19 September 2011

A Little Over Twenty

18.September.2011

It was already four months and seventeen days after I turned twenty, left my teenage years, and entered into the early stage of adulthood. To be honest, I had difficulties finding a good work...with a good pay, with a good pay. Eventually, maybe due to my desperation to gain experience, I accepted the job on the first interview that I passed. I got bored over my work and find another employer. I worked as a casual employee and as a full-time but not regular employee. I worked and earned money. I spent this money to have fun, to satisfy my cravings and to acquire things I want. I stressed myself over facts like how little is the salary one can earn here, how I don't get to work as a full-time employee and enjoy it's benefits, how I feel oppressed while rendering service to my employer, how I got troubled over working for two employers without anyone finding out, how I should resign from my employer, and such. The four months seem both short and long...nevertheless, it was an eventful time in my life.

After a day or so, I'll be leaving my country and going to another country with a good paying job. As of today, I am only a five-months-and-seventeen-days graduate from my university. It has not been half a year since I officially graduated, but I felt like it has been forever that I'm a bum. I was pressured by myself and my desire to earn money and to do something. Maybe, I feel uneasy from doing nothing and being a bum. It was all thanks to my program curriculum that I became like that. Well, the curriculum for my last year in college was very demanding that I need go to school or meet my classmates seven days a week. During those times, I am shouting and yearning for a break, however, when I was given a long break, it became the opposite. Humans really are rational; I am a human; therefore, I am rational. (That's a display of a simple logic. Cool, eh?)

Right now, my issue revolves around the things that I have to bring. I want to bring my entire wardrobe, or more like an entire room. BUT, I simply can't do that, so I am thinking very carefully of the clothes that will be easy to wear and to wash, and other stuff that I will be needing in my stay abroad. It'll be only for two years, but I hope that my contract will be extended. It's difficult to find a good paying job nowadays. This week has been very busy for me. I went back to our house in Cavite, since I am staying in the dorm in Manila due to work. I went to the agency for payment of fees. I went back to Manila to meet friends for dinner. My friends have a sleep-over at our house. I had another friend to check my laptop. I do these all at different days. Aren't I pretty hassled? But it's good to see friends and bond with them again after a long time. It actually feels nice. Though I don't get to meet a lot of them, just a certain few people. I wonder how it would feel meeting them after two years? That should feel nice.

Returning to the place full of memories? It's quite painful to return there alone. I might find myself laughing and smiling alone...looking weird and crazy. I'm worried as to how I will live my life there without the people who I used to be with. OH, well, I will find that out soon.

15 September 2011

Ending the Last Day

15.September.2011 It has been four days since my last day in my precious workplace. So how was my last day? It was quite confusing. Some of my colleagues learned of it on the very day itself. Some kept on asking me if it was true that it will be my last day on that day. But the most common question is, Why? Basically I don't know how to answer this question. I don't even know the answer myself. I just tell them that according to a certain someone, I didn't pass my evaluation or my training. Of course, I would name drop the name of that certain someone. They knew that certain someone anyway. To be honest, I don't really know the real reason behind my failure. Butt based on my senses and logic, that certain someone does not think of me as a good employee in that hotel, and maybe, a few more people share the similar opinion towards me. Their group certainly does not include the whole employee population of the hotel.

Does it bother me that much? Well, kind of. First of all, I don't know how to respond to their sympathy to me who has been removed from my position. I just smile towards them and go along with how they want the conversation to flow. Secondly,I'm not used to being shown sympathy. I used to be alone and to try comforting others. But, I'm not used to being comforted although I'm longing for that feeling. I could have forgotten that I am still part of other people's lives. I just don't want to expect from others, since it hurts so much when it didn't go the way I think it would go. I kind of pity myself for the fact that I don't know how to use other's sympathy.

The fact that I'm removed from my position is an evident that I'm not yet fit for the work of the Front desk agent. What I'm most worried about is that I'll be working on the same position in my next employer, which is in Singapore. I don't know if I would be able to finish my contract. I'm really worried about that. But oh well, life goes on and I'm not there yet. Come 20th September. I'm still preparing for you though..

