QUALIFIED!!!

On Friday I was sitting at the back of work doing Tabs (not the gambling kind) when I heard my tutors voice at the front desk. I heard her ask someone if I was in, so I stood up and ran out to her. I had a feeling she was there to talk to me about IATA (International Air Transport Association). It was a 2 week topic we studied at course involving alot of work!! At the end we had to sit an exam that we were all dreading but did anyway.

To begin with you had to sit a test to be able to do IATA. It had strict rules throughout the subject, which resulted in alot of hair loss. Anyway back to the story... I said 'hi' to Janine (the tutor) and saw that she was holding a large envelope. I asked if it was IATA and she just smiled and said "congratulations, you passed"!!!

Now I am fully qualified!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can have any job in the tourism industry!!! YAY! hehe.

My New JOB!!!

A few weeks ago I applied for a job at the Dunedin I-Site (Visitor Centre). The interview was short and I thought not so sweet. I thought I had made a complete idiot of myself in the interview, and during it, I decided I didn't want the job anymore. It sounded dull and no-where near what I really wanted to be doing and it was only a seasonal contract (from November to March). The only plus was a reasonable pay of $17.00 an hour. I left the interview, not really caring that I thought I had mucked it up. A couple weeks later Louise (The Boss) called to offer me the job!!! I had been doing some talking with my parents and Ben to see what their views on it was. And I decided to take it. After all it would look good on my CV.

Sometime last week, Jess (a girl from course who also got a job there) and I went to the I-Site to talk to Louise. She told us everything we needed to know and informed us that our first of three training days will be on the 9th of November. So we walked away very excited (which was a bit of a surprise). Last weekend, I received my contract in the mail and I didn't hesitate reading every last detail. Turns out I get paid $19.60 an hour!!!! And get paid fortnightly. AND my contract doesn't end until the 5th of April 2011.

On Tuesday I had my first training day at work. It was so much fun!!! Jess and I couldn't stop saying how excited we were although we didn't really do alot. We got shown how to handle the brochures and where they were all kept, we got taught about the most common tours and got to sit with some of the ladies and watch them work. At the end of the day we were put on a tour of the city and got to visit an old house called Olveston.

It use to belong to a rich family who had a knack for importing furniture from everywhere in the world... and to be entirely honest, hearing the story behind the furniture was the only entertaining thing about the tour (other than the gardens).

Yesterday (Wednesday) I had my second training day. We started at 9AM and by 10, we had finished everything that had been planned for the day!!! So Peter (the 2IC) sent us on a walking tour of the city. I felt so bad for the tour guide. There was only Jess and myself and I just wasn't paying any attention. It was a stinking hot day so I didn't feel like talking, I had already heard most of the information or wasn't interested in the place OR the information he was telling me that I hadn't heard just didn't appeal to. I think he knew I wasn't very interested so he seemed to feel a bit awkward which was another reason of why I didn't enjoy it. Straight after the tour we had lunch, and straight after that Jess and I went on a tour to Larnach Castle.

We did a tour of the castle which I actually enjoyed. The castle was built by William Larnach and to hear the story of his family was almost like an episode of Coronation Street or whatever soap you watch.... The scandals that went on hehe. After the tour Jess and I lounged by the fountain. It was too hot to roam the beautiful gardens Larnach Castle is well-known for.

At the end of the day... It was great and I can't wait til next week when I have my next training day!!!
xoxox

THEY LOVED ME!!!

A few weeks ago I blogged about my work experience that could lead to potential employment at House Of Travel... Well today (1 week later) I finally got some feedback...

THEY LOVED ME!!!

There was no negative feedback at all (I was the only one without it!! Woohoo). The only thing John (the boss) was concerned about was how young I am...But Janine (my tutor and ex travel agent from H.O.T) stood up for me and told him I'm probably one of the most mature people on course for my age. I quote "Having grown up on the Chatham Islands, she has had to learn to grow up pretty fast once she came to the mainland, age won't be a problem"

The only problem now is... He can't give me the job because 3 more people from other places are going in for the work experience and it's only fair they get a go...

So things are looking pretty good for me right now...

And... I'm 18 tomorrow!!!! yay!!!!

Fingers Crossed

Hello Readers!!!

