Hawaii, Chapter 4: Stay & Work!

This morning I got my things together and was in the process of checking out, a couple of hours away from my departure back to the mainland, when Laina, working the reception counter, surprisingly asked, "You're leaving already?  Want to stay and work?"  I said heck yes!  After a phone call to my friend Thomas back in Long Beach, California, confirming it would be alright to leave my car in his family's driveway while staying here in Maui for a while, I agreed to work 16 hours a week (housekeeping) in exchange for a bunk in the staff quarters.  I'd train this Wednesday and Thursday, and start first Monday morning, my shift being 9am-1pm, four random days a week, for a month.

The next month was a mix of scrubbing toilets and having fun.  I didn't have my rental car anymore (too expensive), so I relied on the bus and other staff for transportation, which generally worked out fine.  I had a ball bonding with the other staff members and finding my place within them over the course of the next several weeks.  The crew:

Andy (maintenance) & Melanie (housekeeping) - andy stresses, melanie calms
Chase (head housekeeper) - sweet, intuitive, hula-hooping rocker
Émilie (housekeeping) - free-loving, happy-go-lucky hippie
Henry (tour guide) & Brittany (reception) - camera-carrying, karaoke-singing, cool kids
Isaac (tour guide) & Laina (manager) - kept everyone in line, included me in outings
Jason (maintenance) - free-diving, fire-breathing, non-drinking, alaskan wilderness captain
Jeremy (reception) - funny, stoned goofball, said i'm the coolest gay dude he's ever met 
John the gardener - quiet, private, pleasant, snores
Julia (housekeeping) - caring, hard-working zip-lining guide 
Ken (maintenance/reception) & Sarah (reception) - friendly, athletic, strong-minded
Martin (reception) - mysterious Argentinian
Matt (reception) - reminds me of me, only older, thinner, thriftier, drinks more, and straight
Mike (housekeeping) - soft-spoken, wise, always willing to help
Nadine (tour guide) - free-spirited, hula-hooping, life-loving, party animal hippie
Tour guide Mike- from stock broker to surfer dude, got me the job
Tristan (housekeeping) - thoughtful, friendly, will go out of his way for you