#how to apply for a job on a cruise ship

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10 Things You Need to Be Successful as a Cruise Crew Member

Have you ever thought about working on a cruise ship? It’s a great way to travel the world, meet new people, and have a lot of fun. But before you apply, there are a few things you need to know. In this video, I’m going to share with you the top 10 things you need to be successful as a cruise crew member.

Point 1

The first thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to be passionate about customer service. Cruise passengers are looking for a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and they rely on the cruise crew to make that happen. If you’re not passionate about providing excellent customer service, then this is not the career for you.

Point 2

The second thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to be able to work long hours and be flexible. Cruise crew members often work long hours, sometimes up to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also need to be flexible and adaptable, as they may be required to work different shifts and in different departments.

Point 3

The third thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to be able to work well under pressure. Cruise ships are busy places, and crew members need to be able to handle stressful situations calmly and efficiently. They also need to be able to work well as part of a team.

Point 4

The fourth thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to be able to speak multiple languages. This is not essential, but it is definitely a plus. Many cruise lines operate in multiple countries, and crew members who can speak multiple languages are in high demand.

Point 5

The fifth thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to have a clean criminal record. This is essential for any cruise crew member who will be working with children or vulnerable adults.

Point 6

The sixth thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to be in good physical health. Cruise crew members need to be able to handle the physical demands of the job, which can include lifting heavy objects, standing for long periods of time, and working in hot and humid conditions.

Point 7

The seventh thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to have a valid passport and visa. This is essential for any cruise crew member who will be traveling internationally.

Point 8

The eighth thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to be willing to learn new things. The cruise industry is constantly evolving, so crew members need to be willing to learn new skills and adapt to new technologies.

Point 9

The ninth thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to be able to handle difficult passengers. Not all cruise passengers are pleasant, and crew members need to be able to handle difficult passengers calmly and professionally.

Point 10

The tenth and final thing you need to be successful as a cruise crew member is to be able to have fun! Working on a cruise ship can be a lot of fun, and crew members need to be able to enjoy themselves and make the most of the experience.

So those are the top 10 things you need to be successful as a cruise crew member. If you have all of these qualities, then you have a good chance of being a successful cruise crew member. Thanks for watching!

[ginnsbaker]

In Losing Grip On Sinking Ships (5/?)

Chapter summary: The "calm" before the storm. Wanda’s tentative friendship with you is off to a good start

Chapter word count: 5.4k+

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Fem!Reader, Yelena Belova x Fem!Reader (heavy on this chapter)

Notes: don't need to squint for fluff in this one, also kind of a filler before we get to the much dreaded part 6

AO3 | Masterlist 

Next Chapter: Six

Taglist: @blackluthxr | @esposadejoyhuerta | @secretbackrooms | @justgotlizzied , @casquinhaa | @marvelwomen-simp | @sunsol-22 | @wandanatlov3r | @kyaraderuwez

-

Five

Wanda’s tentative friendship with you is off to a good start. There’s a silly smile on her face as she puts the harness on Sparky; and the energetic pupper struggles only slightly when Wanda coos at him.

“We’re going to see Y/N,” Wanda says, and Sparky wags his tail hard at the mention of your name. “Who’s an excited little boy?” 

She proceeds to hook the leash on the harness and then temporarily secure the hand loop around the doorknob. 

“Stay there while mommy puts on makeup.” Wanda commands and feeds him a treat from her hand. 

Wanda studies herself in front of the mirror. It’s a problem putting on the liquid foundation because she can’t stop smiling, the product caking along her laugh lines as a result.The last time she was drunk on happiness was when she got that job at the art gallery and you surprised her by taking her to a romantic dinner cruise around the island. While there, you both mapped out the plan for her to eventually be the senior art curator–a position that eventually went to Agatha Harkness. Wanda had been bold to give herself only two years to work her way to the top, and it wasn’t purely of her own accord. It was being with you that she felt she could dream anything. It was you that removed all her fears and doubts. 

