I got complaints...

I've been hearing complaints from several sources that I haven't blogged for an ENTIRE week.  So here's the down and dirty.  When last I left you, I was eating (and drinking) copious amounts of Spanish specialties in Granada...and nothing has changed!

I am, for all intents and purposes, broke, so I've been working off my board at the Funky Backpacker for a few days.  I haven't been grocery shopping, so I eat breakfast just before it gets put away at 10 am, then clean rooms until they are all done (around 1730), then am a mega-witch until I get to eat.

Those of you who know what a doormat I can be would have been so proud of me.  I said no.  To my boss!

We had a group of 50 high school students/teachers coming from Poland today and so had- you guessed it- 50 beds to prepare along with cleaning for all the other guests.  The morning began at 0940 to the buzzing of the alarm, snagging toast by 1000 (No Nutella left! :( ), washing my face and brushing my teeth, packing up all my stuff and moving to another room, and starting on hauling about 20 huge 1'x3' bags of cereal, muesli, sugar, coffee, jam, bread, croissants and cases of milk to the 4th floor.  I never thought before about how much room a weeks supply of bread for 60 people takes up...

So after putting all the stuff away, it was on to cleaning rooms and setting up beds.  And more rooms.  And more beds.  For 7 hours.  Without stopping or eating.  I finally needed only 3 more sheet sets, which were still in the dryer.  I told Asia what was left and she asked me to check something on the 1st floor (2nd floor in most American buildings).  And here it comes "NO. I need to be done.  I haven't had a break or eaten since 1030.  I need to be done."  And she said okay.  And that was that.

And for the not so proud moment...it was only because of Christian's influence that I didn't keep at it for another hour of random tasks, eating my misery and grumbling all the way.  Later, when I was out walking, returning from Christian's ear phone mission, we ran into Asia (my boss) and she said that they would pay me for all the extra hours I worked beyond the 12 Euros/night (my discounted rate for never leaving) at 5 Euros an hour.  So I didn't work 7 hours for an average of 1.71 Euros/hour (about $2.39/hour...)!  

And here I was thinking I was gonna get fired for saying no....that doormat thing really has not worked well for me so far in my life.  Makes me wonder where I would be if I learned to say no on a reasonable, but regular, basis.

In the past week I've spent a ton of time with Amanda, Elina and Lawrence, but I had to say good bye on Monday to Amanda (heading back to Sweden via Malaga) and on Tuesday to Lawrence and Elina (headed to Madrid).   Elina invited me to crash at her place in Sweden, which I would love to do, the plane ticket is relatively cheap, but Sweden is insanely expensive.  Amanda is headed to Amsterdam in a week and I could meet her there, again relatively cheap airfare, but more than I have to spend now.

I also met Hawa (nurse on 3 month holiday) and Heidi (midwife on 4 month holiday) from Australia and they invited me along to Malaga, Seville, Lisbon, and Morocco, again, relatively cheap, but no money for travel.  Plus they whiz through cities, only spending a day or two.  I like a more leisurely pace.  One about the speed of a sloth.  Maybe I'd be different with more money, but aggressive touristing is exhausting!

As an aside- there are more Australians traveling than in their country.  Just ask them.  They are everywhere.  In numerous quantities.

Now I know you all just want to see pictures and someday I may download the few I've taken and post them, but for now you're out of luck.

And just so you don't think I'm not having any fun, I stay up until 0400 every night goofing off with everyone...which is why I don't wake up without an alarm before noon...