, the director kindly asked me to always inform the reception (where the director’s office is located) about my whereabouts. It’s interesting that getting up early was not difficult for me to get used to. I feel like I was diligent, sorting mail and sweeping the terrace.

In the afternoon, I also went to the store, and in the evening, I visited a Jimmy Nelson exhibition in the former limestone quarry. A small curiosity: the staff food has been edible for three days now, how will I lose weight like this?

Saturday

Today, I am not in the kitchen but working with the maintenance guy. I swept the path in the morning – the same thing I did the day before. It doesn’t matter to me what I do, my pay is the same. In the afternoon, I painted our advertising boards.

Our maintenance guy is an unusually patient Italian guy; he drinks a coffee, then calmly sits down and waits for the coffee to take effect. For me, I drink when I start to feel sleepy because I know it takes about twenty to thirty minutes to take effect. Our brilliant Italian colleague sits down and waits for the coffee to take effect, he doesn’t rush, doesn’t hurry, doesn’t get nervous.

In the evening, another party in the neighboring village, Paradou, just like on Friday evening.

Les Baux, August 31, 2014, Saturday.