DAY 8: Wednesday

Even with the jetlag, I find myself leaving at the same time as Quebecers...

I had breakfast at 1:00 PM with Nancy, via Skype.

Drew, the waiter who is responsible my training at The Modern Pantry, referred me the OddBins. The shop is a cavern of wine, white walls made of “chaux”, opened walls. It’s cool inside (cool = cold).  There are wines from everywhere, barrels as decorations... I bought my first bottle opener!

I love The Modern Pantry.

 “Candi, the manager, was surprised how well polished was the cutlery this morning”, informs me Mett, the receptionist. Well done, Gaby. Drew assigns me to this duty for about two hours every night, but girls from The Resto Pizzeria know how I liked to dry the cutlery: it’s meditation for me.

“What’s nice about meditation is that you don’t get into it all the time” reminds me Drew. True.

I was very unconfident with my bottle opener skills. I had wished I could practice before I’d have to perform in front of customers, but Drew sent me without consideration. I did well I guess. I try to be forgiven for my mistakes with a smile: too much wine in a glass –really too much, ouups, have the customer repeat three times the order, f*** coffe cups shaking in my hands.

I’ve really found a good job. I had not realised when Candi first informed me of the salary, but 8 Pounds per hour is one of the best rate we could expect here. Graziano earns 7 Pounds per hour at The Ivy! And every shift, we have a meal.

Tonight, Drew sent me to help Jeff, another waiter.

 “Jeff, what can I do to help?

-          Hum... there are these cheeses to eat, if you want...”

Of course, I want!

“Do you like red wine?”

I do! Jeff offered me a glass of wine with my cheeses and I learned that wines from South Africa are sweeter than those from England or France because the presence of sun raises the production of sugar in the grapes.

... And we enjoyed a glass of white wine after work, 1 in the morning. This is a big, lovely family.

I arrived at home at 2:30 AM, tired, cold and scared because a crazy man was standing in the entrance of my hostel... Brrrr