Ooit eens op een datingsite gezeten? Of in ieder geval gekeken wat er nou precies allemaal voor hype omheen is?
Zijn we allemaal zo lui geworden met onze huidige maatschapij dat we echt niet eens de moeite meer willen nemen om mensen te ontmoeten buiten?
Misschien is het geen luiheid die heeft toegeslagen maar een gevoel van snelheid en privacy.
Iemand die achter een computer klimt om een profiel samen te stellen van al hun beste kwaliteiten om die dan te laten zien aan miljoenen mannen en vrouwen kan op z'n/haar gemak alle slechte trekjes achterwege laten.
Ja, iedereen reist veel (of wil graag reizen), iedereen leest graag (of wil graag veel lezen), iedereen is erg sociaal met vrienden en iedereen is op zoek naar die ene persoon die hun kan aanvullen.
Klinkt bekend? Waarschijnlijk omdat waarschijnlijk 80% van alle mensen op een dating website een soort gelijk profiel aanmaken en zo weinig mogelijk dingen invullen die hun kansen om iemand te ontmoeten verkleinen.
Al een aantal maanden zit ik ook op een van de grotere datingsites. Om heel eerlijk te zijn is dit mijn tweede keer. Ook ik ben sociaal, goed gelezen en hou van reizen. Hoeveel is dit nou waar?
Ik lees inderdaad veel. Kranten dus.
Ik ben in mijn hoofd sociaal genoeg maar moet er niet aan denken om 24/7 met andere mensen te zijn. Een beetje privacy graag.
En reizen?
Om precies te zijn was m'n laatste echte vakantie in Maart 2006 naar Curacao.
Grote plannen, weinig uitvoering.
Mijn grootste struikelblok? Het feit dat niet iedereen een foto op hun profiel zet en dat ze wel verwachten dat je na een 'knipoog' of suf kort emailtje, je aan hun voeten gooit.
Daarbij komt ook dat uiterlijke beschrijvingen meestal veel te wensen over laat en vrij kan worden opgevat.
'Ik heb een gemiddeld postuur' betekende voor een man dat de bierbuik die over de riem hing heel normaal was in Londen.
'Goed verzorgd zwart haar' betekende ongewassen rattenstaartje.
Maar m'n favoriete moment kwam toen ik iemand een emailtje had terug gestuurd om vriendelijk te bedanken voor de aandacht maar dat hij niet mijn type was. Daarna heb ik nog drie emails ontvangen van de heer in kwestie die me de huid volschold omdat ik hem had afgewezen.
Goede momenten?
Weinig.
Eigenlijk geen. Wel een aantal dates gehad maar om een of andere reden viel het me altijd tegen. OK we zijn allebei zenuwachtig maar als het klikt, klikt het. Anders niet. En geklikt heeft het nog niet.
Ik blijf denk ik nog even op de site hangen, optimistisch hopend dat er misschien toch nog een iemand tussen zit maar met de hoeveelheid Spanjaarden, Fransen en Italianen die momenteel contact zoeken zijn er maar weinig heren in de omgeving die m'n aandacht vangen!
Voor alle single ladies out there: Goede jacht en geef niet op!!
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Internship IntermeZZo: Day 142
PUBLISHED: 16/01/2006
9.15 AM
The day has started at a fast pace. Today is the day I have been living up to for weeks. The Traditional Travel Trade Christmas lunch day. All my most important clients will be here to have a lunch with the hot shots of Hilton International
and I had to arrange it. With some help of my lovely colleague Scott of course. Right now I am still experiencing the silence before the storm but I am pretty sure that only in a few moments, all hell will break loose.
10.30 am
Still going well, last arrangements made, picked up all the name cards and menus to put on the table. No last minute cancellations at all.
11.00 am
Table setting: check! Candles: check! Flowers: check! Pianist: check! Bar (including gallons of champagne): check! I am ready to go.
Almost at least. Two of my guests showed up, believing I had checked them into a room and since I had no idea what they were talking about, we made a sprint to Christian in Guest Relations. I admit, this was not my favorite time to practice my sweet talking skills on someone of the staff (certainly not the ones who fancy men) but I had no choice! And since Christian is one of my friends, he didn’t mind.
11.10 am
And they’re in a room!!
Phew.. save!