10 September 2011

End of a Troublesome Dream

10.September.2011

I'm all prepared to share the tale of my work training. It's a funny, sad short story of a dull life in a small vector I lived. It definitely is short though is comprises of more than a month worth of days.

It all began on a Thursday morning when I was going to attend an interview for a small three star hotel in the heart of Manila. I came early but not so early, just early enough for the ten o'clock schedule. I came in the hotel almost at the same time as the one who called me for an interview. What a twist of fate that has been. Even though she knew that I already arrived, I was still made to wait for like thirty minutes. I find the hotel quite weird since I am used to grandiose hotels like Marriott, Ibis Satthorn, and Royal Princess. Now that I think about it, Ibis Bangkok is also a three star hotel but it's more fabulous than my current three star hotel. Maybe it's because of the brand standard since Ibis is a chain property. Oh well, to each his own. (I've been wanting to use this saying for a long time now.)

The interview eventually started and finished by around eleven-thirty in the morning. It was quite weird since I was asked about mixology when I am applying for Guest Services Specialist a.k.a. Front Desk. I was interviewed by three people. First is the HR, second is Marketing who handles the corporate accounts of the Front Office, and last is Accounting who also handles the over-all operation of the hotel. It really is a small hotel handled by a number of people. It still operates. It has guests, and a number of regular guests at that, coming from the Metro, to provinces to foreign countries. The fact that it produces income is the proof of its existence. Recently, I read a memorandum thru email about the sales for the month of August. It actually reached seven figures and I don't know if that is small or big amount; I never worked in the accounting department, anyway.

In the end, I passed the interview and I was quite in the shocked-state-of-mind. I am still thinking since I find the hotel odd, but I accepted it anyway. I started exactly on first of August. My schedule was six o'clock in the morning to three o'clock in the afternoon. I thought I got it wrong so I double check it. However, it is clearly stated that my schedule is six to three in the afternoon. I was like, what is wrong with this? I have to work for nine hours a day? Maybe, I have a one hour break? I wouldn't know unless I start to work. It was already a nightmare that I have to wake up around 5 o'clock in the morning. And the fact that I need to work nine hours a day is like a torture for me, mentally that is. And so, my one month and ten days have passed, slowly,plainly with a bit of excitement from time to time. My last day is almost coming to an end. That is actually tomorrow. (I am writing this during my shift from twelve noon to nine o'clock in the evening, after the people doing office work left.) How will my last day go? I wouldn't know unless I come to work tomorrow.

Just this week, since I was on a graveyard shift, which is from nine o'clock in the evening to six o'clock in the morning, from the day my training contract ended, I was informed that my evaluation result already came out. It was both positive and negative. I think I have positive remarks for the work itself, and I got negative remarks for the attitude and personality. I was thought of as a kid, though I admit that I am, quite. Then, just yesterday, I was informed that I did not pass as a Guest Services Specialist. If I know, the HR was just pissed at me since 'I am not answering the phone with gentleness'. Does she want me to sweet-talk on the phone when it should be formal? Err...I actually don't know whether to be depressed or happy about it. I wanted to resign from this work as soon as possible since I am putting more importance for my Singapore thing. However, I was being held back since one of my colleagues at least wanted to take a leave. She already booked her flight to somewhere. I am happy to be deprived of the task of resignation. I am depressed, partially, since I am worried if I really can perform the duties for the position of the Guest Services Specialist. I will have the same work when I go to Singapore. But I think that I was removed from my position due to the hotel's peculiarities. Not that I really mind it.

Our Marketing Officer was informed of it. She tried to comfort me by saying that she gave me good remarks for the evaluation and that it's a blessing in disguise since I will be better off at other hotels than there. I should just accept their sympathy. They don't know that I already have another employer on a foreign country. It's better to keep quiet about it. Maybe, my colleagues will inform them about it.

My experience here was quite a blast. It was my first time being in the Front Desk; deciding for others' actions; performing cashiering duties; being on a graveyard shift; reading online comics while on duty; receiving enveloped cash for salary; having a group check-in; dealing with rude guests; receiving stuff from guests; and even being recruited for a passenger ship. It was my first time for various things. It was also my first time to be removed from my position. It was fun, mentally stressful, plain and easy. People here are nice and easy to get along with. I have my own opinions to lots of them. I'm keeping that to myself though. :)