Odd Jobs In Goa

Morjim was back in action soon after the tourist's arrival in December. The season started late by 2 months and many businesses got their initial hard hit. As soon as the high-end restaurants resumed their business, our friend Artur became very busy. We would hardly see him sometimes for many days. On certain days he would visit us by bringing his delicious food. I was happy to see him back in his business as a high energy person like him would suffer if he has no work. Our work was still taking its time to gather pace. Unlike the previous year, that year was not looking promising for our business. Due to lesser visa duration and price hike, many Russians had turned their back to Goa and went to other foreign destinations. And the ones who came to Morjim were on the budget to seemingly not afford our high treatment charges. We would get a few clients on odd days to keep the living cost at breakeven. Hope to make a decent profit that year was in despair. Also, there weren't any clients for fitness coaching, unlike the previous year.

With a newfound love for working, I was ready to take on any challenge on my way as long as it would pay me. The decision to choose the work by co-relating it to my educational and work experience background was long gone. I had removed all the tags from my mind about the nature of any work. As long as I would be busy working, and spending my energy in a constructive way, it would bring peace. After living with the backpackers and listening to their stories on how they would do odd jobs to make money, I saw a little hope in raising my bank balance which had touched rock bottom. I started thinking about what kind of jobs I can do to sustain my living. I thought of teaching the tourists to drive motorcycles, as some of them would be eager to learn. I tried to make that option work but it didn't go well due to no response from the tourists. I would help Madhu in her treatment work as and when required. But I wanted to do something of my own where I was earning independently. I was grateful for whatever little work I would be getting from her.

One evening, Artur came home in need of some help. He had gotten a contract to open a kabab stall in the Saturday Night Market. That was the biggest open market in Goa spread across on 5-acre land, where people would come in thousands. Inside the market, one could find all kinds of shops, food stalls, fruit stalls, bars, and an open restaurant sitting area in front of whom there would be a stage for live performances. Artur needed the help of one person to work in his kabab stall. I happily agreed to work with him. That was a once in a week job but I was all excited to put my heart and soul into the work. Our other friend Sasha was renovating her new house in Aldona and she also wanted to create a garden in the backyard. While she was looking for someone to help her up, I stumbled upon that opportunity. That was an everyday's job and I was looking for one. Even though Aldona was 1-hour bike drive from Morjim, I didn't mind spending 2 hours every day travelling for the sake of the job. She had an 8 months old baby boy who needed a baby sitter. Guess who volunteered? I was all Yes for every opportunity coming on my way to work. I had done all kinds of jobs which I had never dreamed of doing. Right from working in a food stall, to setting up a garden, to cleaning the house, to babysitting, to fixing the sunglasses on the slate roof house, and to help in giving away dog puppies to strangers. I possessed no prior work experience in any of those jobs. Yet, I gave my best. Doing all those odd jobs taught me a very important thing in life: How to be humble!

Grateful To Everyone Who Trusted Me For My Work.