If anything happens, let them happen, she thought to herself. As long as she had you, the rest was just confetti. 

It didn’t mean that Wanda’s ambition and everything else outside of you were just background noise; it only meant she knew it wouldn’t be the end of the world if she failed.

Wanda ends up just applying a bit of lip gloss on her lips, recalling how often you used to tell that you prefer her more natural look. 

Her phone buzzes with a notification. Wanda unlocks it to find a text from Pietro, who she asked to man the cafe until afternoon.

You owe me a free batch of those macadamia cookies for this. - P

I’ll bake all the cookies you want for a discount. - W

Thank you for doing this. - W

Agatha agreed to help in the morning. - P

You text with Agatha??? - W

:p - P

Please don’t flirt in front of my customers. - W

No promises. Enjoy your date with Y/N. - P

Wanda grins from ear-to-ear. 

It’s not a date. - W 

You wish it was. - P

Wanda chooses not to answer that and slips her phone back in her purse. Then she turns to Sparky who’s been fiercely watching her all this time. 

“Ready to go, bud?”

–

“You look nice.” 

It’s offhandedly delivered after you take the reins on Sparky, yet the speed at which she blushes from the compliment is almost embarrassing. Like always, she makes it a point to look good for you. 

You and Wanda chose to meet at the Conservatory Garden in Central park, taking advantage of the spring weather. Its main path is littered with trees and benches, and an overall perfect spot for people watching. Sparky was the first to spot you, and he started barking the second he picked up your scent and ran towards your direction, dragging Wanda along with his leash. Tears almost fell from her eyes when she watched your touching reunion. You fell to your knees to gather Sparky in your arms, while he made sure to lick every part of your face. 

“I missed you too, bud.” Wanda heard you whisper over the back of Sparky’s furry head. Sparky made a whining noise, and you knew he understood.

“I was surprised you’re available on a Wednesday,” you say. You and Wanda are strolling side by side, Sparky in tow, moving in circles around you and occasionally around Wanda too. 

“Pietro covered for me.”

“I didn’t know he could bake or make good coffee for that matter.” you say with a light chuckle.

“I baked everything in advance this morning, so all he has to do is take care of the register. Also, he’s caffeine dependent and very particular about his coffee, so he already knows how to make the ones on the menu.”

Though, what Wanda really wants you to know is that she woke up at 3AM just to be able to walk Sparky together.

You raise your eyebrows, half-impressed and half-skeptic. “I’m curious if he’d make them as good as yours. I mean, you make pretty darn good coffee.” 

Wanda bites her tongue to maintain her neutral expression. Another compliment. She wonders how many more she can squeeze out of you. The reality is she’s a nervous ball of energy. Worse than College Wanda was nervous when she first realized her feelings for you.

“Thanks, Y/N. It means a lot, coming from you.”

“Aren’t you worried I’m just being biased?” you quip with a devious smirk. Wanda feels a strong urge to wipe it away with her lips. “After all, you did train my tongue to like your cooking.”

“I did not!” Wanda passionately protests, blushing when her mind wanders to what else she trained your tongue to do in the past. 

You surprise her by letting loose a laugh; a real one, blissful and unrestrained; playfully challenging her with a, “Then explain why I love overcooked chicken.”

Wanda’s still thinking of a smart comeback, when your ringtone goes off in your pocket. 

“Excuse me, I should take this.” you say, handing back the leash to Wanda.

“Hey, stranger,” you happily receive the call, and Wanda curiously watches you from the corner of her eyes.

“This Friday? Yeah. Aside from dinner…? No, I don’t think I have anything else planned.” 

Plans this Friday? Wanda muses, trying to figure out if said plans are platonic or not. The thing is, she can’t tell with the tone of your voice alone. 

“I’m a Knicks fan, yes,” you confirm something Wanda already knows. “You cheer for Brooklyn? You’ve got to be shitting me.”

