I can't believe how long it's been!

For those of you that follow, I am so sorry I haven't posted in so long! The one major perk about being out of high school is that you get a life! Shocking I know! But since I've made loads of friends and I am tied down by homework or my age I have been going out lots! So it's official! I have been in Wales for one whole month! One down, 8 to go! It's been quite a whirlwind since I got here! Work has been great! I love it, the people is great and I really don't mind the work. It's hard work but at the same time it's not. Although last week was a shitty week. Monday I had a 2-10 shift and it was just a crew dinner and one customer yelled at me all night about everything!!! I didn't plan the event or book it nor do I run the hotel and he still yelled at me! Then that night I got 4 hr sleep because I got home late and by the time I ate, showered and fell asleep it was totally midnight. So then I went to work the next day knackered and managed to burn myself with hot water 3 times. Down my stomach and hip, my foot and my forearm. Luckily they've healed and none of them have scarred which is the best part because I am already covered in scars. Then the rest of the week was just pretty much ruined! So thursday I worked the nigh shift and did veggie runs. So the way the dinners work is once the whole table is seated, the person in charge of that table breaks the napkin over the guests lap and asks for dietary requirements. Then if someone does a requirement you let your team leader know and the veggie runner takes care of it. So this particular night I decided to be veggie runner. Well we must of had over 20 requirementss in our section. I was so stressed and panicked. Thank god my team was amazing and another associate on my team helped me bring out all the dinners but in the process of bringing the dinners out I broke my shoe! The sole peeled right off!! So a very good friend offered to take to me Cardiff to buy new work shoes. So I got up early the next morning and headed out to Cardiff!OMG the shopping is phenomenal! For those of you that have shopped with me, you know its painful! I try on like 20 items and only take 1. I always complain about prices and its like nailing jello to a tree to get me to spend money. Well not here! All I do is shop! My wardrobe has become like 20 times better since I've been here! Shoes, purses, pants, and everything else! So then Friday night when we got home, it was my room mates birthday so we went out for that! And although I wasn't drunk that's the most I have ever drinken and I totally paced myself. But out of the 8 drink I had I probably paid for 1 of them. Cheapest way to do it! Everyone else who's drunk or even boys buy you drinks! So that was a fun, interesting experience! I worked Saturday and went to Cardiff again on Sunday to see the Castle and Shop some more! The castle is phenomenal because not only was it used in medieval times, it was used my soldiers in WWII.
Because C & B is super slow right now, they've moved all the full timers to work in different spots in the hotel. So I got a shift at the Resturaunt on the lobby level. All I have to say is I much prefer C & B. Then I had tuesday off and all I did was clean the house and do laundry. And the one day I do my sheets and towels, its sunny in the morning but as soon as I leave the house to go do errands it bloody rains! Luckily my room mates were home and they managed to bring them in before they got drenched! Today (my one month marker of being in Wales) I went into Cardiff with a very good friend and her son and we shopped until we dropped! I needed to get a few items for Halloween because a bunch of us from C & B are going out Friday for halloween and I am going to be a kitty cat! But I work 3 more times this week and that's really about all. My fluke I was hooked up with a Girl Guide Unit. I was talking to one of the CDR's at work and she said her and her guides were going to cook tonight. And I asked her if she meant girl guides and she said yes! So we got to talking and her other leader said it was ok if I came to meetings, sleepovers and camps when I was available! This is totally what I wanted! I have no repsonsibility in the Unit but I can still be with the girls and help out and still be in guiding! I love it here! The people, the shopping, the ambiance and my social life!

Getting into the groove of things.

