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brianbernardo · 4 years ago

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A major requirement in college before you are able to graduate is being able to have an internship. As I have finished the years of my college, I have come to the point where I need to do my internship out of the country. I may not be the sentimental type of person but it really saddens me that I have to get away from my family and friends who are here in the Philippines. Although, I deeply understand the need why I need to do it. Furthermore, it is not only for compliance, but rather also for my own benefit since I know that I will be able to learn more through the process of this internship. At first, I had a lot of thoughts, doubts, overthinking, and questions in my mind. It had me thinking a lot of things such as, if I can handle it? How would I manage the pressure if I am thousand miles away from who comforts me, which is my family. It also came into my mind how I would adjust to the environment, to the new people around me which are not close to me. However, I consider myself as a social butterfly, I know to myself that I would easily cope with the people who I am going to work with and how I am also willing to know them while I am there. As I have mentioned, the internship is very important especially to my career development. This would help develop my collaboration, knowledge and skills regarding my career, and it would help me know what to expect and how to address it. Furthermore, it would also be a helping hand for my character development. At school, we are taught lessons about our career, ethical implications and other more, while in the internship it lets us apply what we have learned and that makes us realize how different learning is when you are there exactly at the working point. Internships could be a student’s foundation for the workforce and provide them doors for opportunities. Some companies even assess the interns so that after they graduate they will be able to work or apply easily to that company since they have experienced it even for a while. Before the internship has started, I have already prepared myself for the new challenges and a new phase in my life. I did not just pack my bags but rather I also prepared myself emotionally, mentally and I had always made myself positive about this. I was more than enthusiastic about this since I wanted to do my best and face my fears. I know to myself that if I could handle this then this would be my start for being a young adult. I have also promised myself that I would do what I can and not easily give up since this is not just for me to be able to graduate but this could change my life and my perspective even before graduating.

To start off, it was really a different environment for me, new people, new places and adjusting to new surroundings has always been a challenge. It was really difficult at the beginning, learning new stuff and making yourself get used to new things around you, it was always like a challenge each and every day of the internship, always thinking what is going to happen and what to expect throughout the day. To be in that amazing place is really shocking and really unbelievable, just being there inside can give so much excitement and a stunning feeling. It was really a process for me at the start to really understand what my role is and what I am doing in the internship, knowing that it is a high class hotel, to get to intern here and to see the crew who is doing all the work at that fine hotel is somehow a one of a lifetime opportunity to be in here and it is really a honor to be in the same room with one of the bests crew in the hotel. But still, the pressure is real, knowing that the people you are with are already pros at what they are doing, it is somehow frightening. It’s like you must not make a mistake because everything there is neat and perfect and everything is just in order. Being away and far from my family is also one of the struggles that I need to handle, being homesick and knowing that no one is going to take care of you instead of yourself from your everyday stay there is really difficult. You are still going to look for other people’s care and company, adjusting at this part is really one of the most difficult things to do but somehow, I managed to make myself comfortable and used to the new things and surroundings around me and I just kept going At the end of the day, I survived and managed to take care of myself and did all I had to do, I gained a lot of new friends that also helped me get through all the challenges that I am facing and helped me get through the day, As it ends, what I have realized is that it is not easy to work from a different country and being away from your loved ones, it is really a challenge that also made me strong and independent and taught me a lot of things. The experience that I had in this establishment is really one of the best experience that I got to do and to have an internship in this kind of hotel is really a big deal for me, it is really an honor to be in this kind of service and to be in one of the best hands in the place is really a big opportunity and to be able to finish and pass my internship in this kind of management is really one of my biggest achievements.

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brianbernardo · 4 years ago

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INTERNSHIP WEEKLY JOURNAL

WEEK 1

This week is my 1st week working at the Convention Service and all I can say is that I am learning a lot and being happy because they are always guiding me in every way they can teach me. I am anxious and scared at first but I am getting excited to work because of my colleagues. I spoke to my Supervisor in the Banquets department, Mr. Zimmer, Convention Service is under Banquets about my rotation on my December so I can prepare myself again for adjusting and adapting. I will be transferred around December 23rd. My last day of the week was very tiring but I had to stand my ground. I was left to work alone with my night shift supervisor Mr. Rob Givens, we worked separate rooms and he had to finish a room on the 14th floor named Wilson’s Plover and I had to finish the Ballroom called Audubon D,E,F for a convention event. We finished working around 3am in the morning, luckily I had to come in at 2pm the next day. I realized as I end my week I garnered 43 hours in just 5 days of work. My work in the Convention Service department will be totally different from the thought processes of my last internship in the Philippines in Crowne Plaza because this is more of a behind the scenes department, with less guest interaction.