You only talk that way to your best friend. Were you talking to Natasha?

“A long time fan, huh? So you’re saying you’ve been rooting for New Jersey all this time,” you laugh. “Nope, you can’t take that back cause I’m recording this call.”

The cheeky way you’re addressing this person is not sitting well with Wanda. Sparky comes up to Wanda and jumps at her, poking her knee with his paw. 

“Not now, Sparks.” Wanda hisses at him the way someone would scold a child.

“Count me in. How much does the ticket cost? What? I can’t let you do that… Fine, popcorn’s on me then. Uh, huh. We’ll see about that. Simmons is not who he used to be. Alright, we’ll continue this in the game. Yes, you have me for the whole night, I promise,” you say, your mouth splitting into an amused grin. 

Wanda’s head cranes towards you, no longer bothering to pretend she’s not eavesdropping. You catch Wanda’s green orbs and lower your voice as you end the conversation with, “Anyway, I have to go. I’ll see you. Bye.”

“That was Yelena,” you say after tucking away your phone. “Natasha’s sister. I think Nat’s mentioned her to you.”

“Natasha doesn’t talk to me.” Wanda says, keeping her tone light.

You gawk at her. “That’s insane. Of course, she does. I mean not now, because of, you know, what happened.”

“No, she doesn’t. Whenever the three of us are together, we talk to you.”

You hum in confusion, your mind drifting through countless dinners the three of you shared in the past. You suppose Wanda’s claim had basis; Natasha’s seems more reserved in Wanda’s presence.

“Well, I–maybe you heard about her from me?”

“I just know that Natasha has a sister. I never knew her name, though.”

“Ah,” you say, face warming up and sweat gathering around your upper lip. The heat of the sun is at its peak, making you feel incredibly hot. “I thought I'd mentioned her before.”

“So, Yelena,” Wanda starts, wanting to know more about this person despite the pang of jealousy that has crept into her chest. “What’s her story?” 

What’s on Friday? Why does she have you for the whole night?

You stop and sit on one of the benches. Wanda follows and plops next to you, leaving just a few inches of space between your bodies. Sparky immediately stands on his hindlegs, trying to jump into your lap. With care, you scoop him up into your arms and cradle him like a baby. 

“She’s Natasha’s sister.” You dumbly repeat, not really knowing where you should start telling your ex-wife about the woman who just asked you out on a date. 

“You said that already.” Wanda says; though she manages a smile that’s convincing enough, her tone is clipped and rather distasteful. 

“What do you want to know?”.

Wanda looks pensive for a moment, before she says, “How come I’m only hearing about her now?”

“She flew to England right before freshman year and then we lost contact right away.” you say.

“And when did she get back?” 

Your eyes flit away from her for a moment. “Two years ago.”

“You’re saying you’ve been friends again for the last two years?”

You refuse to let it bother you that she’s obviously jealous even though she has no right to be. 

Sighing, you say, “Why does this feel like an interrogation?”

“I’m just curious.” Wanda shrugs, scratching Sparky in the area near his tail. He seemingly looks like he’s fallen asleep on you, but his tail still wags at Wanda’s attention. 

“Were you?” Wanda prods. “Were you in touch with her in the last two years?”

For a while you don’t say anything. The thing is, you could lie. You don’t owe Wanda anything anymore. But with Wanda’s line of questioning, it's like she’s almost trying to assert herself and redefine history; perhaps even make it seem like you weren’t so innocent in all of this after all. 

Except you were innocent. You never flirted with the idea of other people. Not even that time you ran into the other great love of your life. So with confidence, you tell Wanda the truth. 

“We ran into each other five or six months ago. But we recently just reconnected again.” you say. 

Wanda does the math in her head. 

Oh.

“You didn’t mention that when we–that was before we–��

“I didn’t think it was worth mentioning,” you say coolly, your patience wearing thin. “It happened that day you asked me to retrieve a painting from Agatha.”