So I have been working at the Resort for a full 2 weeks now. I always manage to get the weekend off which I love! The past couple days I have been setting up my bank account and getting a mobile phone. And soon enough I will have everything I need to survive the 9 months I am here. I love work, it is demading and tiring but I do love it and I love the people I work with. Up until now I have only worked the day shifts which I love and recently I did the night shift. I however do not like the night shift. Maybe it's because I am still new but I find them to be extremely stressful. We do this thing called silver service where we use a fork and spoon to serve dinner rolls as soon as the guests sit down. Well it's quite challenging at first and I dropped a dinner roll. So because I was totally embarassed out of my mind I decided to kick the roll under the table and continue. We then serve the starters. Now I can serve 3 starters at a time except when it's soup then it's only 3. Then we move onto mains which for the most part are ok but because the plates are bigger and hotter I can only carry 2. Then with dessert I can carry 3 again. So on the night shift you are constantly moving on your feet and carrying things whether its food or your clearing. The atmosphere is nice amongst me and my colleagues but I definately prefer day shifts.The only downside to work is the transportation to and from work. On morning when I start at 7, I have to get up at 4:30 to catch the 5:30 staff transport van. I could take a taxi but that expensive, from my house to the hotel is 6,40. To do that 4-5 times a week is too much. Then to catch a bus for that time of morning, I have to walk 30 minutes, catch the bus and then get to work for 6:50. So I've talked to my boss and staff transport and I've suggested they change the times. Then on days when I end at 5 or 7 I take one bus to the city centre and then transfer to the bus that gets me as close as possible to my house. The night shifts, I either catch staff transport at one of their designated times or I get a ride home with one of the Chef de Rang's that live a block away from me. I am making plans to go to Cardiff by the end of the month because supposedly it's very pretty, with a castle and there's great shopping! I am having fun getting to know people and explore the city.

2 boys, 1 girl

                No this isn’t a nasty YouTube video or a degrading porno. It’s my new life! I have moved into my staff accommodations. It’s a long walk away from work and a quick drive but a very long bus ride. But I’ll get to transport later. My house is a row house, so on my street there is about 150 houses all connected. It sucks! Because my neighbour plays Nirvana super loud from 4-5. And I can hear my other neighbour yelling at her kids to stop fighting. It’s normally quiet but man when it get going boy does it ever go. My house is 2 levels. As soon as you walk through the door and turn right, we have a small living room with 2 love seats and a chair. There is also a fireplace and a stand where out TV is soon to be. Next you go through a walkway and directly to your right again is my room. It’s the second largest room in the house and it has red carpet. And the only window in my room gives me a lovely view of my own kitchen. So if you go out of my room and turn left and go straight you will find our lovely open large kitchen. With 2 stoves, a separate fridge and freezer, a sink and a washing machine. And loads of cupboard space. However people in the UK don’t use dryers! We have a clothing line in the backyard but I am scared to use it! What if it rains while I am at work, then the clothes are dirty again. Or what if someone steals my clothing and of course why would I put my panties and bra up from all my neighbours and roommate to see. So I bought a drying rack instead and that now sits in my room. If you go up the stairs, directly in front of you is a very small empty bedroom because there is no one to fill it right now. Right beside that is Lorenz room. He is one of my house mates and he is from Germany. He too was at the EHA. He’s very nice and he is polite enough to smoke outside in the backyard. Beside him is Ignatio; my other roommate from Spain. He too is very polite and nice but he