I really enjoyed the short week in Belgium: I have picked up a suitcase of 40 kg that friends had brought to Belgium, I went for a dinner to another couple of friends that cooked divine, I was in Holland to meet Franco (my ex-Italian-boss) who had run the marathon of Amsterdam, and spent some time with my nefues that really were surprised and happy with my presence. And of course I cannot forget my mother that cooked all those delicious dishes I miss here so much.
Here I am with my new computer: it's really easy now to access to the internet. Unfortunately Blogspot and so also my blog pages were blocked for a couple of days by the Turkish government: I wonder what kind of information offended the Turkish state (on another blog, not on my pages).
Here, things are changing.
First of all, it gets colder. In the mornings and in the evenings I need to wear a jacket. Though during the day we still reach temperatures of 25° and it seems that by the end of the week we will have 30° again.
Zoë has left, is back home, so I have to manage the whole coast (about 30 km): I'm driving a lot...
Fulya is also ending, she passes me the arrival lists of the Germans. ... brr... the idea though to have meetings in German scares me: I'm still not convinced my German is good enough. So I started reading a German travel guide and newspaper.
Marjorie is having the last shows in her hotel.
And Peri seems to be a bit nervous: the end of the season also means a lot of statistics and reports.
And I... well, although I need to do a lot of hotels on the whole coast line, I have a lot of free time. Tomorrow only two meetings and nothing the day after... maybe some time to read a book or watch a film or who knows, to start a course... We will see.
My future is sure and insecure. From the first of November on I will have a Swiss contract. That means I will have (slightly) higher wages, but more social advantages: pension savings and health insurance now will be paid by the company for me. And I also will get a bonus for my languages. But I have taken back my official residence in Belgium, something I really don't like: I feel Italian from may hair to my toes. But there was no other choice.
Future is insecure as I know I will only be in Kemer till half January. Afterwards... we will see. I am "stand by" to go to any destination where I could be useful. Easy for the company: where ever they need someone speaking one or more of the 3 languages I speak, I can be dropped. For me it means that the next destination could remain a surprise till the last moment. On the other hand, in this way it might be possible that for next summer I get one of the destinations I had asked for: Sicily, Amalfitanian cost or Sardegna.
For now I will go on: I'm glad and satisfied about the last 3 months, about the persons I met and all the things I have learned.
And the future: I think it's just a matter of faith.
Or what do you think?
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
One week off…
I HAD to go. I would come to Belgium on Sunday, stand by waiting for a flight at the airport. If necessary on the lap of the pilot, Peri had said. But for the Brussels flights even that was not an option. So I flew to Düsseldorf (Germany) and continued by train. Too late for the party with my family. The youngest children already had gone home and Jesse was fighting against the sleep to see me.
In Belgium, no mist or rain, but it is cold. If the lowest temperature you know is 25°, than 20° is cold in house. I’m sitting here with a winter slippers and a pullover.
Enjoying my free time, copying CD’s, shopping and buying clothes as I have slimmed 15 kg!
Calling some friends I didn’t hear for the last few months or answering those unanswered e-mails; putting some pictures on the internet.
One week holiday, and than back to Kemer for the first half of the winter season.
I will be alone there: Zoë is quitting the job, Marjorie has another destination, Fulya will work the second winter half and Peri has the intention to travel around the world.
Till January 15th I’ll deal with people in Dutch, French and German (ai ai…).
I still don’t know what will happen afterwards, but I’m quite sure I won’t go to Italy as I asked for and I feel rather disappointed about that. I even don’t know where to go the second winter half. My bosses decided above my head and I’m afraid it will be a destination I absolutely don’t like. In that case… of course there are other tour operators… I’ll find something.
But first we make the winter, their should be less work and more leisure time. I have ordered a new laptop, so I should be easier to keep in touch with everyone. I’ll do my best to bring some more news. So keep an eye on my blog…
In Belgium, no mist or rain, but it is cold. If the lowest temperature you know is 25°, than 20° is cold in house. I’m sitting here with a winter slippers and a pullover.
Enjoying my free time, copying CD’s, shopping and buying clothes as I have slimmed 15 kg!
Calling some friends I didn’t hear for the last few months or answering those unanswered e-mails; putting some pictures on the internet.
One week holiday, and than back to Kemer for the first half of the winter season.
I will be alone there: Zoë is quitting the job, Marjorie has another destination, Fulya will work the second winter half and Peri has the intention to travel around the world.
Till January 15th I’ll deal with people in Dutch, French and German (ai ai…).
I still don’t know what will happen afterwards, but I’m quite sure I won’t go to Italy as I asked for and I feel rather disappointed about that. I even don’t know where to go the second winter half. My bosses decided above my head and I’m afraid it will be a destination I absolutely don’t like. In that case… of course there are other tour operators… I’ll find something.
But first we make the winter, their should be less work and more leisure time. I have ordered a new laptop, so I should be easier to keep in touch with everyone. I’ll do my best to bring some more news. So keep an eye on my blog…
Saturday, September 27, 2008
News from Turkey!
Eh eh, finally I’m back...
