Jonathan has two jobs mowing lawns. One is right across the street and the other is down the hill at the main street. This is the first time he has had a summer job.
Jonathan mäht diesen Sommer bei zwei Häusern den Rasen. Das eine Haus gehört unseren Nachbarn, das andere liegt weiter unten im Dorf an der Hauptstraße. So hat er zum ersten Mal eine richtige Arbeit für den Sommer.
Charlotte's lady is back in town and her summer job is to keep company, to clean, to help with exercises, and some other odds and ends.
Charlottes ältere Dame ist wieder da und so hat sie auch wieder Arbeit für den Sommer. Sie ist Gesellschafterin, putzt, hilft bei der Gymnastik und macht auch sonst allerlei.
I guess Peter and I can retire now (well, I guess only Peter is making money right now because I don't have a college teaching job for the summer).
So können Peter und ich jetzt in den Ruhestand treten (eigentlich nur Peter, weil ich im Sommer nicht beim College unterrichte und so auch nichts verdiene).
It's good to hear that Jonathan is mowing lawns. I don't understand why more young people don't do so these days. My parents could really use a strong teenager to take care of their lawn, but have been unable to find someone. They've hired a professional service, but it's really much too expensive for them.
ReplyDeleteDoes Charlotte enjoy talking with her elderly friend? I used to be so shy around older people when I was young. It's good you found such a nice job for her. Morgana and Korrina have always had babysitting jobs. Chanda had a regular one also, until our little friends moved to PIttsburgh. She misses seeing them . .
Maybe you have to send Christine's son to mow your parents' lawn! That is hard to believe that there are no teens left who would do such a job! I believe that a professional service would be very expensive. What do young people do out there? Don't they want a job for the summer?
DeleteCharlotte loves it and the lady is so fond of her. The lady told me on the phone the other day that Charlotte was like a daughter to her. I grew up with my great-grandfather around and I spent lots of time with my grandmother when I was growing up. I always felt very comfortable around the elderly. I once spent a whole month in Berlin working in a senior citizen home with young people from all over the world. That was such a great experience! I also worked with lots of children during the summer months, though. I was in charge of the children's program for most of the family vacations through a Catholic organization from Oberhausen. I had the children in the mornings and again in the afternoons. Most of the time there were 20 children ages 4-12. So I guess I have worked on either end of the spectrum and have enjoyed both. The old people in Germany had all experienced the war and had so much to tell me. Some of them could even remember the German emperor. There are not so many babysitting jobs around here. Most parents don't work both full-time and so there is no real need for babysitters, but Charlotte did watch that small boy last spring in exchange for horseback-riding lessons. Will Chanda look for a new babysitting job? It must be hard to say good-bye to little people whom you watched for a long time.
My oldest son would so like to mow other people's lawns, but everyone around our neighborhood seems to either do it themselves or pay a business to mow their lawn. I hope that you and your family have a great summer!
ReplyDeleteIs there a place where he could advertise his services? A grocery store? A local paper? In our village is is normally by word of mouth how teens get these jobs, but our college also maintains a list with services where you can either ask for a service or offer one. Or could he put an ad into the church bulletin? I hope he will get an opportunity soon.
DeleteSummer seems to be really here now. It has gotten quite hot and we are having thunderstorms. It is probably not so hot in the summer in your place, is it?
Dear Eva,
ReplyDeleteThese look like wonderful summer jobs! It sounds like you live in a really neat community. Blessings on your summer! -- Barbara
We are very blessed with a tight-knit community. People are really looking out for each other, but you still feel "free" and not watched all the time. I hope your summer is going well! Do you have any special plans?
DeleteWell done to the big kids in their Summer jobs.
ReplyDeletePoor Peter he is always hoping for an early retirement, cannot see it happening just yet!!
No, not quite, but he is taking a break from his regular work right now!
DeleteIt's nice to hear about your experiences growing up and working in Germany :) My maternal grandparents had passed away before I was born, and we didn't spend very much time with my father's parents; just occasional visits. I often think of them now and wish I could talk with them. I have so many questions about their lives in Germany and Sicily.
ReplyDeleteIt would be good to have Christine's son near my parents! Ah. Well. I think most of the young people near them are surfing or sailing in the summer! I also think that we are not connected with the ones that are looking for jobs. Since my sister and I aren't there, and my parents are elderly, we aren't in touch with teenagers. It's possible, however, that we could inquire at the church to which they've begun attending more regularly these days.
I guess when you don't have your grandparents or great-grandparents around then you must feel shy with older people. We always had older relatives come by or we visited them, one of my grandmother's helped to raise me when I was little because my parents were not living at the same place (my dad was still finishing up his practical training for his law degree and I lived with my mom with her parents). I think it is so important to have a good connection across the generations, unfortunately I cannot provide this for my children because all our relatives are so far away! So we try to write letters. You know, you should ask your mother many questions about what she remembers and write it down or tape it. Otherwise this knowledge will be all gone.
DeleteOur grocery stores have a bulletin board where people can post jobs like that. Or sometimes libraries do that too. Maybe that would be a good place to check.