Well, though this site is mainly about the destinations that I have been to, however, it is a must to give a little space for me to share about my work and travel experience in USA. It was the reason that made my first boarding experience.
Why did I join?
Such chance comes once in a blue moon, for a person like me
While many out there might appreciate the advancement in global transportation that promises everybody a chance to fly, however it was only a wild fancy, for a person like me, coming from a middle-income group family. I have never been travel abroad, not even to our neighboring country. That's simply because my parents just couldn't afford to incur the expenses, for a family trip of seven members.
Working overseas can be an experience of a life time and a fantastic opportunity to not only immerse into another culture but embrace the different lifestyle of that country.?Undoubtedly, it is also daunting, where do I start, how do I go about it, is it the right thing to do? While these question marks are the unsolved pieces of a puzzle, I take the opportunity, guzzle every second and gear it with my effort just like how the friction coupling done by cannon pinion, to learn about the solution, then I fix and frame them.
To build self-confidence and learning to be more independent
I brought up from a childhood full with parental love. Together we stay under the same roof, and unite as one, overtaking the obstacles in life. Being the oldest son at home, I trained up to be the role model of my siblings, behave in the polite manner as each act of mine would greatly affects them. However, I could foresee the weakness hindered in me, I couldn't live without family support. Children coming from the different cultural background tend to live more independently, compare with those who share a same background like mine.
Working life in Cedar Point Amusement Park
Cedar Point Amusement Park located at Sandusky City, Cleveland, Ohio. It is always a wonderful place to live. At home, I always look for a place that captures the essence of tranquillity. Life in Sandusky is simple, the atmosphere is always relaxing and the people in this small city are friendly.
On the first day of registration, I was being assigned as a housekeeper of the Sandcastle Suites Hotel. That was my first working experience as a hotel housekeeper. I took each task as the chance of learning, even though that was just to clean the bathroom. I was surprised with my experienced colleagues, who clean the toilet bowl barely with their naked hand and a small piece of cloth. For once, I asked, “How can you do that?” They answered me, “The way I earn for my living and this was my profession.” It was a simple sentence but to me, a perfect answer. It is always true; we have to overtake every challenge. Irrelative to how much we dislike the challenge, we have to move on.
I always believe God stand by my side, creates challenges in my life, the purpose of which for me to overcome and learn from them. My working life in Cedar Point was not as trouble-free as I thought it would be. I faced the problem that I never wish it would happen. That was early summer, the park was not fully operated, and hotel room occupied rate was quite low. I had lack working hours. No working hours, meaning there is no income. How could I reimburse the expenses for joining the programme including the airfare and miscellaneous fees?
Initially, I worked very hard, giving full efforts in every tasks assigned by my housekeeping manager, Dee. Dee was delighted with my performance and she would love me to work for her. After struggling for a week, with lack working hours, Dee assigned me a minimum of 40 hours from the third weeks onwards, as soon as the park completely started its operation. From the minimum working hours, increased to 65 hours a week, I appreciated it.
Challenge didn’t just stop right there. As the number of international students registered in the park increased, more people came into my department and be part of the housekeeping team. Dee was pressurized by her property manager. She has to distribute the working hours evenly, in order to promise every one of us share the minimum of 35 hours a week. It was the fifth week of work. I drafted a budget plan, and realized that I would need a minimum of 50 hours for the following weeks until my working period ends.
Again, the terrible struggle, fed by the storm outside, echoed inside me like a hurricane. For once, the invisible claws of these daemons held my heart in a painful grip. I couldn’t afford to make a loss. I need income to continue my journey, especially to accomplish my backpacker life around the States after working period ends.
I felt lethargic those days and always have myself fell into the silence mood. The gloomy state in me remained as if I was living in the world of graveyard. The growing pain went around in redundant circles, spinning my heart into an agonized frenzy. I did forcing myself to do anything to keep me occupied, to keep myself reasonable and level-headed. I did chat with my family every morning. However, I wished not to have them worried about me so I chose to keep all vexed to myself.
After a few days, the re-emergence of rationality in me, has urged me to bark up. I realized, when the condition is not right, I need to adjust it to a level which I am comfortable with. The pinnacles will continue to grow as time passes, but I would make them blunt.
