Beginning to Get Grossed Out

This is Ja'Nae' aka Germ Freak, Toilet Mummy, Weak Stomach. Last nite after a wonderful time out with new friends, we came back to the hostel. (Sidenote: all cups, glasses, plates, and silverware that is used must be washed and reused by germ freaks like myself. I don't trust that people are washing these after their use.) After realizing that this is the case, I bought my own plasticware. Day 1 of using the kitchen: They provide free toast and jam each morning and coffee/tea is free everyday. Since I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone, I go for the toast. I can see that the bag was left open and slices of bread have been thrown out of place inside. That's a clue that people were 'searching' for the right piece and their hands have probably on the slices that I am about to eat. But I take a deep breath and go for it. As I reach for slices of bread, I look to my right and see the butter and jam. At that moment, the worst starting going through my head - "What if someone stuck their nasty ass finger in the butter or the jam.
Are there people using dirty knives for the jam and butter." It takes every bit of courage to ignore my thoughts and move forward with making my breakfast. The toaster is not like the ones we have at home. It has a total of six slots, a knob, timer, and another knob. The six slots are so that you can make up to six slices of toast. The slots are much thinner than our toaster back home. If we were to toast our American bread, we would need to slice the bread in half in order to fit. Now the true test comes when I try to figure out what the two knobs are for and if I really need the timer to toast. I decide to make four slices of toast and place them in the toaster. Knob #1 is used to slide the toast down into the toaster (similar to our process at home). I push knob #1 up and wait a few seconds. It's not getting hot. Maybe I should turn on the timer, but for how long. How long is toast usually cooked for? Has any American really timed it? If you have, then you have two much time on your hands. I put the timer on for 45 seconds and look at knob #2. Knob #2 has three different settings. Each setting has one, two, or four squiggly lines. What about three, five, and six? Because I'm so intelligent, I figure that the squiggly lines must stand for the number of slices in the toaster. I have three slices, and attempt to put the setting on four squiggly lines. Geez, what a frickin' process! Finally my toast is done or so I thought. The slices on the right side (closest to the knobs and timer) were not done at all. Hell, the toaster was not even hot! But my slice that was in the middle was almost burnt. I moved my hand to slots on the left, and they were pipin' hot. I transferred my slices of bread to the other slots so they may toast. Once my toast was finished, I came to the conclusion that I shoud have the setting on all four squiggly lines as that may cook all slots and the timer doesn't do shit for me.

Day 2 in the kitchen: No problems this time making toast. Ha, ha! Suck on that toaster. However, I decide to have some tea as my throat has been bothering me and I've had a wicked cough. I pull out my cup and the bottom is dirty, but I'm trying to get rid of my germophobia. ( Everyday is a struggle.) I make my tea, put some sugar in it, and drink away. No funky tastes or smell coming from the glass so I must be fine. Since there was a note posted in the kitchen " if you drink from it or eat off it, wash it," I follow the directions and do just that. I cleaned it out so well that the nastiness prior to me drinking my tea, came off. Now that really sickened me to my stomach. I set the cup down proud that I had washed it so well for the next person to use. Later that nite, I went to the kitchen to drop off a plate that I used earlier. I was going to wash it, but the kitchen smelled like sweaty sock, swass (sweaty ass), and some sort of food. It took every ounce of my not to throw up ( I just finished a nice meal about 30 minutes before). As I looked around the kitchen, no one had washed their dishes, they were piled kinda high, the floor was dirty with crumbs and liquids of some sort, the trash looked like it hadn't been taken out or clean for a few days. And at that moment ( if you are eating you may want to stop reading), I dry heaved but thought oh I'll be fine just do think about it. But as I was leaving the kitchen to take the stairs, the smell was following me. It came up to the middle of my throat and I tried with all my might to get it back down. Didn't help. Next thing I know I have a mouth full of vomit and I have no choice but to go back to the Kitchen of Pure Nastiness and get it out. The combination of my vomiting and the many smells in the kitchen cause me to purge even more. Once I have finished getting rid of my dinner, I sprint up the stairs so that I no longer puke or smell the funkiness of that kitchen.

After day 2 and everyday that I have to brush my teet or shower, I shake my head in disbelief. I can't believe that we are staying in a place like this. Now I have lowered my standards, quite a bit, but this is a bit ridiculous. On the positive side, at least we even have a place to stay right now and everyday seems to gives us another great story.

Lord we pray that we find a flat soon....VERY SOON!