For those who think they have waited to long, just remember that no news is good news... And that is really what it is...
I’m living more than 2 months in Kemer now, and (unfortunately) it’s coming to its end.
I still like it, even if I need to work really very hard, sometimes more than 10 hours per day, I even lost a lot of weight (don’t know how much, just know that my clothes are about 2 sizes smaller now) and I have been sweating a lot, not only from working but also from hot temperature (above 45°) and humidity (above 85%).
But I enjoy it. It seems I’m among the oldest ones here, older then my manager and his manager etc… but it is an advantage, my age and 10 years experience in tourism help me a lot to handle boring tourists trying to transfer their stress and frustration onto me.
In the morning I have “FIT”s, Ferien Informations Treffen, Welcome meetings.
Every day at least two planes arrive from Belgium, and often also people from the Netherlands and France. They get distributed over the whole Turkish Riviera (from Kemer to Alanya, look on a map..) That means that in every of the 4 hotels I manage every day new guests can arrive. So I might need to organise a maximum of 8 of those FIT’s, one in Flemish (Dutch) and one in French in every hotel.
Aim is to give information on the hotel, the region, myself (where and when to find me) and obviously on the excursions that can be booked.
In the afternoon I go back to the hotels for speaking hour, moment when guests come with their complaints, questions or to book excursions.
And in the meantime I need to do some administration: writing personalised invitations for the FIT’s, giving return flight information...
I have a rather full package, a lot of arrivals and work. I don’t have time to go to the beach so I still have a pale skin. People sometimes ask me if I only arrived a couple of days before...
When I have time (mostly on Wednesday), I make jeep safari, scuba diving, go relaxing on a boat, or go to the hamam.
Although my full program, I don’t complain about my work and working atmosphere: my manager behaves more like a coach giving “tips & tricks” to improve my work (selling excursions), or how to resist to the never ending complaints of some guests. He has enough humility to ask my opinion on some issues and always ready for a joke or a good chat.
I have a Turkish colleague, she looks like a European: very nice and always ready to help me.
And the young Zoe, could be my daughter, working good for her age. And Marjorie, the French colleague, repper and animator in one job. I couldn’t do it.
The most boring part of the job are the complaints, sometimes really ridiculous (one has complained because little sea fishes where biting his legs while swimming in the sea). And French (or French speaking) are the worst (Pascale, désolée!): they never give up complaining. Mammamia...
Fortunately there are enough nice and satisfied tourists telling me how great their holiday is. Some have asked me where I will go next summer season, as they want to stay where I will be working.
Turkey is still okay, though I’m really missing some things now: I would like to eat raw ham or pork meat (who had ever thought that I would miss meat!), a good sandwich with cheese, salad and tomatoes eating “on the way” (I go eating in a restaurant 2 times per day). Having my lunch or dinner without being disturbed by tourist that always invent new questions when they see my face. A latex mattress instead of a spring mattress, something I really hate. My feather bed instead of blankets and sheets. I would like to hear church bells instead of the muezzin singing his prayer from the minaret. I would like to drive my car without holding my hand on the claxon.
Fortunately in this moment I’m enjoying a squisite salami my manager offered my. Not bad!
Istanbul: closed case. Unfortunately I didn’t receive my last payment and Filiz is just not answering me... Turkish reliability? I know something about it...
The future? I still don’t know. I seems they have forgotten about me in Switserland (main seat of Thomas Cook), and so I still don’t know where I will be working next winter. Most probably back in Turkey. We will see. In the meantime I enjoy this adventure...
For those who think they have waited to long, just remember that no news is good news... And that is really what it is...
I’m living more than 2 months in Kemer now, and (unfortunately) it’s coming to its end.
I still like it, even if I need to work really very hard, sometimes more than 10 hours per day, I even lost a lot of weight (don’t know how much, just know that my clothes are about 2 sizes smaller now) and I have been sweating a lot, not only from working but also from hot temperature (above 45°) and humidity (above 85%).
But I enjoy it. It seems I’m among the oldest ones here, older then my manager and his manager etc… but it is an advantage, my age and 10 years experience in tourism help me a lot to handle boring tourists trying to transfer their stress and frustration onto me.
In the morning I have “FIT”s, Ferien Informations Treffen, Welcome meetings.
Every day at least two planes arrive from Belgium, and often also people from the Netherlands and France. They get distributed over the whole Turkish Riviera (from Kemer to Alanya, look on a map..) That means that in every of the 4 hotels I manage every day new guests can arrive. So I might need to organise a maximum of 8 of those FIT’s, one in Flemish (Dutch) and one in French in every hotel.
Aim is to give information on the hotel, the region, myself (where and when to find me) and obviously on the excursions that can be booked.
In the afternoon I go back to the hotels for speaking hour, moment when guests come with their complaints, questions or to book excursions.
And in the meantime I need to do some administration: writing personalised invitations for the FIT’s, giving return flight information...
I have a rather full package, a lot of arrivals and work. I don’t have time to go to the beach so I still have a pale skin. People sometimes ask me if I only arrived a couple of days before...
When I have time (mostly on Wednesday), I make jeep safari, scuba diving, go relaxing on a boat, or go to the hamam.
