What are your most vivid memories of “summer jobs”? Estelle L. (Ile and Vilain) responded to our call to leave reviews in the “Letters from Readers” section. Here’s his story…
“My first summer job was on the island of Sesembre, off the coast of Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine) in July 1969. I was about to turn 15 and wanted to buy a Solex when I started high school.
A small restaurant on the island hired young men to cook or wait. Of course I ended up with two other girls my age cooking and washing dishes. Needless to say, there were no safety standards or even working hours.
We shared dishes to prepare: one with mussels and fries, one with steak and fries, and one with crab mayonnaise, all in a very small kitchen, but we got along well. Sometimes the waitresses would yell at us because we weren’t walking fast enough! At the end of the service, a mountain of dishes was waiting for us.
Fortunately, none of the customers stayed to eat that evening, with the exception of three or four residents who rented a room next to the restaurant. We stayed there: the hostess with her two waitresses in the room and the three of us on an air mattress with a duvet in the restaurant hall. However, we had to wait until the residents had finished dinner, then they spent the evening playing Scrabble and chess, sometimes very late.
Bar-restaurant on the island of Sesembre today. | ARCHIVES OF WEST FRANCE
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Bar-restaurant on the island of Sesembre today. | ARCHIVES OF WEST FRANCE
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“A strong storm broke out”
The next morning we were up at 6:30 to clean the room and prepare breakfast for the landlady and residents. Of course, we were young, but it was hard.
We were cooped up all night, and the next day it was terrible in the restaurant with the residents and a few vacationers left on the island.
— Estelle L.
On July 6, 1969, a severe storm struck. We were cooped up all night, and the next day it was terrible in the restaurant with the residents and a few vacationers left on the island. During the night, a large fresh water tank on the roof broke loose and rolled across the roof, increasing the noise around the area. I seem to remember that the boat was gone for three days, there was only a walkie-talkie for communication. When the supply boat arrived, we formed a line to take everything back to the restaurant.
On July 14, our parents came to visit us and when the mothers saw the pile of dishes that we needed to wash, they stayed to help us, much to the chagrin of the boss!
At that time there were no cell phones for communication, and we did what we were asked, only glad that we received a small salary. I have good memories of the place even if I didn’t go back the next year. »
Do you have any unusual, touching or disgusting memories of your summer job? Let us know via the form above or by email at courierdeslecteurs@ouest-france.fr.