11.50 am
Where are they going with my neatly printed menu cards? When I follow, I get yelled at to stay away but after ten minutes my colleagues re-appear with the menus. Chef made last minute changes so the menu did not correspond with the dishes! Thanks for picking that up guys!!
1.30 pm
One cancellations and two add-ons! My covers on the table: I don’t have enough.
Some quick rearranging of the table settings, printing a name card and some running and we are all set for an extra cover. If I had just thought about the table planning pinned to the board.
Back in the office I decide to do some of the work that has been lying around for weeks now and I realize (thankfully) there were no desperate cases awaiting my attention. It makes life just a little bit easier.
3.45 pm
I went down to see how everything was going, whether anything needed some tweaking or probing. I came in on time to hear the speech of one of the guests from our Head Office and she even mention ME!! Jippy! Thanks and everything, people clapping,me feeling very happy – too bad I couldn’t drown myself in the wine like some of them to
celebrate.
6.50 pm
I want to go home!!! Well, almost then.My last check on the group,who have now moved
to the bar downstairs for some more excess drinking. The merry singing and laughing
sound in my ears as I arrive and I in my mind I can see someone dancing on the table, swinging his hat. But they are all neatly on their chairs, sipping their drinks.
7.15 pm
After the necessary smooching and hugging and shaking of hands I finally make my way back to the office to grab my coat and make my way home. It’s been one hell of a day and when I come in the next morning I have at least a dozen of ‘Thank you’ emails,which makes all the effort worth it!
9.15 AM
The day has started at a fast pace. Today is the day I have been living up to for weeks. The Traditional Travel Trade Christmas lunch day. All my most important clients will be here to have a lunch with the hot shots of Hilton International
and I had to arrange it. With some help of my lovely colleague Scott of course. Right now I am still experiencing the silence before the storm but I am pretty sure that only in a few moments, all hell will break loose.
10.30 am
Still going well, last arrangements made, picked up all the name cards and menus to put on the table. No last minute cancellations at all.
11.00 am
Table setting: check! Candles: check! Flowers: check! Pianist: check! Bar (including gallons of champagne): check! I am ready to go.
Almost at least. Two of my guests showed up, believing I had checked them into a room and since I had no idea what they were talking about, we made a sprint to Christian in Guest Relations. I admit, this was not my favorite time to practice my sweet talking skills on someone of the staff (certainly not the ones who fancy men) but I had no choice! And since Christian is one of my friends, he didn’t mind.
11.10 am
And they’re in a room!!
Phew.. save!
11.50 am
Where are they going with my neatly printed menu cards? When I follow, I get yelled at to stay away but after ten minutes my colleagues re-appear with the menus. Chef made last minute changes so the menu did not correspond with the dishes! Thanks for picking that up guys!!
1.30 pm
One cancellations and two add-ons! My covers on the table: I don’t have enough.
Some quick rearranging of the table settings, printing a name card and some running and we are all set for an extra cover. If I had just thought about the table planning pinned to the board.
Back in the office I decide to do some of the work that has been lying around for weeks now and I realize (thankfully) there were no desperate cases awaiting my attention. It makes life just a little bit easier.
3.45 pm
I went down to see how everything was going, whether anything needed some tweaking or probing. I came in on time to hear the speech of one of the guests from our Head Office and she even mention ME!! Jippy! Thanks and everything, people clapping,me feeling very happy – too bad I couldn’t drown myself in the wine like some of them to
celebrate.
6.50 pm
I want to go home!!! Well, almost then.My last check on the group,who have now moved
to the bar downstairs for some more excess drinking. The merry singing and laughing
sound in my ears as I arrive and I in my mind I can see someone dancing on the table, swinging his hat. But they are all neatly on their chairs, sipping their drinks.
7.15 pm
After the necessary smooching and hugging and shaking of hands I finally make my way back to the office to grab my coat and make my way home. It’s been one hell of a day and when I come in the next morning I have at least a dozen of ‘Thank you’ emails,which makes all the effort worth it!
Internship IntermeZZo Day: 101
PUBLISHED: 22/11/2005
7.00 AM Early enough, on this drowsy Wednesday, after groggily stumbling out of my bed and dragging myself into the shower I run in to one of my house mates, coming back from work. Odd enough I also ran into him the night before; I was going to bed, he was off to work. Now he is going to bed and I am off to work. Funny how that works.
