19 December....6.00 my alarm went off.....and unlike the days before, I was eager to get out of bed! 7.00 the breakfast shift starts and the assignment for the first few days is observe the restaurant in breakfast service, preparation and the purchasing system. The comments about some issues I made a few days ago were all solved. Today I just wanted to get to know all the staff and see how they work. Surprisingly at 8.30 the chef, sous-chef and the pastry chef called me (their shift starts at 15.00 today) for a meeting. So this cooperation is off to a good start.
The first days are mostly getting to know the hotel, my colleagues and the way of working here. The first days and weeks on any new job are always a bit chaotic, because of learning the system, new people and the most important for me here is to find the issues that need attention. The first week I was confused and a bit lost because the "system" here is so different from what I am used to. In Europe everything (especially me) is so structured and digitalized, here it feels like they go with the flow and small paper with notes are everywhere! Of course I am used to some of this because of my work at BeHoCa in Mombasa, but this is a business and much bigger too. It is my job to make things go more smooth, quick and accurate. To bring the two worlds of "pole pole" Africa and mostly European guests together. So from the second week, when I started to get the work method and saw the issues, I started to really check on people and correct them where things don't go so smoothly. Two words I have to keep in my head: Repeat and check!
I have to say, the guests love this place and so do I. Its so calm and relaxed, the food is great and the location amazing. Everyone leaves here with a smile on their face and completely relaxed, that is what all we want!
From Christmas until after New Years the hotel if full, so that is around 90 people as guests here. The whole week we served buffet and offered entertainment. It is a lot of work but the guests (and us) enjoyed! For Christmas and New year we had a buffet on the beach followed by a beach party, so after the hard work the staff could relax and enjoy too. Both evenings we had a lot of local boys joining in on the dancing, it was great to see how much fun they had! Me personally, I had two great evenings with guests, colleagues and friends, and to be able to walk New Years night barefoot on the beach at 2AM is one of the most amazing things for me, this is happiness!
The long days and short nights are worth every second! Even though it's not always easy, I love my new job. I realize that it is going to be hard at times, but like all of you know I love to work hard and I love challenges! Sitting on my ... and do nothing is not for me. I do try to relax and enjoy too, but as long as the hotel is full and attention is needed here, I will focus and work hard to keep improving!
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