(Translation: Please pick me up and throw me towards Goa, Neeraj.) Although, Iād argue that Goans must feel like they need Neeraj as opposed to the tourists.
Speaking of tourists, this is my third week in Mexico; and Iām beginning to feel less like one. I know the roads now. I know the cafe that has some vegetarian options. I know the guy who strolls by the beach selling yummy Mezcal chocolate. I know the cafe with the good view and a clueless waiter. I know that the gesture for no/not working is wiggling your hand while holding it out like this š¤š½. I know that staring blankly, tongue-tied, because I canāt Spanish makes me look like an idiot. Iāve practically been in the same town.
After having lived in a
fantastic airbnb (letās call it place A) upon arrival, which had an amazing view of the pacific ocean, spacious rooms and a small infinity poolāten days that felt like a mere instantā
my girlfriend and I shifted to an āoutdoorsyā rustic cottage (place B). This was very homely and cosy, run by a woman in her late sixties who is very warm and welcoming herself. We lived here for a week, cooked quite a bit and went out for dinners and walks. We had a great time, until it rained heavily one day and we started to have visitorsāalso known as āmosquitoesā. The muggy nights and mosquito infested evenings eventually got to us, so we found a new spot and moved there.
This new spot (place C), although clinical and not very welcomingāeither the host or the spaceāhad one attraction: air-conditioning. My week started with us moving to place C, excited to stay in the AC after being woken up by mosquitoes in the dead of the night. But we were in for another ārude awakeningā here. The phoney host had downplayed the construction work that would start at 8 am every morning and last all day. Three days and we were fed up.
After looking at multiple spots, not finding a good fit and being at our witās end, we decided to move
back to our previous rustic cabin, for the remainder of our trip. We did that yesterday and also dropped by the first place (to collect my earphones that were missing in action) to catch up with the hostāa very friendly and chatty man, who had gone great lengths to help me get
my lost bag back.
Roughly speaking, place A costs 3x, place B costs x and place C costs 2x. Both A and B had great hosts; C didnāt. I am likely to re-stay (as I have) or recommend A and B to anyone over C. I guess what I am trying to get to is the truism: we almost always remember how people make us feel over everything else.
For the little amount Iāve travelled, Iāve come to respect customer facing jobs in the hospitality industry so much more than I used to before. A lot of them fake it; theyāre probably not good at it. Being genuinely interested in serving people, who could be potential assholes seems tough. Some are really gifted. And you canāt help but notice earnestnessāwhether in work or demeanour. I know it isnāt for me; Iād rather stay a potential asshole than come face-to-face with a real one.
Until next MoāSunday,
Sumeru