8.45 AM
Traffic jams are wonderful, especially when you are smack in the middle of them, are in a hurry and have a cranky bus driver who won’t open the door so you can walk to your office, which is only 500 meters from the bus. My only consolation was that
when I finally arrived,my colleague had the coffee ready.
10.30 AM
One meeting cancelled, two runs down to reception and three coffees later I settle
myself, determined to prepare for our next meeting when my phone rings.
Guest Relations received a phone call from a guest that he was really pleased to find my business card in his room with a brochure pack (question marks start flying
through my head), which is nice to hear but I have not a clue who this man is or how he got my card. Oh well, a happy guest is a happy Gemma.
11.45 AM
Lunch time.
(Wooohooo)
12.30 AM
After running through the building to check my show round rooms, for potential guests, I storm into my meeting and sit down next to our General Manager, while I flick through the report I am expected to make sense of in two minutes. Interesting, difficult, small print, god I could do with a coffee…
2.00 PM
Breathe, in and out, don’t panic yet! With only three people running two departments, it is very hard to find some time to work on your personal and professional development. As I was working in our Hilton University room, my colleague runs in and while pulling her hair, asks if I could please please please come back to help with the emails and the phones. Another moment of studying shattered.
4.00 PM
Apparently my appearance was rather shocking when I walked back because everyone
suddenly wanted to do stuff for me (do my post, answer my phone, get me something to drink etc). Then again, there is so much to do right now that I have already decided to cheat and go for greasy take away. I have no other choice but to indulge (myself).
5.30 PM
Normally I do leave a little later but today I was keen on running out of the office at this time. Tomorrow an entire day in Croydon for a training and I am very curious
to see how overloaded my mailbox will be on Friday. What I notice every day is how,
eventhough I am running and flying, I still see more than I had expected. Everyone has their own jobs but I notice that when you are troubled or up to your ears in work, there will always be others to help you out, if you just ask.
Day 101 over and out.
7.00 AM Early enough, on this drowsy Wednesday, after groggily stumbling out of my bed and dragging myself into the shower I run in to one of my house mates, coming back from work. Odd enough I also ran into him the night before; I was going to bed, he was off to work. Now he is going to bed and I am off to work. Funny how that works.
8.45 AM
Traffic jams are wonderful, especially when you are smack in the middle of them, are in a hurry and have a cranky bus driver who won’t open the door so you can walk to your office, which is only 500 meters from the bus. My only consolation was that
when I finally arrived,my colleague had the coffee ready.
10.30 AM
One meeting cancelled, two runs down to reception and three coffees later I settle
myself, determined to prepare for our next meeting when my phone rings.
Guest Relations received a phone call from a guest that he was really pleased to find my business card in his room with a brochure pack (question marks start flying
through my head), which is nice to hear but I have not a clue who this man is or how he got my card. Oh well, a happy guest is a happy Gemma.
11.45 AM
Lunch time.
(Wooohooo)
12.30 AM
After running through the building to check my show round rooms, for potential guests, I storm into my meeting and sit down next to our General Manager, while I flick through the report I am expected to make sense of in two minutes. Interesting, difficult, small print, god I could do with a coffee…
2.00 PM
Breathe, in and out, don’t panic yet! With only three people running two departments, it is very hard to find some time to work on your personal and professional development. As I was working in our Hilton University room, my colleague runs in and while pulling her hair, asks if I could please please please come back to help with the emails and the phones. Another moment of studying shattered.
4.00 PM
Apparently my appearance was rather shocking when I walked back because everyone
suddenly wanted to do stuff for me (do my post, answer my phone, get me something to drink etc). Then again, there is so much to do right now that I have already decided to cheat and go for greasy take away. I have no other choice but to indulge (myself).
5.30 PM
Normally I do leave a little later but today I was keen on running out of the office at this time. Tomorrow an entire day in Croydon for a training and I am very curious
to see how overloaded my mailbox will be on Friday. What I notice every day is how,
eventhough I am running and flying, I still see more than I had expected. Everyone has their own jobs but I notice that when you are troubled or up to your ears in work, there will always be others to help you out, if you just ask.
Day 101 over and out.
Internship IntermeZZo: Day 82
PUBLISHED: 31/10/2005
7.00 AM: Finally a decent time to have the alarm go, no strange hours right now (carefully avoiding my timetable on Wednesday and Thursday).
After a strange week with a small amount of hours of sleep, I am glad to sleep in until 7.
