Since getting back from Guatemala, I have devoted the vast majority of my time towards looking for work.  My days have consisted of following up on leads, talking to peoples’ various connections, and checking craigslist.  All of this seemed to point to a few potentially promising jobs that finally ended up leading to we’re-not-hiring-at-the-moment-but-we’ll-keep-your-information-on-file type of responses.  After weeks of gazing out the window of my computer screen like a grandmother from her 2nd floor bedroom window waiting for something to happen on the street, I finally decided to get out of the house and ask around in person.  Putting the “real” job search on hold until I found a(ny) source of income, I decided to try my luck as a bartender again.  I drove to every bar that I knew of in Worcester and discovered just as many that I didn’t know even existed.  I applied to all of them.

I drove around all day, and finally, on my way home through Holden stopping at a computer shop to ask for a job, I decided to walk across the street and ask at a Mexican cantina/restuarante.  I could hear the Spanish even before I saw the people speaking it.  Awesome.

Playa del Carmen. Image complements of Google Maps.

La Playa del Carmen website (definitely check this out… and wait for the music):        http://www.restaurantplayadelcarmen.com/

I knew I was going to like it when, after waiting for the owner to arrive, I saw that the owner’s wife had gotten an order from a waiter.  “Do you know how to make an apple martini?” she asks me in Spanish. “Si” I say.  The bartender then looked at me and was like, “Ya, but we don’t have any apple pucker, I think we can probably use a little Midori”.  After this little brainstorming session, the owner’s wife pulls out a bottle of apple juice and says, “I think we can probably use a little of this, what do you think?”… “Hmm, probably a little dangerous” I respond, and then look at the bartender “Right?”… he nods… and then she just pours it in anyways.  (she tries it) “I think its good”… (she hands it to the bartender and he tries) “Ummm… no”

I started last Thursday and am working all nights except Mondays and Tuesdays.  I caught it perfectly because the owner had already scheduled a certification class for his employees prior to me ever even walking into the place.  I dropped $25 bucks and became certified to serve alcohol in MA on my first day of work.  Not too bad.

I had two days of training and am now manning the bar solo.  This is both good and bad.  It’s way better for tips but means alot of running around.  I’ve been working in a near continuous state of confusion so far but have slowly felt things getting clearer.  “Despierta Brian… despierta!” This is Tapate’s (the other bar tender) favorite line now…  (wake up Brian, wake up!).  I’m going to give it about a week and then I think I’ll be ok.  It’s a great bar to learn in because I only need to know how to make about 8 drinks.  Everybody buys the margaritas anyways.

This is perfect little gig because everybody here works in Spanish.  Before I left Guatemala, Chinita (Otto’s aunt) was like, “So Brian, I guess the next time we see you you’ll be fat and your Spanish is going to suck”.  This was a gentle reminder to continue practicing my Spanish and to continue cultivating all of the intestinal flora and fauna that I picked up in Guatemala.  This job is one step in the direction of having my Spanish not suck.  I don’t know about the fat part yet, but this place is good, it’s just like working in Guatemala, I am the only gringo (except for 1 of the waitresses).  I only work nights, so I still have the entire day to keep applying to and/or have another job.  This is my next project.  I’ve been applying for a desk job at hospitals.  Dual jobs-where-I-speak-Spanish would be really nice.  We’ll see what happens.

So ya, stop by for a goldfish bowl of the “El presidente” margarita.   I’d recommend dropping in on a Thursday so you can catch the Mariachis and see how many sombreros you can wear at once.