I have discovered that when someone says you will be trained in something, it doesn't always mean they will transfer useful and applicable knowledge in a timely and sensible fashion. It also doesn't mean you will be checked up on or monitored so the day is pretty much up to you. At least so far, that's been my experience. I can't complain. I've learned about concierge, front desk, operator calling center, greeters, bellboys, drivers and whatever else happens with the front of the hotel. Add in our Horizon Club lounge, and a dash of business center and you're all caught up to my need to know list.
However, the method it took to learn these things seems kind of slap dash, and makes it feel unimportant. Understandable because this hotel is busy, they deal with situations that require the managers and trainers all the time. They must go away to resolve problems, and that leaves us lowly interns to "have a rest".
They love to ask if we need to "have a rest". I swear we look anemic, or we are about to faint in their eyes because they suggest it about every hour. If anything, I am well rested!
They also like handing us large folders of the SOPs, or standard operating procedures. We love leafing through them and gleaning important things like, "Face the guest and appear alert at all times". I only picture someone never letting the guest out of their sight and creepily smiling at them.
So far, I've sat in a back office, the concierge office, the Horizon Club office, and the Business Center office. All of them are varying in sizes, things to look at (or in) and places to sit comfortably. Today's seating was a nicely furnished office room, with over sized leather office chairs. Very comfortable. I can't wait to see where I will be sitting tomorrow.
After training, we are left up to our own devices. This part of the schedule is much appreciated, and we take advantage of it. I wouldn't say we own the city yet or explored it thoroughly, but we know where we know and I think we'll expand our horizons little by little. We headed to our fancy pants trendy gym to do some trendy sweating with some other trendy folks, and had ourselves a good work out. The lockers are really fascinating, and I discovered this for two very important reasons: 1. the lockers respond to only one bracelet that has some kinda receptor to open it, and it sings a little tune when you pick the right one, and 2. everyone and their mom is butt naked in there. And I literally mean everyone and their mom. I can understand some people wanna hang out, maybe get a little breeze before suiting up again...but they dry their hair in the nude. The very, very, nude nude. My first venture in made my eyes bounce around trying to find a safe place to look. I actually let out a loud,"agh!" and before I could stop myself practically shouted, "They're all naked!".
Cultural lesson #5, or is it 60? People hang out naked in locker rooms and they don't feel a bit sorry about it.
Another thing, soap is a precious commodity that somehow most bathrooms refuse to have...hygiene adjustment: Check.
Did I mention I've used (successfully) an eastern style bathroom, aka that hole in the floor with sort of a place to precariously hover over while also not relieving oneself on one's shoe?
Grocery shopping makes me feel like an adult. Maybe I'm the only one who feels like this, but really...going into a store, picking out necessary or otherwise not items, and then paying for it is so liberating and exhilarating. Maybe paying for it isn't, but unpacking it in your home definitely is.
Next time I will describe the experience of shopping in a mart with mostly Chinese labels and an escalator...for your shopping cart.
Also, my dessert tonight had a flake of gold on it.
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