I decided to hunt for a second job in McDonald's which is just nearby the hostel. I woke up early in the dawn, walked under the extremely cold weather, against the wild winds. I shivered and continued to walk alone on the street. However, she rejected my application because I would only be available only for another 5 weeks.
While I was working hard to hunt for extra working hours, Dee found the ways to help me. One day, she suggested me to take up the hotel night runner job. She offered me to work for both morning and night shift. I was surprised by her decision, by that, I would have 15 hour a day. She arranged me to work for double shift 3 times weekly. Finally, I had enough working hours.
Working as a housekeeper was tiring but I enjoyed each hours I spent in Sandcastle Suites. Clean up the mass in the room, wash the bath tub and toilet bowl – all these tasks look simple, like a piece of cake to everyone. However, I started to appreciate the housekeeper, for their great efforts to keep the room clean, provide the clients a comfortable living condition.
Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph: a beginning, a struggle and a victory.
The People
I would never forget a sentence from Dee. “Ethan, if I would to trust anybody, I will trust you.”
Those words did touch my heart from deep inside. I made a silent promise to her.Besides Dee, my supervisor, Tina, was another person who helped me a lot during my days in Cedar Point. Tina was my best housekeeping teacher. She trained me every single step to clean the room. Her job is to check the room after the housekeeper cleaned up the mass. Sometimes, I might not get my tasks perfectly done. However, she would never blame me; somehow, she would advice me in a soft and polite manner.
It was the best gift from God, to have them by my side. Sometimes, we could get very busy and I could have 14 rooms to clean within 6 hours. Life was so tiring but I enjoyed it. Dee and Tina treated me like son. They bought me snacks almost every day, and often chase me off for lunch when I was busy cleaning the room, forgotten the lunch hours. When I have to work for night shift, they would prepare me set a meal of dinner. It tasted like home cooked dish and I felt like at home.
They love to visit me while I was cleaning the rooms. They were concern about me and jokes with me always during work, which helped to brightened up the busy, tiring working life. Often, we laughed at the same things, most of the time hysterically and at a very high note. We could say anything we felt to each other and be understood. These are memories that cannot be duplicated in future. These memories are simply too good to forget.
Besides, I share a great relationship with my fellow colleagues. They were from difference cultural background and initially, I was the only representative from South East Asia. We share our cultural view and at times, we have fun during work, prior to that without compromising our performance.
Dee, Me and Tina
My Asian Buddies
Me and the Moldova Beauties
Me and the Only Jamaican - Petra
The Housekeepers
When things come to the end
I couldn’t believe when everything almost comes to its end, I wished the last day of work will never reach. I was thinking about what it means to miss someone. What is it about close proximity that heals the hole in our hearts that distance creates?
I knew I would surely miss every friend I met here. I knew it might be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to meet up. We came far away from different parts of the world, and gathered up on the same land, all were like fated which brought us together.
The vivid pictures of the last working day in Sandcastle suites came into my mind. As per usual, I cleaned up the room, and put the tips card on the desk, with Dee and Tina’s name printed on it. I bought two cards and wrote an appreciation note for both Dee and Tina. I prepared the cards and notes secretly in one of the unoccupied room with the permission from Dee. I thought I would give them a big surprise, but what happened then in fact was, I was surprised by them. They came into the room silently, caused a great shock in me. They took out a blue t-shirt and gave it to me. Their gift did exchange with exhilarating smile of mine and joy in my eyes when I know I received it along with that a piece of their heart.
Then, I burst into tears when I saw the t-shirt printed with my phrases, my mantra. “OH MY GOD!” I nestled into their arms, hug them tightly and cried. I said: “Mum, thank you so much. I will miss you always and love you forever.”
On my way leaving Sandcastle suites, they were seeing me off. I continued to walk, with each single step I took, away from the hotel, my heart was like stabbed by a knife. The feeling was killing. I turn round and looked back; they were standing there, burst into tears and kept their hands waved. I knew they were sending me the greatest blessings. I ran back to them, at that moment, I couldn’t afford to lose them. I was totally like a son who is going to leave his beloved mum, and this time, it could be a forever goodbye.
I wept in genuine grief because I know we would no longer be able to be together like this summer. Our relationship could only be enjoyed at a distance. Mum and Friends, I miss you guys very much.
If you wish to join this experience, please contact www.speedwing.org and look for Vernie (Kindly spell my name out, Ethan.)