It’s Wanda’s turn to be speechless. Though you never talked about what really went on that Tuesday afternoon when you clobbered Vision with a vase, Wanda had an inkling that you had something to do with the missing paintings in his room: the one he was working on for his final project and the one she gave him. 

It’s still a sour topic; seeing the way your jaw hardens at the mention of the paintings. Wanda backpedals, reeling in the possessiveness she still feels towards you. 

“I see…” she trails off. 

Badly, she wants to know more about this Yelena, but she’s afraid that she might push you too hard for answers; answers that you don’t have to provide in the first place. Wanda feels somewhat ashamed of having taken advantage of your kindness (yet, again) to get what she wants. 

But where does she draw the line? 

Wanda wanted you still. She needed to know if there were other people in your life competing for the same thing. She couldn’t just stand meekly in the corner and watch you fall in love with someone new. 

“Sparky looks chunkier. Is he chunkier?” you say all of a sudden, rubbing his belly.

Wanda is more than grateful for the change in topic.

“He is. He gained five pounds last time I checked.” she says, smiling fondly at the scene before her.

“So he’s basically happy without me?” you ask, more relieved than downhearted by the fact.

Wanda shakes her head. “I don’t think so. Maybe he’s just eating his feelings, you know? Like I sometimes would.”

You cast a funny look at Wanda. “That sounds implausible.”

Wanda’s laugh fills the air with its melodic resonance. “Why don’t you find out? Take him from me for the weekend. See if he’ll miss me enough to gain a few more.”

It must be so blatant how she’s trying you get you to see her again so soon after today. Though it doesn’t seem like you noticed. 

“This weekend?” You pause to think about your schedule despite having all the time in the world to do absolutely nothing. Aside from cleaning up the apartment and doing laundry as part of your Saturday routine, you’ve been wanting to visit your mother in Montauk. 

It definitely wouldn’t be a problem if you take Sparky with you.

“Sure, why not?” you say. 

“Great,” Wanda beams at you. “I’ll drop him off at your apartment before I open the shop?” she inquires softly, hoping she could get your address.

“Sounds good. Did I already give you my address?”

Wanda does a little victory dance in her head. “You haven’t.” 

You text her the details right away. 

“Listen, do you want to have lunch before I go?” you ask, getting up and putting Spark back on his feet. “And thank you for this time with Sparky.”

“No problem.” 

You’re still ridiculously polite. Still kind. 

Still her Y/N.

-

“You’re late.” Pietro grumbles as soon as Wanda arrives at the cafe. 

He has an overly-complicated coffee order waiting, and two customers waiting for their food orders. Agatha has already left two hours ago.

Wanda shrugs her shoulders, placing the eco bags she’s carrying in both hands on the counter. “I went to the grocery store to buy some supplies.” 

Pietro mutely hands Wanda her apron and she quickly starts working the espresso machine. 

“How did your date go?”

Wanda doesn’t bother to correct him this time. 

“It was okay.” 

Pietro doesn’t look convinced at the very least. “That’s it?”

“We walked Sparky and had lunch.” comes Wanda’s nonchalant reply.

“Ah, lunch,” Pietro flashes a leering smile at his clearly smitten sister. “Were you the one to ask her?”

Wanda grins with a dazed look. “Nope.”

“Congrats, sis. You’re on your way to getting back with your ex-wife. Which, if I may add, was your plan all along even when you agreed to a divorce in the first place.”

On any other day, Pietro’s sarcastic humor would normally push her buttons in a snap, but right now Wanda couldn’t care less if she tries. The memory of her time with you and the scent of your perfume is still fresh. There’s nothing that could ruin her perfect day. 

The door chime sings to signify the arrival of a customer. Wanda quickly draws a simple latte art on a coffee order, and then proceeds to serve it to the customer by the window. Her eyes briefly brushes the customer who just came in, and is taken aback when she finds the woman staring at her expectantly.

Wanda carefully places the mug on the table for her other customer, before very quickly fixing her hair to greet the new arrival.

