Day three at Rustic Motel has been frantic. I've spent the early part of the morning helping my mum clean rooms, make beds and vacuum. Then I helped my dad fold sheets and answer the motel phone.

After that, I got sent to find a polyurethane sealant for the motel pool. It took me three stores, two phone calls, and one return later to get the right product. And in this time, I got to pet some baby chicks too. How adorable they were. If I lived here, I may have considered buying a couple — they were only $1 a chick. Then a short drive to St. James to drop my dad off as he makes a trip to St. Louis with a friend to pick up supplies.

I didn't realize how much strife and struggle is required in running a motel. But I'm so proud that my parents run an independent motel with my mum's roses and plants framing a colorful entrance to the motel and their cheerful smalltalk welcoming weary travelers. Where else but at the fabulous Rustic Motel would you ever get such service!

Now as the afternoon comes to a close, I'm watching ZEE TV with my mum. It's a nice relaxing sort of day and maybe I'll be able to covince my mum to make me some garam garam chai and fry me some of her delicious samosas.

Stay tuned; life at an African-Indian's independent motel is rife with stories.