8.30 AM:With my fresh bread rolls and a Tall Double shot Toffee Nut Latte (no cream) from Starbucks, I set myself behind my desk and realize there was no reason for getting breakfast this morning. It is FRIDAY!! A.k.a. everyone brings croissants, doughnuts and other types of delicious treats along for the rest of the office and we all start stuffing ourselves.
9.15 AM: Crisis arises, as I am in charge for preparing the show round rooms for potential guests and clients,my colleague harasses me that he needs the rooms in 5 minutes… but they are not clean yet! (as in: housekeeping hasn’t cleaned them yet).
Running down to reception I receive three rooms but when I arrive to check them, they are all OCCUPIED!! Again I dash down to the young man behind the counter, who just moments ago shamelessly flirted and shake him thoroughly and he produces three new rooms… better and (thankfully) empty. Crisis 1 is settled.
10.40 AM: Crisis 2: Guest/Agent complaint. After spending half an hour calming the lady down I finally dash off to Room service and order a fruit basket as a peace offer and write a lovely card. Rest at last.
12.45 PM: No Issues yet. (Ok, I did forget to send my brother a birthday card…hmm)
Finally a chance to keep working on one thing at a time without interruption, no emails, no phone calls, no people crying for your help.
1.45 PM: Suddenly I realise I completely forgot an important memo… The Backstreet Boys are in for a fundraiser lunch! Funnily enough, no one here seems to care or think big of it. I decide to ask.
1.55 AM: Ok, to give a better picture, there was only 1 B-boy coming and whenever someone asked about it outside of the hotel, we’d flatly say: NO! That’s not true.
Well, that was what we were supposed to say. Somehow a few people knew and the lobby was full of interested parties. And I wasn’t there, which was a shame since I would have liked to see the screeching/screaming/hysterically crying deranged fans. (life is so good!) But no… I missed it.
3.00 PM: Sending out my cookie order for next week I realize that it is almost time to go home, fair enough it is still another 2,5 hours but then it is and really will be WEEKEND. Believe me, after you start working for a company like this you start to appreciate your weekends more than while you were a student. There is so much more work to do, such long hours and very demanding people around you that at some points you might feel that it is all about to cave in on you and that you get no rest whatsoever. That’s when your weekend feels like heaven.
Until the next day!!
7.00 AM: Finally a decent time to have the alarm go, no strange hours right now (carefully avoiding my timetable on Wednesday and Thursday).
After a strange week with a small amount of hours of sleep, I am glad to sleep in until 7.
8.30 AM:With my fresh bread rolls and a Tall Double shot Toffee Nut Latte (no cream) from Starbucks, I set myself behind my desk and realize there was no reason for getting breakfast this morning. It is FRIDAY!! A.k.a. everyone brings croissants, doughnuts and other types of delicious treats along for the rest of the office and we all start stuffing ourselves.
9.15 AM: Crisis arises, as I am in charge for preparing the show round rooms for potential guests and clients,my colleague harasses me that he needs the rooms in 5 minutes… but they are not clean yet! (as in: housekeeping hasn’t cleaned them yet).
Running down to reception I receive three rooms but when I arrive to check them, they are all OCCUPIED!! Again I dash down to the young man behind the counter, who just moments ago shamelessly flirted and shake him thoroughly and he produces three new rooms… better and (thankfully) empty. Crisis 1 is settled.
10.40 AM: Crisis 2: Guest/Agent complaint. After spending half an hour calming the lady down I finally dash off to Room service and order a fruit basket as a peace offer and write a lovely card. Rest at last.
12.45 PM: No Issues yet. (Ok, I did forget to send my brother a birthday card…hmm)
Finally a chance to keep working on one thing at a time without interruption, no emails, no phone calls, no people crying for your help.
1.45 PM: Suddenly I realise I completely forgot an important memo… The Backstreet Boys are in for a fundraiser lunch! Funnily enough, no one here seems to care or think big of it. I decide to ask.
1.55 AM: Ok, to give a better picture, there was only 1 B-boy coming and whenever someone asked about it outside of the hotel, we’d flatly say: NO! That’s not true.
Well, that was what we were supposed to say. Somehow a few people knew and the lobby was full of interested parties. And I wasn’t there, which was a shame since I would have liked to see the screeching/screaming/hysterically crying deranged fans. (life is so good!) But no… I missed it.