“Hi, welcome to Second Chances. Dine-in or take-out?”

“I’m here to get Pietro.” The woman says with a bored expression. 

Wanda grits her teeth. Her brother really knows how to choose them. “And you are?” 

“Shannon,” she drawls. “His fiancé.” 

“His what? I mean, that’s–” Wanda is stunned beyond belief, and looks over at Pietro who’s pointedly trying to avoid her gaze. “–amazing news. Congratulations.”

“He proposed months ago.” Shannon deadpans, like she’s used to Pietro’s people not knowing he has a fiancé or a girlfriend for that matter.

“He didn’t tell me.” Wanda says.

Shannon doesn’t acknowledge that information. Instead, she says, “Nice little cafe you have here.”

“Thanks.”

“Though the Spanish Latte needs more sugar. I had it earlier this morning.”

Wanda has to ball her fist to refrain from using them on this woman.

“Actually, we have a suggestion box.” Wanda says, gesturing to the aforementioned box by the counter, designed to look like a mini treasure chest. “If you could write it down, we’ll get to it as soon as we can.”

Shannon forces a smile that’s undeniably fake, possibly for lack of trying. 

Pietro approaches them slowly, his rounded eyes reminding Wanda of a wounded puppy. 

“Hey, babe,” Pietro mumbles and pecks Shannon on the lips. “I’m ready to go. Let me just change, okay?”

“Five minutes.” Shannon prompts in a stern voice. 

At this point, Wanda would rather see Pietro flirting with Agatha than have to watch him be pushed around by this woman with his tail between his legs. A barrage of questions run through her mind, starting with why her brother is marrying this bitch.

“You’re wondering why he’s marrying someone like me.” Shannon says wryly. 

“You read minds?” Wanda tries to joke. 

Shannon isn’t having it. “It’s a mystery. I, myself, am wondering why I’m still hell-bent on marrying him.”

Wanda tilts her head at her with a quizzical look. 

“Oh, you don’t know.” Shannon’s laugh is devoid of humor of any kind. 

“Know what?”

“I caught your brother in bed with different women… more times than I can count with one hand.” Shannon explains so casually like she could have just been talking about the weather.

“And I still won’t quit him.” she adds as an afterthought.

“If you’re telling me this because you think I can talk some sense into him–”

“I don’t expect you to do that.”

“Then why are you telling me this?” Wanda asks, no longer holding back her ire.

“Pietro told me what happened with you and your ex.”

“He had no business telling you that.” Wanda says through bared teeth.

Shannon looks unnerved by the evident irritation of her future sister-in-law, and says, “He’s your brother and we do run out of things to talk about.”

“Is there a point to this conversation?”

Shannon drops her gaze to the floor in thought, before they flit up back to Wanda’s eyes which have narrowed into slits. 

“Pietro cares about you. The reason he refuses to go back to LA is because he’s worried about you. I just want to give you something to think about that might help all of us.”

Wanda says nothing and merely waits with her hands on her hips. She already doesn’t trust whatever piece of advice she’s going to hear from this stranger. 

“Love is forgiveness. If your ex couldn’t forgive you for straying once, then you’re better off with someone else who will accept you for your mistakes. Because believe me, you’ll never run out of them.”

Wanda’s anger slowly ebbs away until all that’s left is bafflement at the insinuation that you’re not good enough for her. 

That you’re not worth it. That she’s stupid to chase a love that should overcome anything including infidelity. 

“And you’re that person for my brother?” Wanda says, smiling in contempt. 

Shannon lifts her chin. No, she wouldn’t go as far as verbally claim it, but the Alpha behavior more than proves that she thinks so highly of her capability to love. Wanda feels an overwhelming urge to throw this woman out. Instead, she turns her back on Shannon to stalk towards the staff room where Pietro is changing. 

“I don’t like her.” Wanda states as soon as the door swings open, expecting a half-naked Pietro. 

