Monday 26 October 2009

What I miss


Skating in Swindon

Last night as I was working, I got to talking to a lady on the bus. Somehow (I don't recall how) we got to the subject of what I missed about living and working in England. Now, first I think I need to give you a little background information.

I moved to England in 1992, almost straight after the Club Med winter season in Tignes-Val Claret. It was the beginning of June and I arrived with two overloaded suitcases. I was shown to my room at the back of the kitchen and loved the fact that I had my own bathroom. By the end of June I hadn't made many friends yet, but it was my birthday anyway. No money, no friends, not even a phone-call from home to wish me happy birthday: I was miserable. Fortunately it picked up though. I was invited to my boss's home for a barbecue, I started hanging out with the other foreigners working in the restaurant (I worked at reception) and slowly I began to find my place.

In early spring of 1993 I got fired from being a receptionist on account of my English: it was too good! I was allowed to stay in the hotel and chose to work in the restaurant, where I stayed until October 1994. I made friends with several of the waitresses and waiters, I always had my lunch at the same table as the gardeners and maids, I passed my driving test and got a car. I was happy.

However, during the summer of 1994, my happiness was diminished. My male Italian colleagues found it quite hard to work for a woman apparently and during work it was often hard for them to do as I told them to. Besides that, because of my elevated status I wasn't allowed to do any of the 'fun' stuff anymore. Every day was the same. By late September the stress was really getting to me. I drank coffee as if it was water, which in turn gave me massive migraines. I had to go home on one or two occasions because of it. When I went on holiday to Ibiza early October, the only thing I could think of was: "I've got to back to work in two weeks". And not in a good way. After my return, I wrote a letter of resignation and on November 1st I left.

I arrived home on November 2nd and immediately knew I had made a massive mistake. During the Christmas period I was homesick and living at home was (apart from getting to know my sister) not all it's cracked up to be!

So, what do I miss? The camaraderie, the togetherness, the fun after work. I had it during my two seasons working for Club Med and I had it in England. And I miss it. I love being on my own, but the fun and laughter and 'we're all in this together'-feeling is something I would love to have again!

4 comments:

  1. I imagine that I would miss that too. I don't work and I do miss all the customers I got to know in the store I worked at. Glad you got to know your sister better, that is a good thing!

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  2. Any job has its good and bad points. Sometimes, I miss teaching but not the job of teaching if that makes sense.

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  3. YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF THAT YOU HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR AND THE SADNESS YOU HAVE GOTTEN ON THE WAY HAS MADE YOU WHO YOU ARE AS WELL AS THE GOOD TIMES
    I AM BLESSED TO HAVE YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE SO FAR AWAY
    YOU ARE A WOMAN WITH GOALS AND I LOVE TO SEE THE DIRECTIONS YOU ARE GOING ON YOUR OWN! YOU ARE AN INDEPENDENT PERSON, GIVE YOURSELF ABIG PAT ON THE BACK! AND THE B DAY YOU DIDNT GET A CALL ON HERE IT IS:
    RING RING
    HELLO
    HAPPY B DAY TO YOU
    HAPPY B DAY TO YOU
    HAPPY LATE B DAY MY FRIEND
    HAPPY B DAY TO YOU!!!!
    BALOONS!
    CONFETTI!
    PARTY HATS!
    PARTY HORNS!

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  4. It's hard to believe that sometimes we don't realize how much fun we were having until it's over. I can see why you miss it.

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!