WEEK 2

This week is my 2nd week working at the Convention Service and the only way for me is up claw my way and learn. I can say is that I am still learning a lot and happy and excited about my progress since they told me I easily adapt and a fast learner, well the reason is they are showing me the ropes. I just have to pick up my pace. I spoke to the HR Department regarding my housing if they could still extend my stay in the hotel until the 8th of November because I am waiting for my father to send my down payment and first month for the housing that I am trying to get. This week was more of learning for me than action because all we had to do is refresh all the rooms, for the reason that we were still having the same people from last week's Raymond James Investment Solution Forum. But on the last day of the week was filled with action because we had a wedding for Mr. and Mrs. Jasper , I had to set up the Foyer and Promenade alone. It was challenging since I had to do it all on my own but I felt respect, responsibility and trust. My work in the Convention Service is more of Set up, Refresh, or Clean and Clear. That's basically the structure of the cycle that I am learning so far.

WEEK 3

This week is my 3rd week working at the Convention Service and I have to say I am happy about my progress since I am getting more familiar with the techniques and rooms ,then I just have to pick up my pace .As I am approaching the week of moving into another I had to prepare myself from commuting and being more independent than just living in a hotel. This week was more busy than last week because we had to turn a meeting room to a wedding venue at 7pm on the first day of the week. But as the day went on I was busy but manageable. We only had to set a few rooms into a conference room and theatre for meetings and talks respectively. My work in the Convention Service has added another function in the cycle Set up, Refresh, Turn or Clean and Clear. Turn means you’re turning a room in the middle of a break to another type of set up or add more tables or chairs in it. Depending on the request of a guest.

WEEK 4

This week is my 4th week working at the Convention Service and I can’t believe that I am enjoying my work even if I am a people's person, since we are more behind the scene with more actions like setting up and breaking down rooms. Commuting is very troublesome if I take a bus going to work because there are no bus stops going to the property so as much as I take Uber or Lyft rides, sometimes my roommate Roy gives me a ride going to work whenever he is free. This week was not as busy as the other week because we only had a few functions, We had two new groups Bay Care Medicine Group and the Tech Data Corp, We had to set up White Ibis and Herring gull into a U-Shape Conference room with the usual pads, pens, candies and waffles. My highlight for this week was I had to turn a room named Cormorant from a theatre setup to a school room set up. My Manager Mr. Zimmer gave me the task alone to scale my abilities that I have learned so far. For the rest of the week it was more refreshing of the rooms and cleaning up. than turning them because they stayed in the hotel for almost more than a week.

WEEK 5

This week is my 5th week of working in the Conventional service. I have to say it has been hard but all we have to do is grind hard. Entering this week with that mentality was kind of disappointing because we were not busy until the 21st. We did not have much work from the17th until the 19th, the 20th we had to set up for the big day tomorrow. They were to hold a two day owners meeting in the Roseate Spoonbill room. We had to assemble new office chairs and put up a U-Shape setup with the new office chairs that we just assembled. This was a very big deal for me because if we get something wrong in the setup our manager Mr. Zimmer Hair will be in the meeting he will be able to notice it.

WEEK 6

This is my 6th week working experience under Conventional Services. This week was swamped because a College football team is coming over to stay in the hotel for 5 days. We had to set up all the meeting rooms into a sports facility on the second floor, while the Audubon Ballroom became a breakfast and lunch buffet. We had to build small massage beds for the players where they can do their stretches and massages. On the 26th we had another client in Herring gull so we had to turn the meeting room from a theatre setup to a U-Shape style set up. Then after the meeting finished we had to turn it again into a theatre style room. I was told that I was going to be moved to the morning shift so I was scared because I am not a morning person. November 26th at night I checked out a car and bought it. It was the best investment I ever put money into.