He’s cross-legged on the floor, watching YouTube videos on his phone.

“Which is why you’ve never met her. And before you say anything, I did try very hard to keep it that way. It’s not my fault that you came back so late.”

“What do you see in her, Piet? You haven’t eloped, right? You can still get out of this.”

Pietro shrugs his broad shoulders; shoulders that would have taken him to superstardom, if not for the series of injuries that plagued his short career. 

“Look at me,” Pietro says in a languid manner. “I’m a fuck up, Wands. I’ll always be a fuck up. It’s in my nature. And she loves me anyway. Maybe I just want someone who will always have my back no matter what.”

“That’s not love. That’s codependency, you idiot.”

“No offense, sis. But it’s not like you have the moral high ground to lecture me about relationships.”

Wanda’s lips press together into a hard line at the proverbial mirror in front of her. They were both fuck ups. The only difference is one of them has already embraced it with open arms. 

After a beat, Wanda asks, “Are you, at least, happy?”

Pietro considers it for a moment, before saying, “She’s not so bad once you get to know her.”

-

The Knicks versus Nets game is starting in thirty minutes, and the thick crowd is scrambling to get their pre-game ritual done; long lines in the restroom, the merchandise stores and the snack bars, fans taking group photos in-front of giant cutouts of NBA players. You stand in the middle of it all, a giant bag of popcorn in each of your arms, when Yelena shows up alone at the assigned gate for your seats. 

Her blonde hair is up in a tight bun, with just a few stray strands falling in front of her eyes. She’s wearing considerably less makeup than she wore in the club, which you think makes her even more beautiful.

Not that your preference has anything to do with how Yelena presents herself, and you certainly wouldn’t let her know that. 

“Where are your friends?” you ask, eyes darting everywhere behind her.. 

“They canceled at the last minute. Kate got called on an assignment.” Yelena says with a huff.

“What a waste.” 

“Kate sponsored the tickets and she doesn’t mind. It’s just her change.” 

“Kate, huh?” you teasingly look at Yelena.

“Really, Y/N?” Yelena mutters, feigning offense. “You’re breaking my heart, you know? I said I like you. Don’t pawn me off to someone else.”

Your cheeks warm at her directness. 

“Shit, sorry. You’re right. I was being a jerk.”

“You were.”

You offer her one of your priced popcorn. “Will this make it better?” you ask, lower lip jutting out into what you hope is an adorable pout. 

Yelena takes your peace offering and then candidly says, “Fine. But stop being so cute or you’re going to regret it.”

You flush even further and feel a jolt deep in the pit of your stomach. 

Somehow, the game is the last thing on your mind right now.

-

The Knicks are down ten at the half, and Yelena’s trash talk isn’t letting up anytime soon. You’re on your third bottle of beer, and the intimacy of how Yelena is half-leaning on your side, her weight solid against your own body, is keeping you tethered more than anything. 

You positively look like a couple, despite the fact that neither of you has acknowledged that this has turned into a date. 

“Wanna bet on how many bricks your team will make in the second half?” Yelena goads with a self-satisfied smirk.

“They’ll find their shooting, you’ll see.” you say with a toothy grin, unfazed. Truthfully, the games’ outcome is the farthest of your concerns now that Yelena’s fingers are inching towards your lap as she shares an anecdote about her workmates. She tells the story rather animatedly, and you can’t help but be mesmerized by the girl you practically grew up with. 

Towards the end of Yelena’s story, the crowd around you goes wild. You look up to see the kiss cam land on you and Yelena. 

You both shake your head in refusal, gazing up at yourselves on the huge monitor in the middle of the arena. People start booing at the two of you, and as a consolation, you put your arm around Yelena’s shoulders and kiss her on the forehead. It’s enough to pacify the crowd and the kiss cam moves on to another couple who gamely makes out in front of everyone.

When the moment passes, you suddenly realize what you’ve just done. The line has been dangerously toed, and you sheepishly retract your arm the same time Yelena straightens her posture.