3.00 PM: Sending out my cookie order for next week I realize that it is almost time to go home, fair enough it is still another 2,5 hours but then it is and really will be WEEKEND. Believe me, after you start working for a company like this you start to appreciate your weekends more than while you were a student. There is so much more work to do, such long hours and very demanding people around you that at some points you might feel that it is all about to cave in on you and that you get no rest whatsoever. That’s when your weekend feels like heaven.
Until the next day!!
Internship IntermeZZo: Day 46
PUBLISHED: 10/10/2005
06.00
How do I getmyself into these things? Oh wait a minute, I didn't! Someone else did.... poor me. Argh too soon, again. At least it's not raining...yet. Oh well, I guess being part of a committee that is destined to save the world requires a bit of self offering. Today I will be giving a few presentations on how we can preserve the environment within the hotel. And of course I get the early shift!
07.00
Alright, no breakfast, no coffee, no sleep! I feel great! But I know that the company takes care of us and before I know it I am blessed with a huge cup of coffee, bacon and eggs, bread and a good mood.This is not too bad, at least it didn't rain!
07.30
Excitement, the first round. A little bit nervous I climb up onto the stage. I open my eyes and see that for this first shift there are only 15 people who showed up... what a relieve, a good ice breaker. As I click along the screen I explain how the Hilton helps to preserve the environment,what efforts are made and how we can all
help. A little bit of interest makes a lot of difference.
09.30
Ok my nerves are now focused on something completely different. This presentation is just as smooth, just as witty and just as touching but my heart is pounding while I
have a meeting… in exactly 15 minutes and I can’t be late. Thankfully the movie goes all well, the images flash by and before I know it I am crashing down the stairs,my bag flying and my heels clicking. Phew, I made it; even without falling flat on my face as I tripped over the carpet in the lobby.
11.00
Hungry – but still in meeting, no food here.
13.30
Lunchtime!!! Well, due to an overfull schedule, only 20 minutes but that is fine with me.
16.00
Ah real working life finally.The moment I was about to leave my phone rings. It’s my boss and she had a list of things for me to do and to check so I guess I am stuck a bit longer at my desk. At least it is something that I need to know as well and which will help me develop myself. Hmm… maybe I can catch dinner here as well.
17.30
Official going home time, I am still at my desk.With a new cup of coffee and typing as if my life depends on it, I cling to the computer (and the caffeine) as my last life line.
19.00
Jippy, I am done… I think I will just find myself an internet café and chat with some friends. Home is not an option yet. I am guessing I will make my way home somewhere around 22.00 tonight and then get up the next day. Yep, I love my job!
06.00
How do I getmyself into these things? Oh wait a minute, I didn't! Someone else did.... poor me. Argh too soon, again. At least it's not raining...yet. Oh well, I guess being part of a committee that is destined to save the world requires a bit of self offering. Today I will be giving a few presentations on how we can preserve the environment within the hotel. And of course I get the early shift!
07.00
Alright, no breakfast, no coffee, no sleep! I feel great! But I know that the company takes care of us and before I know it I am blessed with a huge cup of coffee, bacon and eggs, bread and a good mood.This is not too bad, at least it didn't rain!
07.30
Excitement, the first round. A little bit nervous I climb up onto the stage. I open my eyes and see that for this first shift there are only 15 people who showed up... what a relieve, a good ice breaker. As I click along the screen I explain how the Hilton helps to preserve the environment,what efforts are made and how we can all
help. A little bit of interest makes a lot of difference.
09.30
Ok my nerves are now focused on something completely different. This presentation is just as smooth, just as witty and just as touching but my heart is pounding while I
have a meeting… in exactly 15 minutes and I can’t be late. Thankfully the movie goes all well, the images flash by and before I know it I am crashing down the stairs,my bag flying and my heels clicking. Phew, I made it; even without falling flat on my face as I tripped over the carpet in the lobby.
11.00
Hungry – but still in meeting, no food here.
13.30
Lunchtime!!! Well, due to an overfull schedule, only 20 minutes but that is fine with me.
16.00
Ah real working life finally.The moment I was about to leave my phone rings. It’s my boss and she had a list of things for me to do and to check so I guess I am stuck a bit longer at my desk. At least it is something that I need to know as well and which will help me develop myself. Hmm… maybe I can catch dinner here as well.
17.30
Official going home time, I am still at my desk.With a new cup of coffee and typing as if my life depends on it, I cling to the computer (and the caffeine) as my last life line.
