I wrote to Belgium tax authority to ask for extension for presenting
my tax papers for 2011. I could not believe my eyes when I got the reply
already in three hours! I had been half sure my email in English would get ignored,
so I would write again in French in a few weeks time. But I got an answer, a
positive one as well, in a flash. What has happened? This sudden efficiency is
curious. I hope it does not extend to
other areas, such as finding out that I have paid income tax in Australia while
being on “credit temps” and thus owe the State that and that amount of money.
Living here in the outback, I still try to keep up with what
is happening via BBC news channel. Australian news channel seems to focus on
sport. One morning when I was doing a breakfast shift, and there we are
supposed to have the TV on Fox News, I had to check twice if I had got the
right channel not the World Sports.
I guess if Estonia was any better in a) rugby b) Australian football
or c) cricket, more Australians would know about Estonia. Let me correct that,
have ever heard the name Estonia. It
still keeps blowing me away. Never heard. How many times a week I hear that? It was the same in Cherokee, North Carolina, US where I did working holiday.
But Australians have heard of Romania and Georgia as this is where they like to place Estonia. For them Romania and Georgia are neighbors anyway.\
But the winner is nevertheless the Swedish girl
who didn’t know where Estonia is situated. Big round of applause.
“Estonii” is my nickname here. Hotel manager calls me this
way, his name is Pete. Pete can sneak up on you at any given time and he more
often than not has something to comment. He has a big business to look after,
so I understand him from one angle, but we have had our moments which I found
hard to digest. As it was confirmed by one colleague, assistant manager of the
restaurant, who has a lot of experience in the hospitality sector – one the
lowest lever you are nobody. Don’t speak unless spoken to. I’m new to that role so I make mistakes.
Once I was in the kitchen polishing cutlery and Pete was
talking to the chef/manager of the kitchen and from what I could understand, a
new cook that they had hired seemed to have declined at the last moment. I was
curious about it, so I ask if this was the case. Pete turned to me and said “What
is it your business?” As I was catching my breath, he continued “You are only
interested if the new cook is good looking.”
I was totally taken aback and couldn’t say one word. Perhaps
I have basis for sexual harassment law suit?
The other time I did speak back when I was crossed by Pete.
That did not end well though. It was the end of breakfast shift so I was
closing down the breakfast area and before all the warm food gets wasted, I got
myself a plate and prepared a meal to take after I had finished. There comes
Pete and sees me with the plate in my hand “Who told you can have free breakfast?”
“Joe”
“One minute you are selling food to the customers and the
next minute taking it for yourself!?”
“What do you mean. You are joking right?”
Pete continued seriously whit the same line.
“It’s going to the bin afterwards. Is the bin worthier than
I?” I asked
He flipped. “You are getting very bold, Ene. Very bold.”
This whole thing left really bad taste in my mouth. But I
don’t mean to trash him here at all, I’m just saying I’m learning how to keep
my mouth shut and do the work. In July I can walk away with my savings. If I get fewer comments by changing the time
on my wristwatch so it matches my manager’s, it’s for my own benefit to do so. And
I must say, often when watching BBC news about situation in Greece/Spain etc, I’m
pretty glad to have landed this job over here. The conditions are pretty decent
with the free housing and all. Plenty of working hours (40-55) and my
personal pool teacher.