“I’m s–”

“Don’t,” Yelena stops you before you could utter an apology. “I wanted to kiss you, but I was worried about overstepping any boundaries.” 

“Nat won’t be happy about this.” you murmur, still keeping a respectable distance. 

“For once, don’t think about what other people want. Think about what you want.”

The remaining two quarters is not enough to think just that. 

-

You see Yelena off to her apartment after the game. Sharing a ride is cheaper, since your own apartment is less than thirty minutes away by foot. 

“...and that’s how Kate and I met,” Yelena concludes after a minute-long summary of how she ended up crashing with her current bestfriend. “Why do I feel like I’ve been talking too much about myself for the last hour?”

“There’s more than a decade of stuff for us to catch up on,” you say, feeling a bit regretful about the time that has passed of not being in each other’s life. “There’s a lot I don’t know about this new you.”

“What “new” me? It doesn’t feel like I’ve changed too much.”

“You have,” you say. “But you’re different in a good way. I like both Yelenas.”

Yelena ducks her head. “You’ve changed as well. But judging from how much fun we had in each other’s company, I say the important bits of us remained the same.” she says.

Your eyes sweep over her. She’s right. She’s just Yelena, Natasha’s younger sister and your first love. Beneath the changes that had accumulated over the years, your soul still recognizes her soul.  

“I had a really great time.” you say before you both turn the corner to her place. 

Through the remainder of the distance to her apartment, your pace slows down to a crawl. It’s a familiar ritual: the walk to her doorstep, fishing out for keys, playing for a while with those keys, an exchange of awkward smiles, and then–

The pinnacle of a first date, where the magic happens.

Yelena shuffles her feet, fiddling with her keychain. “This is a date, right?”

You swallow dryly. “Yelena–”

“If you mention my sister’s name again, I might have to strangle you.” 

“It’s not just Nat,” Out of habit, you thoughtlessly reach for your left ring finger to play with the wedding band that is no longer there. The action doesn’t go unnoticed by Yelena. 

“Is it Wanda?” Yelena crosses her arms in a slightly defensive stance. “Are you still in love with her?”

The question has been plaguing you long before Yelena drew it out in the open. 

Shaking your head, you lean in and kiss her. 

-

The next morning, Wanda’s at your door at exactly six. She texted you thirty minutes ago to inform you that she’s on her way but received no reply. Now she’s worried that she might wake some of your neighbors with her forceful knocks. If not, then Sparky’s yelps certainly would.

It takes a few more seconds before she hears your familiar footsteps on the other side of the door. The door swings open and Wanda’s heart skips a beat at the sight of you; in your pajamas; hair messy from sleep; fabric marks on the left side of your face, indicating that you still sleep on your side in the direction of where Wanda used to be when she slept next to you. 

“Good morning, Y/N.” Wanda can’t help how quickly her smile reaches her eyes.

“Wanda? What are you doing here?” you mumble, rubbing the remnants of sleep from your eyes. 

Wanda frowns. Did you forget?

Sparky takes it upon himself to remind you with a small whine as he lifts his paw to scratch at your leg.  

You look down to find him with his tail a blur, wagging from side to side, and it automatically puts a lazy smile on your lips. “Hey, buddy!” 

“You agreed to take him for the weekend.” Wanda says slowly, gauging your reaction. “But if the plan has changed, then–”

Your eyes widen when, at last, the realization sinks in. “No. Sorry. I just lost track of time. I didn’t know it’s Saturday already. I still want to take him.” you say, flushing in embarrassment.

“Great,” Wanda breathes out, and then motioning inside your apartment, says, “Can I, uhm, use the toilet before I–” 

“Of course!” you exclaim, opening the door wider to let her in. “Sorry, I’m still out of sorts.”

“Rough night?”

“Hmm,” You hum pleasantly. “Something like that. The bathroom’s that way.” 