19.00
Jippy, I am done… I think I will just find myself an internet café and chat with some friends. Home is not an option yet. I am guessing I will make my way home somewhere around 22.00 tonight and then get up the next day. Yep, I love my job!
Internship Intermezzo: Day 0: D-Day
PUBLISHED: 21/09/2005
6.00 AM No shit, 6.14, I’m late.Wonderful,my departure day (or D-day if you must) and I got up late. I can’t believe it. Oh well, this is the day, the first day of my internship, on my way to London indeed.
7.45 AM In the car, outside it’s raining cats and dogs and I wonder if my plane will depart at all but when we enter Schiphol I can see the KLM planes head up.
8.03 AM Checked in and all, kissed my parents goodbye (secretly hoping some handsome long lost lover will come running after me before I enter the gate, crying: “GEMMA
WAIT I LOVE YOU!!”…. But no), with a large coffee and a muffin I sit down and watch planes take off. That will be me soon, well at least within an hour.
9.39 AM Or so I hoped…
9.55 AM Still no take off and why?? There is no crew to fly the plane!! Just my luck.
10.12 AM And there we go. Up, up and away. Next to me a man clenches the armrests of his seat as we take off, I guess he’s not a big fan of flying. I love flying, mostly the take off and the landing because it is the most dangerous part. I called my parents before take-off to complain about the weather and I hope that when I am up in the air the weather will be better.. but above the clouds the sun always shines I realize.
10.24 AM (GMT) Ok I’m here!! I’m in jolly old London.
11.25 AM As before the hotel is HUGE and not just for the eye, 1058 rooms, 40 Conference rooms and space for a maximum of 10.000 people. And here I am, just one little person on to start a new adventure, to learn all that there is to know about Leisure Research and have great time.
12.54 PM Got my key – funnily the previous girl to sleep in my room was also named Gemma – and I am now ushered into a black cab where I spend the next ten minutes explaining to the cab driver how to spell the address and eventually I end up finding the address in a phone book!!
1.25 PM Made it out of the cab alive, I must admit, I am not that fond of a driver who considers the sidewalks extra roads and pedestrians just moving objects which can be dodged by honking the horn. Love this town. The people in the employee house were not aware I was coming and so I was ushered into my room feeling just as
amazed as they but no harm done, we still had a nice time and eventually were joined by another girl named Inga from Germany.
9.35 PM Wiped out, tired and looking forward to my first working day I make one last cup of tea and go to bed, my head full of deadly cabdrivers and a missing cabin crew.
Tomorrow I will really start, finally my first day at the Hilton London Metropole.
6.00 AM No shit, 6.14, I’m late.Wonderful,my departure day (or D-day if you must) and I got up late. I can’t believe it. Oh well, this is the day, the first day of my internship, on my way to London indeed.
7.45 AM In the car, outside it’s raining cats and dogs and I wonder if my plane will depart at all but when we enter Schiphol I can see the KLM planes head up.
8.03 AM Checked in and all, kissed my parents goodbye (secretly hoping some handsome long lost lover will come running after me before I enter the gate, crying: “GEMMA
WAIT I LOVE YOU!!”…. But no), with a large coffee and a muffin I sit down and watch planes take off. That will be me soon, well at least within an hour.
9.39 AM Or so I hoped…
9.55 AM Still no take off and why?? There is no crew to fly the plane!! Just my luck.
10.12 AM And there we go. Up, up and away. Next to me a man clenches the armrests of his seat as we take off, I guess he’s not a big fan of flying. I love flying, mostly the take off and the landing because it is the most dangerous part. I called my parents before take-off to complain about the weather and I hope that when I am up in the air the weather will be better.. but above the clouds the sun always shines I realize.
10.24 AM (GMT) Ok I’m here!! I’m in jolly old London.
11.25 AM As before the hotel is HUGE and not just for the eye, 1058 rooms, 40 Conference rooms and space for a maximum of 10.000 people. And here I am, just one little person on to start a new adventure, to learn all that there is to know about Leisure Research and have great time.
12.54 PM Got my key – funnily the previous girl to sleep in my room was also named Gemma – and I am now ushered into a black cab where I spend the next ten minutes explaining to the cab driver how to spell the address and eventually I end up finding the address in a phone book!!