Although my full program, I don’t complain about my work and working atmosphere: my manager behaves more like a coach giving “tips & tricks” to improve my work (selling excursions), or how to resist to the never ending complaints of some guests. He has enough humility to ask my opinion on some issues and always ready for a joke or a good chat.
I have a Turkish colleague, she looks like a European: very nice and always ready to help me.
And the young Zoe, could be my daughter, working good for her age. And Marjorie, the French colleague, repper and animator in one job. I couldn’t do it.
The most boring part of the job are the complaints, sometimes really ridiculous (one has complained because little sea fishes where biting his legs while swimming in the sea). And French (or French speaking) are the worst (Pascale, désolée!): they never give up complaining. Mammamia...
Fortunately there are enough nice and satisfied tourists telling me how great their holiday is. Some have asked me where I will go next summer season, as they want to stay where I will be working.
Turkey is still okay, though I’m really missing some things now: I would like to eat raw ham or pork meat (who had ever thought that I would miss meat!), a good sandwich with cheese, salad and tomatoes eating “on the way” (I go eating in a restaurant 2 times per day). Having my lunch or dinner without being disturbed by tourist that always invent new questions when they see my face. A latex mattress instead of a spring mattress, something I really hate. My feather bed instead of blankets and sheets. I would like to hear church bells instead of the muezzin singing his prayer from the minaret. I would like to drive my car without holding my hand on the claxon.
Fortunately in this moment I’m enjoying a squisite salami my manager offered my. Not bad!
Istanbul: closed case. Unfortunately I didn’t receive my last payment and Filiz is just not answering me... Turkish reliability? I know something about it...
The future? I still don’t know. I seems they have forgotten about me in Switserland (main seat of Thomas Cook), and so I still don’t know where I will be working next winter. Most probably back in Turkey. We will see. In the meantime I enjoy this adventure...
Saturday, May 3, 2008
1st of May
Finally a free day for relaxing. I wanted to go to the princes Islands, but due to the troubles in the city, trams were not working properly and no boats available. So I changed my program and went to the Basilic Cistern, had awalk at the "backside" of the Aya Sofia to end up at S. Irenea. I ended with a visit at the Spice Bazaar
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Front door.
Saturday night 01:30 am. I’m back at home after a dinner with my colleagues, a present of the boss for the good sales figures of January. It snows; there is already 10 cm on the ground. And it’s cold.
A colder shiver comes over my back when I come to my front door (3rd floor). One of two lockers has disappeared. The other is still there and locked, I twist the key twice: the door doesn’t move. Still locked. How will I get in now?
I call Filiz, 5 minutes later she arrives, with her father. Clearly the work of burglars. She calls the Police. Yes, they will come.
Also Ömer comes to give me moral assistance.
I am a bit impressed: why my apartment, third floor? Has nobody seen something? And the man of the ground floor, he was fixing the front door of the building a couple of days ago. But this morning it still didn’t close properly.
The police man arrive and Filiz’ father opens the door with another lock. First they go in to check if nobody is hidden inside. Than it’s my turn: “Don’t touch anything”, the young police man warns me, first check if nothing is missing. With his club he switches the light on in my bedroom. My computer is still there, my money lies there too. A quick inspection around the house but everything is okay, nobody has been inside. The broken lock lies on the ground.
"You can drop in on Monday for a declaration," And they are gone.
I’m a bit upset and Filiz offers to come to her house for the night.
We talk about it: probably it’s pure coincidence that I am the victim. Probably it was a kind of small burgling, in search of what money or precious to sell so they can buy to eat. Probably they were surprised by some noise or couldn’t get it because of the second lock. Probably... I will never know it. And such things will occur everywhere, aren’t they?
But the message is to keep well locked the doors.
A colder shiver comes over my back when I come to my front door (3rd floor). One of two lockers has disappeared. The other is still there and locked, I twist the key twice: the door doesn’t move. Still locked. How will I get in now?
I call Filiz, 5 minutes later she arrives, with her father. Clearly the work of burglars. She calls the Police. Yes, they will come.
Also Ömer comes to give me moral assistance.
I am a bit impressed: why my apartment, third floor? Has nobody seen something? And the man of the ground floor, he was fixing the front door of the building a couple of days ago. But this morning it still didn’t close properly.
The police man arrive and Filiz’ father opens the door with another lock. First they go in to check if nobody is hidden inside. Than it’s my turn: “Don’t touch anything”, the young police man warns me, first check if nothing is missing. With his club he switches the light on in my bedroom. My computer is still there, my money lies there too. A quick inspection around the house but everything is okay, nobody has been inside. The broken lock lies on the ground.
"You can drop in on Monday for a declaration," And they are gone.
I’m a bit upset and Filiz offers to come to her house for the night.
We talk about it: probably it’s pure coincidence that I am the victim. Probably it was a kind of small burgling, in search of what money or precious to sell so they can buy to eat. Probably they were surprised by some noise or couldn’t get it because of the second lock. Probably... I will never know it. And such things will occur everywhere, aren’t they?
But the message is to keep well locked the doors.
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