totally reminds me of Ricky Ricardo! Definitely not in looks but in accent (yes I know Ricardo was from Cuba), and his jokes and laugh. It makes me miss the hundreds of I Love Lucy episodes I have recorded at home. So I moved in Tuesday afternoon, then I went for an hour’s walk to their wal mart equivalent and I bought a few food items and some stuff for my room. Since I didn’t know the bus schedule at all I walked home. I walked for one hour with 20lbs of crap. I can no say I have the beginnings of muscles in my arm. When I got home I met my roommates and we talked for what must have been like 2 hours. Then I went to bed because my shift started at 7 which meant I had to be up at 5:15 and catch the staff transport at 6:20. So for the shifts I work super early 6-8, the hotel will pick me up and take me work. Likewise if I stay for the late shift and I am done from 12:45 onwards, the hotel will drop me off at home or as close by as possible. Otherwise I am on my own to get to and from work. The public transport in Newport is thoroughly confusing. No stops are marked with the name and a rare few have the time schedule. Now there are 2 major roads in Newport; Chepster and Corporation. I live off of Corporation which means, I have to take a 25 minutes bus ride to the city centre and then another 10 to work. I haven’t bussed to work yet so I don’t know how that one works but were going to have to figure it out. For those of you who know me well, I don’t take public transport like ever. And the odd time I do I panic! I never know how much, or where to sit and what stop to get off at or what bus to get on. Public transport is so scary for me. But by the end of these 10 months I am going to be a bus pro. So I’ve had my first 2 days of work and met most of the team. Out of 700 employees there are only 2 Canadians; which I find funny because the owner in Canadian. The first shift I set up for a large banquet and the second day I helped run that banquet. I did the juice and water station as well as the coffee and tea station. So after my second shift, I went down to the staff canteen where I get free but unhealthy meals. There are 2 computers there with internet staff can use but they are timed. So you log on with your name and after 25 minutes you’re logged out and you personally cannot sign on for another hour. So I went down to get a glimpse of everyone back at home and I read e-mails from my mom and dad that were so encouraging and loving and my chin started to wiggle. Then I read a wall post from my best friend (and she knows who she is, and it’s not your fault I was just mentally and physically exhausted) and then I started to cry. That was the first time in 19 days that I cried and truly felt home sick. The fact that I don’t have internet here makes it even more upsetting because that’s my connection to home and I don’t have that. 19 days is the longest I’ve gone now without being homesick. 2 summers ago I spent 16 days in Ontario. But then I was in the same country and surrounded by friends; so it wasn’t that bad. I hope once I have permanent internet I will get over this hump of home sickness. And in efforts to do so I spent Friday walking around the local shops which are a 15 minute bus ride away. There is like 100 shops lining a pedestrian street and one of the stores was an O2 store. This is where C and I bought our internet stick we used in Germany. So I went in and bought one so excited that now I could finally contact the world. So I bussed home and set it all up only to learn the converter C left with me broke for good. So I walked to the local home hardware type store and bought myself 2 converters. And on the way back I got a library card at the local library that actually has really good books. So I got back home plugged in my computer and started to install the O2 stick which they call a dongle. Well it doesn’t work because the lady who sold it to me gave me one that requires a mobile phone. I don’t have one yet and won’t have one till next week when I have a bank account set up. So I went to the O2 store at the city centre and she set it all up on my laptop and I now have INTERNET!!!! I have never been so happy and relieved! I can finally Skype my mom and dad and my friends! It makes me feel 100% better!