1.25 PM Made it out of the cab alive, I must admit, I am not that fond of a driver who considers the sidewalks extra roads and pedestrians just moving objects which can be dodged by honking the horn. Love this town. The people in the employee house were not aware I was coming and so I was ushered into my room feeling just as
amazed as they but no harm done, we still had a nice time and eventually were joined by another girl named Inga from Germany.
9.35 PM Wiped out, tired and looking forward to my first working day I make one last cup of tea and go to bed, my head full of deadly cabdrivers and a missing cabin crew.
Tomorrow I will really start, finally my first day at the Hilton London Metropole.
The sky’s the limit!
PUBLISHED: 28/06/2005
A goodbye is the birth of a memory.
I think this is true. Each time I say goodbye from somewhere or someone, I make another memory. Not so much of all the good things but also of times that were less… happy.
When I started here at school there were times I didn’t feel in my element and I think that this was a good thing to go through. I still remember it like it was yesterday. But now that I will be leaving as well as so many others before me I
started thinking, what have I seen, what have I learned and most of all; what do I want to remember?
Not just the times I know as good times but also the times which I see as the moments when I tried to reach out, when I tried to find my way and where to fit in. Have I succeeded? I don’t know but I do know that somewhere between the falling and
the getting up again I learned how to fly, so after I was finally able to spread my wings, I didn’t want to go back.
After many times falling down on my face I learned to understand how I was the one who could make or break my own life, that it was me who had the ability to accept others in all their flaws, their mistakes and all their imperfections. After some
time I realized that there is no such thing as perfection, no matter how badly I wanted it. Sometimes you just have to sit back and open up.
This was something that changed my life, it all fell into place and I needed three years for it to happen. Three years of a lifetime which is so short to begin with!
I saw what mistakes I was making and as I admitted to a close friend once, I make those mistakes every day again and again. It seems as if I don’t learn, but I do, I really do.
I learned that there are no limitations to what I can do or what I can achieve. I wanted to dance again, I went back to ballet classes. I felt liberated to take that chance and make that change, no matter how small it was for me. I did it without
looking back. This is the freedom we have.
I proved this while here at school, the very last place I would have expected it to happen. But it did. I saw something in people I hardly was able to see before.
It was trust, it was faith and it was hope. In the past I saw this sometimes briefly but now I know where to look.
So even though this is not my last column, I still want to look back for a moment.What do I want to remember?
Everything. There is nothing I want to forget because forgetting means never being able to go back. And if you can’t go back, I firmly believe that you loose a piece of yourself.
As for now, I say goodbye, to all who were, are and will be.
A goodbye is the birth of a memory.
I think this is true. Each time I say goodbye from somewhere or someone, I make another memory. Not so much of all the good things but also of times that were less… happy.
When I started here at school there were times I didn’t feel in my element and I think that this was a good thing to go through. I still remember it like it was yesterday. But now that I will be leaving as well as so many others before me I
started thinking, what have I seen, what have I learned and most of all; what do I want to remember?
Not just the times I know as good times but also the times which I see as the moments when I tried to reach out, when I tried to find my way and where to fit in. Have I succeeded? I don’t know but I do know that somewhere between the falling and
the getting up again I learned how to fly, so after I was finally able to spread my wings, I didn’t want to go back.
After many times falling down on my face I learned to understand how I was the one who could make or break my own life, that it was me who had the ability to accept others in all their flaws, their mistakes and all their imperfections. After some
time I realized that there is no such thing as perfection, no matter how badly I wanted it. Sometimes you just have to sit back and open up.
This was something that changed my life, it all fell into place and I needed three years for it to happen. Three years of a lifetime which is so short to begin with!
I saw what mistakes I was making and as I admitted to a close friend once, I make those mistakes every day again and again. It seems as if I don’t learn, but I do, I really do.
I learned that there are no limitations to what I can do or what I can achieve. I wanted to dance again, I went back to ballet classes. I felt liberated to take that chance and make that change, no matter how small it was for me. I did it without
looking back. This is the freedom we have.
I proved this while here at school, the very last place I would have expected it to happen. But it did. I saw something in people I hardly was able to see before.
It was trust, it was faith and it was hope. In the past I saw this sometimes briefly but now I know where to look.
So even though this is not my last column, I still want to look back for a moment.What do I want to remember?
Everything. There is nothing I want to forget because forgetting means never being able to go back. And if you can’t go back, I firmly believe that you loose a piece of yourself.
As for now, I say goodbye, to all who were, are and will be.
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