Operation Transfer Girl

 It has been a year since we started to feel the consequences of a global pandemic. A year since people stopped going into work, a year since we downloaded Tiktok, a year since we started wearing our masks and gloves. So many things had changed within the space of few weeks, businesses closed, people stuck together and torn apart. The normal flow of life had slowed down and sped up, changed courses and swapped priorities. Do you ever think, what if Covid-19 never hit? Where would you be? What would be different and what would be the same? If you were back waking up in your bed on the 28th February 2020, what would be your first thoughts of hope on how your day will look like? Around that time, I was excited for a change, excited for packing up and leaving, leaving my job, leaving my house, my friends, the city, leaving it all to start again. I was excited for an opportunity, one that comes around once in your life, a promotion with a life upgrade. Including a move and life-style ch...

 What I remember is this: I was always wanting more, to do more, to be more. The need for accomplishment? Need for approval? Not ever feeling enough? Being scared of missing out? All of the above and more (see what I did there?). But what I remember is that I usually finished the general tasks quick, so I had time and brain power for the extra bits. That I liked doing the extracurricular activities, the additional homework, because they were always so much more exciting, actually making my brain work. Also knew that if I did the extra homework, then they gain advantage against future slacking on the every-day boring stuff, sort of banking it against them. I signed up to drawing and writing competitions, so I don't have to be in school for a day, volunteered to help the teachers so I can skip the downtime of being on the school yard. I did have friends, I liked playing with others and I enjoyed learning. But doing different things from the routine had a thrill. Trying to not miss ou...

 Today I was pleasantly surprised. I took the opportunity to reach out to a company I wanted to apply for a job with. It was the first time I pushed myself to contact someone for "any questions" from a job posting and I was ever so delighted to hear a lovely, bubbly voice on the other end, it helped me slip back into my "phone voice" after weeks of limited conversation with anyone but my cat. Amongst other things, I wanted to ask her about the specific requirements, especially regarding technical knowledge, as all specifics were purely listed under 'desirable' and not 'essential'. The job description was everything I was looking for, meaning that this is not the first job I would be applying for with the same or similar title. However, most of these previous postings were all throwing software names at you from all kind of angles, as if the person applying used to be managing the position in question and they decided, they had enough of the higher sa...

If they treat you as an option,                                                 be their best opportunity missed. If they treat you as a chance,                                                 be their best decision made. Moo.

As I am one "have a great day!" Spotify playlist and a borrowed vape away from having my daily breakdowns, the familiar bittersweet feeling of burnout starts to fill my lungs again. I must be short fused you say, I just had 3 months of no work but that ain't this easy. Partly, it had made it even worse. While being on furlough with high functioning depression did its damage, I also managed to recharge a lot. I didn't know I will start caring again so much about work, it's not like I planned it this way, okay? But I do. And caring about something you convinced yourself to let go, putting your 110% effort in before giving it all up is quite frankly 1. exhausting 2. unappreciated 3. stupid. But I guess I have never been the smart one.

Alright, I have a confession to make. I have become one of those people. I have a day planner. And I take it with me. Everywhere. If you are wondering what is that one item I keep in my bag all the time, then now you know, it is my academic diary. I did, in fact, leave my purse at home the other day accidentally, but not the diary. If you call me to arrange a meeting with me, I would be quoting Tilly from Miranda (the show), and you would hear " bare with " at least three times, while I grab my planner from my bag. If you ask me about my availability by text, I might as well just send you a picture of the questionable week. But without a diary, how would I know, which job to turn up to, or if my training starts at 15 or 30 past. Or if it is the kind of lecture you can turn up to hangover, or in pyjamas. Or both. I mark the dates when student finance comes in, with the amount and a smiley face, and mark the days of rent with the amount and a big-big sad face. I write ...

Dear Arthur, As I am getting closer and closer to the end of yet another period of my lifetime, I often evaluate the things I have learnt and gained from these experiences. Spending a year in Bristol for my placement was mostly supposed to be about my profession, about work and learning about my industry. It was also an opportunity to meet new people. I made two different types of acquaintances, I made connections, the ones useful for my future, and I made friends. But is it possible to become friends in such short time? Is time really relevant to the quality of friendship? You will see, soon enough, what really is important and what isn't; though I assume it can be different for each person. For me, all those little things count. Having common interests and being able to spend time together sometimes aren't the aspects that make a friendship truly meaningful. But knowing those little things about each other, showing that the other's personality is interesting an...

When I was young, I always wanted to just grow up and get started on my career. I could not wait to start working, that is why I looked for my first job as soon as I turned 16. In England, after you finish your GCSEs and turn 16, you can leave education and start "the big LIFE". In Hungary, you need to finish high school, and be 18 to start working properly. And even though I was all about working, I went to university because I thought it was very important. (This might be because of the Hungarian mentality of needing to get papers of your education, and the general push towards higher education. I think it is a great approach, however, it can be quite off-putting for the less ambitious teens.) At university, I was determined to find a job straight away, not just because I needed to support myself financially, or because I understand the importance of job experience in the future, but because I really wanted to. I still have two part time jobs alongside my studies, and I ...

To be able to work in hospitality, and in this recent case, on reception, you must have many skills. To give amazing service, you must put in your heart, just to make those few seconds, minutes, or hours special while you are interacting with your guests. But in order to be able to look in the mirror and see a human being at the end of your day, you also must learn not to let the mean comments get to you. For some, it is not hard at all, for others, it might seem impossible to live by the "water off a duck's back" saying.  It took me a great deal to get used to people looking down on me, and I still raise an eyebrow when some guests are trying to offend me just to attempt to get what they want, let that be a free stay, free food, a bottle of wine or just to let the steam off their chests. Most of the time it isn't even personal, they are just saying whatever comes to their minds, and I know, I just happen to be the person they have found with their anger. However, ...

Everyone has one. Doesn't matter if you are working on the bar, reception, in the restaurant. You meet hundreds of people every week, there are some just passing by, and some you welcome back regularly. And then there are the favourites. It won't be the one who stays there the most, spends the most money or is a highly ranked loyalty member. They won't be your favourite because they take the least time at the desk, have no fuss or bad words at check out. Or the ones giving you 5 star rating on TripAdvisor. The one who speaks kindly down to you, like it is a privilege. Or the one telling you about their fantastic holiday neither the one moaning about their day. It will be the one who knows you want to start driving, and is checking up on your progress. The one who comes specifically to you if he has a request. The one who would rather wait for you to finish the phonecall so you can chat over check in. The one who will tell you if he had a difficult day but then reme...