Some Unfortunate News and My first day--totally unrelated

Alright followers, I have some sad news. My cousin C has decided to return back home. This journey wasn't suited for her. And after sitting in Accident and Emergency for 4 hours yesterday, and getting a medication that gave her hives, she decided it was time to go home. She leaves tomorrow morning before the sun is even up. So we've said our goodbyes so she can get some form of sleep. I am sad to see her go as I was looking forward to this journey with her. But I will be fine, don't forget originally I was doing this journey alone anyways.
On a better note by first day was bloody brilliant. It started with a class room like setting where we did an ice breaker, went through a powerpoint where I learned a canadian owned and operated the resort. Then we had an amazing 3 course meal starting with sweet bean and tomato soup, then braised beef with beans and potatoes and finishing with a chocolate raspberry mousse! It was delicious! Then we took a tour of the whole resort which took over 2 hours! This place is massive. So tomorrow is all health and safety and then we go over details of our first shift and then I am moving into my new house! I am very excited and I plan to unpack ASAP! No more living out of a suitcase, then I plan to explore the town because I need to pick up a few things like towels, an alarm clock, a converter and I need to find the local grocery store. It should be a good week!

Cloud Nine

So we are here! We are in Wales! We both woke up way to early on Saturday. We were up at 9 and didn't have to leave till 12:15. So by the time we had gotten up, eaten the last morsel of food in our house, cleaned up and packed up, it was only 10:30. So I read and she did crosswords puzzles until our ride got to our flat. We went onto the Autobahn which was expectionally busy because there were 3 accidents! All involving two small cars going way to fast! So we got to the airport and loaded all 5 suitcases onto a trolley and checked in. Checking in at the Frankfurt is very different and futuristic. They have a bank of yelling machines that look like ATM's. In actuality you scan your passport, pick your seat and print your boarding pass. Then along a wall that has to bee close to 300 ft, you check in your luggage. I did not have to pay over weight which was amazing because my suitcase was definately over the weight limit by like 11 or 12 lbs. So we went through the security which is way more slack than Canada or the States. I could keep all jewlerry on and shoes. Then from there we went a grab and fly food spot because we were both ready to eat our fingers off, that's how hungry we both were. Then we went to board. But as I was going through an attendant stopped me, picked up my carry on suitcase and said "Uh-Uh, its overweight and too big, it must be checked." and he whisked it away from me. Thankfully it did make it to our desination. We sat on the plane, me on the aisle of course. It was a quick small flight. So when we landed in Heathrow we were dumbfounded at how big that airport is! We must of walked miles and miles! So we had to fill out this landing card that asked us our UK address, well we didn't have one and we still don't have one yet. So we explained our situation to the Visa/boarder crossing lady and she was so bitchy!! Just because you hate your job and you have terrible hair doesn't me you have to hate the whole world! "She was like, if only I belived you! Put your first hotel address in and then maybe you can go through." Well now I am stressed through the roof and panicked! My nickname on High School council last year was Stress Bomb. I love travelling but not the actual act of getting from point a to point b. So we managed to get through the assistance of a very nice chap. Then we walked another 1000 miles to get our luggage which was out right away and the first thing I did was check to make sure my laptop hadn't broken during the flight in my carry on. We then made our way up to the bus station where we waited. The bus came and we got on it. We rode the bus for 2 hours and then got off at the Newport Bus Station. Now this is where I almost went into cardiac arrest. My mother had booked us into a B & B close by. So when I went online to get the address I just typed in the name and UK. Well that was my first mistake. I went to a taxi driver who told me that address was 2 hours away and I almost crapped a brick. I thought he was mistaken. But he said that's where it was so set of on our 2 hour journey but by some miracle of god  (and I don't believe in god so that was a miracle in itself) we stopped at a gas station where a cop car was. He went and got gas and I went to talk to the police officer. And at this point I am trembling almost in tears so I explain to him " Look were both canadians and were trying to get to this B & B  but the taxi driver said it was 2 hours away and my mom told me it was 5 mins from the bus station." So he called it in and asked HQ and they gave us the proper address and the taxi driver took us there and it was indeed the right  B&B. We got there and everything worked out! Then we walked to the local 7 eleven type store and bought dinner. Then we ate it and went to bed. And toilets here are so confusing! Then the police officer we talked to earlier that night dropped by to make sure the " 2 young canadian girls" made it to the right place and we weren't whisked away somewhere. Now in the midst of setting the alarm for the morning I changed the time on the clock. I thought we were going to be at 12:15 but it was actually 10:15. So when we got up at 8 to shower and stuff it was 6 and breakfast wasn't being served till 9:30. So we crawled back into bed for 2 more hours. We had a typical english breakfast consisting of a hashbrown, toast, baked beans, mushrooms, a funny looking bacon, sausage and of course black pudding. Needless to say I had a very small breakfast. Then the owners Cathie and Ross got talking and we found out that Cathy used to be snowy owl in a brownie unit in Wales. I was so excited to have that connection with her and I am looking into hooking up with a unit. So we took a taxi up to the Celtic Manor Resort where I am sitting now and absolutely loving it! It's like the first 2-3 days in home alone where he has no parents and is excited about it. Or it's like pretty women minus the prostitute part. I have a whole big room to myself and its' fancy. All expenses paid, I don't pay for the room or food or anything! And tomorrow night I am going to zumba class after induction and then for a swim and sauna! I've posted photos on fb. So excited to be here! The bell boys are adorable especially with their accents and I can't wait to start work!

