serving, servants, service.....

serving, servants, service.....


"Dona Marie-Louise, "Now you are a Madame!""
"Don't worry about this, you'll never do laundry again."
"Do you think they have shades or screens where they come from? They are used to working like this."
"He is so pleased to be serving you, that he'll work for free on Saturdays."
"Don't worry, he'll wait. This is what he is paid to do."

please. thank you. you are welcome.

you are welcome. welcome. I don't get to say that much. You are welcome usually follows a thank you for something you have done for someone else. Here, I don't do much for others. Instead, they are doing for me. But after the first few days of 'thank you', I felt like I was meditating on thanks- i was saying it at the end of almost every sentence. Granted I didn't have many other words to reach for at the end of a ride, or for an open door, or a cooked meal, or directions, or a phone call, or just telling me where the bathroom can be found! Thank you. I-- I don't know what else to say.

thumbs up. that's cool. okay. right on. all good. thank you.

*but I am being served...

*i show humility by showing I am aware that someone is doing something for me-

*but what is being done? nothing special. a job. too much gratefulness makes the employee loose respect, makes the position seem lame- turns it into a kind of jello- makes the doer of the task question the strength of the employer... i don't want to work for a weak person, be part of a weak group. no. i want to be part of a strong group- a proud group- have a fearless leader. Belong to the elite! don't you?

* hmmm.....i just don't buy it....

i am being served. I am the Dona. The Madame. I set the tone.
I am also in need of help. I don't have enough language...don't know where to buy things...how to ask for.... can't actually set up my household....without many many many thanks....

Pride and humility
Respectful employer
New Expat on the block
Smile and wave, thumbs up and thank you, again.

I can't wait to say "you're welcome"!