"Tik-tok, tik-tok" I hear the buzzing of clock-like sounds in my head as I await the final announcement of passing students qualified to go to Thailand. I still vividly remember sending my parents a PDF document wherein I compiled and summarized the offered international programs by the school just after our orientation. After much consideration, we decided to go through the Thailand program not only because it was handled by the school but also the fact that there are still other offers after I graduate that are similar to the previous offers, such as the US program. Thinking back, I didn’t really have a lot of expectations due to the reason that I was just excited to go to another country and try working there, as it would be my first international travel. However, as time passed and we became busy doing the necessary paperwork as well as interviews, I suddenly had all sorts of thoughts in my head about what I was going to do in Thailand, or if I was really ready to be in this program, which is why I needed to set my own goals in order not to feel much anxiety about everything that’s happening. I was just grateful that I was able to talk myself into looking at the bigger picture and how this program can benefit me, such as meeting new people and learning new things, which inspired me to keep going and to take it seriously.
The phone’s notification rang, and when I opened the message, it was the list of students who will be going to Thailand for senior OJT and I saw my name. It all went so fast that after hearing the news, events happened so quickly, such as going through short refresher courses in order to prepare us for the things that we might encounter, at the same time being stressed in thinking about what to bring and how to pack our things for the trip. After some sleepless nights of being both anxious and excited, our departure day finally arrived, and we had to ride the bus to the airport. The trip was all in all very smooth and we arrived on schedule, and my first international flight felt like a very big achievement. When we arrived in Bangkok, we were then transferred to the facility that accommodated us, Centra by Centara, where I tasted my first Thai food and had fun during our orientation. The people were very friendly and respectful, and it was very weird at first how everything was so quiet, even the roads, unlike here in the Philippines where car horns are always heard. After that, we were sent to our own respective establishments, where we were deployed. Luckily, I was deployed in Bangkok, which is why we didn’t need to travel farther like those sent to the other provinces.
After being sent to our apartments, we unpacked and got ready for the next day, where we needed to do uniform fitting as well as open our own bank accounts. I was deployed to the 55th floor of Centara Grand, which was the Red Sky Bar. It was there that I met my "family" in Bangkok. Although I sometimes had difficulty understanding the people in our bar because of the language barrier, they were very caring and patient in teaching me and guiding me on what to do. This also taught me to be more understanding and try to adjust how I speak to them in order for us to communicate more effectively.
The first time that I got praised by a guest was one of the most memorable things that happened during my internship. Although it was only verbal, the way they showed their appreciation was enough for me to smile all throughout my duty. This was when a couple at a cocktail table wanted to change seats due to the lady being pregnant, but all the other seats at the lower tables were taken. By doing my best to try and convince other people to switch seats, I was able to talk to another couple who were willing to do so. When the first couple saw my efforts, they thanked me and said that they appreciated what I had done for them. For me, this show of gratitude weighs heavier than the tip that they placed on the bill jacket. It was when I realized that sometimes reassurance and compliments can be more effective in boosting one’s confidence than just giving them material things. I also had good reviews on TripAdvisor, which I am proud of because it shows just how much I have improved as a service provider.
My international on-the-job experiences and memories wouldn’t have been possible without the school’s support and training, which started even when I was in my first year. Two subjects that helped me the most in my training are Front Office and F&B subjects. The front office subject helped me greatly in enhancing my communication skills and dealing with guests, as well as being familiar with POS machines and Oracle, while the F&B subject gave me skills that made it easier for me to contribute to the establishment, such as having wine knowledge as well as opening it, the sequence of service, and handling guest problems. I am further grateful that the training and experiences that we were able to grasp before entering Centara have prepared us to take on the challenges and be able to contribute to the establishment with our skills and knowledge. With high hopes, I believe that more opportunities will open their doors for me because of my alma mater, my experiences, and my dedication to going out of my comfort zone.
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