It has been a wee while since my last blog but my reason is legitamit!!! hehe.

All week I have been doing my work experience at House Of Travel Dunedin (it's a travel agency for those who don't know). I started on Monday along with another girl from course called Jess. I spent monday and Tuesday in Orbit Travel which is the corporate travel side of things. Time went fast as I sat with Tash and Lisa (the 2 domestic corporate travel consultants) ands learnt the ropes about how certain things worked. I got to refreshen my mind on how to work 'amadeus'; the computer reservation system and learn a little bit more about the other systems they use. It all was very interesting although I couldn't help but feel some of the men in the back didn't like having a nosey student hanging around.

Wednesday came and I had my last day at course before we went on break for a week. We had a small mid-year gradtiation as we would be broken up from our original classes and mixed up again. It kinda sucks knowing I won't be starting level 4 with my original class mates. We all became so close, almost like a wee family of our own. I will miss all the inside jokes some of us use to share...But there will always be lunch time!!!!

Sir George People

10DC02B - My class

 

Thursday and Friday were my last two days at H.O.T, this time I was back in the front with Leisure travel... Last time I was there (in May) I did two days there, so I already knew most things from sitting with the consultants. So I spent the 2 days mostly working with Sue, she works in processing which is pretty much putting the bits and peices together for travel agents and doing itineraries etc. I got to do a couple of things myself, it was kind of fun but I could imagine getting bored of it after a while. When I wasn't with Sue, I was doing bits and peices around the place for Ruth, the receptionist. While I was there, I got to meet and talk to John, the boss, a few times. I feel I made a pretty good impression on him, so fingers crossed he liked me!!!

I can't wait to hear from somebody about how things went for me at House Of Travel and if I made a good of impression as I think I have. I met a lady who was a sales rep for singapore airlines, who said it's not very often they request a student back, so they must see some potential in me (her words not mine).

Anyway thought I'd follow up on my last post and keep you all informed.... BUT!!! Stay tuned for my big news (which I'm not allowed to tell you yet!!!!)

xoxox

AWESOME NEWS!!!!

Hi readers!

I have some pretty amazing news... hehe

So in May, I did 2 days work experience at House Of Travel (NZ travel agency) because being a travel consultant is my DREAM job! I mean, who doesn't wanna travel the world for free????
Yesterday afternoon while sitting in class, my campus manager came in and said he had some news for us... H.O.T had 2 weeks work experience coming up for 2 lucky students (1 week each)....This was so cool, because it was more indepth work experience...Not just sitting with Consultants but actually learning the ropes. Even BETTER news.... I got one of the spots...HOT had requested me to go and learn from them!

The best part of this though...Is the fact that this is going to be like one big long interview. And the end of the work experience, they might offer me a full time job as a travel agent!!!! BEFORE I GRADTUATE!!!
I would be amazingly lucky if I got the job offer! Not being fully qualified and all... Of course this would mean I would still need to be doing some learning (through corrospondence I suppose)...But at least I will be getting paid at the same time.

So I called Ben lastnight and told him about it, and explained that if I took the job, I wouldn't be able to move in with him next year (he lives about an hour and a half out of Dunedin for those who don't know). He got angry at me because I hesitated in deciding what I would do...Take the work experience and go for the job....or move in with Ben and find a job at another travel agency... WHAT TO DO!!!???
Ben makes me so so so happy. I don't enjoy living in Dunedin anymore. I feel miserable and lonely. I'm pretty much a broke student and can't afford to do anything, and before you suggest friends (which I do have btw) we don't exactly hang out outside of course. Ben is what reminds me of why I'm here. He helped me get into the course and start working towards my long term goal. I want nothing more than to make him (and my family) proud of me. I told him that I was looking forward to living with him, I wouldn't have to feel so alone anymore. Which was a main reason of why I hesitated accepting the work experience.
But he pretty much bashed it into my head and reminded me that he never really has chosen me over work and if I was to do that to him, it's a one way guilt trip on him. He assured me nothing would change between us and everything would be ok, What were the chances I would get another chance like this right???

So after a few tears and hair pulling, I made up my mind, and walked confidently into course this morning and told my campus manager I would do the work experience!!!
BRING IT ON! Is all I can tell myself at the moment...

Stay posted to find out more about this amazing opportunity!