Ugh, the stench.
The smell overwhelmed my nostrils, and a sour taste collected in the back of my throat. It looked even worse. The room seemed more like a Banksy museum—if Banksy museums were filled with half empty cup noodles, emptied out yogurt cups, and half eaten donuts. It’s hard to imagine that a human did this. As I pushed the window wide open, I thought to myself “I don’t get paid enough for this.” Said every housekeeper ever.
Collect the trash. Turn off the air conditioner.
I looked at my cellphone. Ninety-two degrees. My jeans suddenly felt two sizes too small, clinging to me like a wetsuit, and the sweat slowly dripped down my forehead. In the distance, I could hear the roaring of jet engines as the blue angels did their routine …show more content…
I wondered if she was thinking about me, as I was thinking about her. How hard it must be to be thirteen hundred miles away from her family. Because my parents’ business is in California and New Mexico, my brother and I have taken care of and have largely lived by ourselves since 2012. My father’s monthly visits are to make sure we are all right; while at home, he cooks for us and loads up on the Costco supply before he leaves again. The Great Recession was very difficult for my family, but I have always believed, especially seeing my parents, that hardship brings the best out of people—just as easily as it brings out the worst. Luckily for us, it brought out the best, and we became a stronger …show more content…
After receiving my first paycheck, I paid for my father's dinner. I explicitly told him not to order anything too expensive. What can I say? He taught me well. The dinner, more than anything, signified a small change in our relationship. It was a small treat, but I proved to him that I have arrived and that I am a man. Now more than ever, I possess a responsibility to take the lessons I have learned from my parents and become the best person that I can be. It's not about the money. It's about understanding the sacrifices that people have made to shape who I am today—and to who I will be
The smell overwhelmed my nostrils, and a sour taste collected in the back of my throat. It looked even worse. The room seemed more like a Banksy museum—if Banksy museums were filled with half empty cup noodles, emptied out yogurt cups, and half eaten donuts. It’s hard to imagine that a human did this. As I pushed the window wide open, I thought to myself “I don’t get paid enough for this.” Said every housekeeper ever.
Collect the trash. Turn off the air conditioner.
I looked at my cellphone. Ninety-two degrees. My jeans suddenly felt two sizes too small, clinging to me like a wetsuit, and the sweat slowly dripped down my forehead. In the distance, I could hear the roaring of jet engines as the blue angels did their routine …show more content…
I wondered if she was thinking about me, as I was thinking about her. How hard it must be to be thirteen hundred miles away from her family. Because my parents’ business is in California and New Mexico, my brother and I have taken care of and have largely lived by ourselves since 2012. My father’s monthly visits are to make sure we are all right; while at home, he cooks for us and loads up on the Costco supply before he leaves again. The Great Recession was very difficult for my family, but I have always believed, especially seeing my parents, that hardship brings the best out of people—just as easily as it brings out the worst. Luckily for us, it brought out the best, and we became a stronger …show more content…
After receiving my first paycheck, I paid for my father's dinner. I explicitly told him not to order anything too expensive. What can I say? He taught me well. The dinner, more than anything, signified a small change in our relationship. It was a small treat, but I proved to him that I have arrived and that I am a man. Now more than ever, I possess a responsibility to take the lessons I have learned from my parents and become the best person that I can be. It's not about the money. It's about understanding the sacrifices that people have made to shape who I am today—and to who I will be