When it rains, it pours....

So I have just finished my fourth day of work at The Bakery and I am really tired, although I feel as though I have no room to complain, probably for a lot of reasons, but mainly because the owners and bakers seem to get no sleep at all. To make what could be a very long story, shorter, I am now working at a place called The Bakery. It just opened on Tuesday so it has been very hectic, but also a lot of fun. I am one of the only ones that knows how to make coffee so I am in charge of the fancy coffee machine, which I love, of course! The food is Italian, European, Belgian, inspired with crepes, paninis, waffles, tons of pastries, delicious pasta, and of course, coffee. It is really the first of its kind in this town so it is already a really popular place with expats and tourists. Martin, the owner in charge of everything front of house is very nice and accomodating to everyone working there. He asks our advice on how things should be done and what the prices should be. Both him and Mossi, the other owner and the one behind all the delicious food, are from Belgium and have lived and worked in this area for a long time. Martin pronounces my name "Kate-Trin" which I laugh about until I realize that I´m sure I pronounce his wrong too. I could go on for a very long time about everything that has to do with work, but right now I am very tired, since working at 630 this morning felt very early.

However, I love the job and I´m already learning a lot more Spanish, from the patrons, but probably more from the staff. It´s so cool to meet so many different people from all over. Our store has people from Argentina, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Caribbean side of Costa Rica, Belgium, Israel, and Canada. The people who come in are from all over the place and are all so friendly and already know each other. It makes me realize what a small town this is. I think Martin knows almost every single person who comes into the bakery. One of the bakers is also from Belgium and very enthusiastic every time we talk because he is trying to get better at English. He´s really patient when I ask him questions about what´s in all the pastries AND he just got a tiny little rottweiler puppy that is only six weeks old. His name is Aluha, or Ahula, I can´t remember, after a French candy. He hates to be left alone and and whines every time Cedric goes inside. So I went outside to clean with the intent of really going to play with the puppy and as soon as I got close to him, he sat down right on my feet and curled up! I really will try and put up pictures of everything soon!

In other news, it has been raining like crazy here lately! It´s almost a nonstop deluge that reminds me a lot of Charleston during hurricane season. The only difference is, here the roads are mud and gravel so rain makes everything you own muddy, sticky, and wet for days because it´s so humid nothing ever dries. Last night I was very tired after work and came home so frustrated with the lack of a washer and dryer! Although as soon as I was done washing my clothes, I laughed at myself because this is all part of the experience.

I´m not making much money, yet, but maybe more in the high season, which starts in between November and December. In the past two days, both pair of sandals I brought broke, so all the money I made yesterday I had to use to buy new sandals. I had just a little bit left over to get beans and rice for dinner. I was determined that once I started workinb I would not take any more money out of my American account. Although I know that´s not going to be a reality because rent is due in a week and I won´t make enough before then. Honestly, though, I felt fantastic getting off work yesterday. I didn´t have a lot of money left, but that made me feel, for the first time, like I actually lived here. It´s strange, but using all the money I made that day just to give myself the bare essentials was so satisfying, for some reason. I think it really made me appreciate the difference between what is necessary and what is just extranneous purchases because I have extra money I can´t stand holding onto.

A few nights ago, Davey and I went to our favorite (only one we really go to) bar in Santa Teresa. It´s the sports bar, conveniently, right across from The Bakery. I found out the first day we went in there that the bartender and owner went to College of Charleston. In fact, he´s back in Charleston right now! So seeing as how there are so few people in town right now, and even fewer that actually care about American sports, we knows the bartenders and all the other bar patrons really well. We´re even on a first name basis with the town drunk, as someone called him, which I think is kind of a cruel term. His name is Emilio, but he responds better to "Michael Jackson" because he can dance just like him! Well, Emilio thinks he can, but when you ask him to do the moonwalk, he kind of just wags his feet, but his Thriller dance is good! Anyway, we went to the bar just to watch a baseball game and it started pouring so hard that we ended up being there way longer than expected. We kept waiting for it to stop raining, but it didn´t. I had to be at work at 8 AM the following morning for the first day the store was open. After a while Davey and I decided to just run for it. I took off my shoes and we pretty much sprinted the half mile back to our house. Not that it really mattered because the second we stepped outside, we were soaked!

One thing I don´t miss at all about the US is my least favorite company (after Comcast), ATT. I was just charged a ridiculous amount for reasons I cannot fathom, especially considering that for almost this entire past billing cycle, and my last ever with them, thank goodness, I have been in Costa Rica, not using my phone. Anyway, that´s my rant. I´m still trying to figure out what to be for Halloween because I have a very limited budget and even less to work with! Any ideas, anyone? I might just roll around in the street for a while and go as a mud monster or something. I hope to get back to the blog again soon!