Updating the World

It's been a few days since I've blogged so I figured while I had the computer I'd jot some stuff down. Classes re-started Monday but in a different format. The remaining students that didn't leave on Friday night were split into 2 classes. Class 1 (my class) had classes Monday and Tuesday from 9-10:45 and we had free time and lunch till 1:30. Then Class 2 was 11-12:45. Once lunch is over we have to wear our black and white outfits and head over to the Academy's resturaunt- The Scotland Yard where we have service training. We have all new teachers and girls in our class that weren't before but I knew who they were. So in my morning class we are learning a program called Fidelio. It is a hotel program used all over Europe. It is for making reservations, checking in, checking out, billings, wake up calls and everything else under the sun in a hotel. I have greatly succeeded at this. I did lessons 1,2,3 in the first hour long class. I'm not sure if it's because it's easy or because I am good at computers but I find it fun and easy. Then after lunch we have service training. Now this entails loads. So far we've set tables, folded napkins, and many other things you must know for working in a restuaraunt. Then for the last half hour of each class we do Cocktail mixing. Everyone picks a cocktail they wanna make and we do it and we each test it. I chose to make a butterfly which is orange juice, blue couracao and cointreau. I have to say the after taste is much better than the actual drink. We've tried lots so far, Mai Tai's, London Fog, Raspberry Daquiri, Sylvia, Julia, White Cloud. Loads of alcohol however anything with Gin I do not drink. And now since I am out of the house, saying this story I don't feel I'll be punished but Mom and Dad I love you. The last time I had gin, I put half a jigger into my juice and finished the whole thing. But before I even got to the bottom of the glass I was on the floor writhing in pain. My body cannot handle gin! Therefore I don't drink it. However sweet things like Mudslides, Margaritas, Pina coladas, that's all up my alley and oh beer. I love beer, its something I have inherited from my mom. So we have class Thursday, Friday and then Saturday we move countries again! Saturday we take our flight to London Heathrow because that was actually the cheapest. From there we are taking a national express bus to Newport. From there we are staying in a cute B & B. Then we move to the hotel were working at to sleep there for the night. Monday morning is induction day and then after that we move into our permanent housing for 10 months. Well 10 months for me, my cousin C is debating but she seems to like the figure 6 months. After we settle in we have to go shopping. We need alarm clocks and towels and depending, maybe a pillow or two. Then we have 2 more days of induction then I become a working girl for the first time in my life. I never really worked in high school, between keeping my grades and basketball and soccer and dance and skating and babysitting and last but not least Girl Guides, I never had time. So this is going to be new and exciting and yes I am a little nervous I am going to hate work and sometimes when I get into a must work mode I work without eating or drinking and I just go. For those of you who know me well that is a cause for fainting and that does worry me. And my shoulder worry's me that I'll overuse it and it's all a play by ear game. We shall see how all goes. I am unaware of our internet situation when were in wales. I don't think I'll be posting till late next week. It'll be a long post to catch everyone up!So people who follow my blog I shall talk to you later!

People and their cars

Yesterday we decided we were going to sleep in. No alarms and no deadlines. So I woke up around 11 thinking i have about 2 hrs before we leave. WRONG! I had all of 45 minutes to eat, get dressed and get ready. Our german friends were taking us to the Frankfurt Intenational Car Show. I am not a fan of cars, yes they can be pretty but their purpose is to get you from point A to point B. We took the train which to took an hour into Frankfurt and started walking around all the car pavillions. And while I took lots of pictures, the pictures were only of the cars I thought were pretty. We walked from 1-9 pretty much non stop. We went into Mercedes, Lotus, Chevrolet, BMW and loads of other cars. It was exciting to be in Frankfurt and it was good to get out of little Heppenheim and see some other places while were here. The car show closed at 7 so we left then. But we got lost and couldn't find our way back to the train station. So a transit man told us to get on his bus and it'll take us to a train station. So 5 out of us 7 got on the bus and the other 2 got a bus behind us. Well the bus has its last stop at a random parking lot. So we got off and started to walk around. A lovelt man directed us to a train bus station and we waited all of 2 minutes until we go on. So the train bus is interesting, it looks like a bus on the inside but its on rails. We rode that for 20 minutes and it took us to the main Frankfurt train station. On the outside it looks like the train station in Vancouver but on the inside it looks like one in Euro Trip, no lie! It's huge with all window ceilings and lots of stores and food places. So we got on the train back to Heppenheim. But what's interesting is at home we pay to use the bus, or the trains but here you don't. They have a different system. When you enter the city, you pay a mandatory fee which pays for all transport you use in the city. So we payed the student fee of 7.50 Euros and that payed for all buses, trains and train busses. So we managed to get home and C and I were pooped! We walked all day and the excitement took over. So we decided to lay low in bed and I read and we skyped. Then our room mate comes back and tells us they have decided to go out clubbing. We said no because we were already in PJ's and exahusted. So we said have fun and good night. Well it turns out, they took the train again into Frankfurt clubbed till 5, then they waited in McDonalds till 6 when the first train leaves. So they ended up back at home for 7:20. And slept till 3. Now I like to party and dance and all but staying up that late and thats when you all these stories about girls. I am incredibly thankful there safe and I didn't go. Today we hung around because we wanted to rest up for the next week at school. Which should be interesting. It's service training which is like serving people and drink mixing. So it should be fun!