WEEK 7

This is my 7th week working under Conventional Services, a new month and a new schedule for me, they moved me to the morning shift usually 5am-2pm or 7am-4pm. It is a different setup in the morning, because at night shift you focus on setting up the meeting rooms, however in the morning shift it is more on guest assistance and refreshing the rooms. In the morning shift I noticed that they speak English which is good, I was getting a hang of the Spanish already but English is okay too. This week as well I have been introduced to the Banquets team because I will be working under them soon. I think that working in the mornings was more relaxed, because we only set up water stations and refresh rooms.

WEEK 8

This is my 8th week of working under Conventional service, working in the mornings is fun because we actually interact with more guests. This week we had two groups who came in, the Teachers Association of Tampa we had Audubon A for them, while we had the other group on the second floor for a Lunch meeting.

WEEK 9

I have not been to work this week because they gave me a time off from my job.

WEEK 10

This is my 10th and last week of working under Conventional service, for my last week I tried to give my best, we had an outdoor wedding in the Casitas, and a reception on the 14th floor.

WEEK 11

This is my 1st week working under Banquet Services, on my first week it is more on training on the basics. My first task was to shadow the Buffet runner, for the whole week I was assisting the buffet runner understanding what I have to do. Sometimes I also assist the servers to get to know my other colleagues.

WEEK 12

This is my 2nd week working under Banquet Services, on my second week. I became a buffet runner for a meeting in Audubon A for a lunch meeting from 11-2:30pm.

WEEK 13

This is my 3rd week working under Banquet Services, I have started to work as a banquet server, I am having recollection of my first internship in the 7 Corners restaurant. I am learning from Miss Anita with all the Standard operating procedures.

WEEK 14

This is my 4th week working under Banquet Services, I have started to work as a banquet server, I am having recollection of my first internship in the 7 Corners restaurant. I am learning from Miss Anita with all the Standard operating procedures.

WEEK 15

This is my 4th week working under Banquet Services, I have started to work as a banquet server, I am working on the 14th floor in Armani’s restaurant. For a week we have been serving 120 people for breakfast and lunch.

WEEK 16

This is my 5th week working under Banquet Services, we have a Super Bowl Party in the whole Audubon. So we had to set up a carving station and a buffet line per request from our clients. The following day we had a group in the casitas, they did lunch in the restaurants and for dinner they headed to Casitas for an outdoor party. We had set up a bar and a lot of cocktail tables.

WEEK 17

This is my 6th week working under Banquet Services, I have started to work as a banquet server. I am working on the 14th floor in Armani’s restaurant, with the morning crew. We usually have breakfast buffets in the restaurant. After that lunch meetings are usually in Audubon A or Outside the patio, so that the guest will enjoy the sun. February 6-9 we had two big groups coming in Audubon A, it was a group of scientists and innovators. The other group was in Audubon DEF.

WEEK 18

This is my 7th week working under Banquet Services, we have The Kansas City Chiefs staying over the hotel, once again we became busy because breakfast, lunch and dinner will be buffets. Adding to this we have a wedding at the 14th floor on the 6th of February so we were also tasked to set up a cocktail party. We serve nutritious food for the athletes, unlike the usual breakfast buffet. I noticed they love oatmeal with honey and fruits, they love biscuits and gravy which was kind of weird though that is why I am here for learning their culture.

WEEK 19

This is my 8th and last week working under Banquet Services, We big group coming called PACIRA bioscience. They held a team building event and awards night in the hotel premises. It was a very fun group because they are very accommodating, we had to set breakfast and lunch at the tent because they were a large group, for dinner they wanted it in the outdoors so we had it in the casitas. They were there for the whole week, the awards night was held in the Audubon which was pretty grand. We had an Indian wedding in the Audubon, it was a plated dinner of 300 pax. gathering in the said event. It was super fun and accommodating, they really love to dance. Sadly it is my last week working with them. I had a blast with the group because I love serving, and the environment.

WEEK 20

This is my 1st week working under 1823 Kitchen & Bar, I started as a buffet runner. I was in charge on every detail of the buffet, I had to prepare the lamps, heaters, labels, utensils and the most important food. I have to make sure that the buffet is always presentable.

WEEK 21

This is my 2nd week working under 1823 Kitchen & Bar, I started as a busboy. I was in charge on every detail of the table. Resetting the table, busing the plates and glasses, cleaning the tables and I also help the main servers with their tasks so I will learn more about the restaurant.

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