Pitfalls and Perspectives of "Hiring" a 27 year-old Young Lady

Advertised for someone to watch the place during my side trips: pets, garden, trash, a presence to keep the riff-raff away. Previously, I had "hired" a 59 year-old lady from London that I trained for a week and left her here on her own for almost a month. That worked out great for both of us.

First new candidate is a supposed part-time English teacher (for Spanish speakers) who lives with parents about 10 miles away. We arranged to meet at a local restaurant. She has her own wheels and showed up almost on time after having sent a "text" that she was on her way. She is only about five-foot tall and maybe a hundred pounds soaking wet. Ate like a bird. Then I introduced her to the two pets and she made an appointment to return for "training" @ 11:00 AM the day after Christmas. Yesterday was the appointed day, but she never showed up.

Today (a day late?) she sent a text confirming our 11:00 AM appointment (which I would have sworn was for yesterday). No matter. Then I got a phone call she was lost. She had turned up 3rd Street instead of 5th Street (she had followed me home from the restaurant that first day). I am not concerned, my spouse is like that too. Behavior that should be expected from like person.

I wanted her to call me each day she arrived so I know things were being taken care of in my absence. So the first "task" was for her to dial my USA cell phone from the landline. Problem was, she could not reach the cordless phone on the top shelf where I keep the charger. Not her fault, I moved the phone down a slot.

I noticed with the keys and locks, she kept turning the key the wrong way. Well, I do that once in awhile, too. Same thing with connecting/changing the hoses, not sure which way to tighten/loosen, no big deal, at least she is trying.

Asked her to climb the wooden ladder to the flat roof so I could show her how to inspect the gravity-fed water supply. She said she was afraid of heights and only made it halfway up the ladder and stopped. She got on her tippy-toes and just barely cleared the roofline with her eyes. I conceded to her phobia and asked her to come on back down to Mother Earth.

Proceeded to accompany her to walk one dog, give the other a bath, water the plants, trim some shrubs, turn on the closed circuit TV monitor, and turn a few drip-water line valves off and on. Called it a day, paid her the $16.00 USD (two hours) we had agreed upon (I had advertised offering $11.00 USD). She said she would begin daily visits in January. I figure after a month or so she will have caught on to all the ins and outs of her "duties".

Early 2020, I will be needing someone here during my next absence. What I like about the girl is: I don't foresee her having any hoodlum acquaintances that would come back to ransack my place in the future, you never know with "strangers". Since she responded to the help-wanted add, a couple of males have since responded also. Playing things by ear for now. (not an actual foto)

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