Wanda doesn’t miss your little indulgement in reminiscing last night’s affairs. Definitely not ‘something like that’. She heads to the bathroom with Sparky following behind her. He curls on the floor as he waits for Wanda to finish her business.

“Do you want some coffee? Or maybe not coffee. I have…” you yell out, searching the fridge. “Beer and soda.”

“Water is fine.” Wanda says as she approaches the kitchen. 

She picks a chair that’s nearest to the counter where you’re busy making coffee and pouring Wanda a glass of water. 

Wanda surveys your new home. The lack of decor and the monochromatic paint job screams Natasha; the best friend who’s attached to your hip, but is obviously not present at the moment.

“Where’s Natasha?” you hear Wanda ask.

You think whether or not you should disclose the news about Natasha. You figure it’s not necessary anymore for Wanda to keep tabs on your friends. “She’s visiting a family member upstate.”

“Oh, I didn’t know she had family,” Wanda states, feeling a little silly. Natasha’s an important person in your life, and this is the kind of information she’s supposed to know already. 

“It’s good she’s spending time with them.” she adds.

“Yeah.” you mumble, feeling remorseful about the little lie. “Made me think of mom. I’m actually heading to Montauk later. I’m taking Sparky there if that’s okay with you?”

Wanda gives an enthusiastic nod. “Just don’t forget to pack some water on the trip.”

“And some healthy treats too, I know. I’ve got it, Sparky’s Mom.” you say with a quiet chuckle as you bring over a tray of water and two large mugs of black coffee.

Wanda rolls her eyes at the nickname, secretly elated.

“It’s like we’re co-parenting him.” she blurts out without thinking. 

By the look on your face, the idea of it hits you in a different way. 

“Is…that what we’re doing here?” you say, only half-teasing. 

“I’m not insinuating anything. It’s just somewhat comparable if you think about it.”

You’re quiet for a moment, and it drives Wanda on the edge. 

“I know I’m the one who wanted kids, but I’m glad we didn’t have them when it happened.” you say, and it surprises Wanda beyond anything–the trivial way in which you said it.

“I don’t know, Y/N, ” Wanda whispers. “Maybe if we had kids, things would’ve been different.”

Your eyes are unreadable as you ask, “Different how?”

Wanda couldn’t think of anything to say except what’s really on her mind. 

“Maybe we could’ve avoided separating altogether.”

“Because you think having kids would have made me stay married to you?” you say, in a tone of voice that makes Wanda’s knees buckle and her heart squeeze in regret of her words. 

“Because maybe it would have stopped me,” Wanda says in a rush. It’s the wrong thing to say, but it might even be more wrong if she chooses to lie about it. “Maybe it would have given me a different purpose. Would have made me into someone who isn’t selfish and didn’t lose sight of what truly mattered–”

“You’re saying that our childlessness is what motivated you to cheat on me.” you say, and Wanda watches you flex your fingers; shaking away some numbness. 

“That’s not–” Wanda grapples for words. 

There’s none. 

“I didn’t think this through.” you whisper to yourself, eerily calm and collected. 

“What do you mean?” Wanda asks frantically. 

In the absence of words, you merely look at her with a pained expression.

“Y/n?” Wanda gapes at you and her soulful green eyes widen in panic. “Wait, please, I’m sorry. If we can just–”

“I’ll drop Sparky at your apartment on Monday.” 

Wanda pauses momentarily at the door; but you’re already walking back to your room, indifferent to what she chooses to do. 

[grumfield]

Grummy you do such interesting things. I feel like my life is very boring, can you maybe offer some advice on making changes to live interestingly?

Research stuff, apply to things, and stop viewing “interesting” through the lens of recreational/aspirational spending.

The cruel trick of contemporary (especially American) society is that it survives because it convinces people that the only way to do interesting things, have fun, and live a life that fulfills you is accruing monetary wealth. The act of accruing wealth is what’s directly tied to “what you want to do”, and people spend their whole lives waiting until they’ve got enough wealth to “do what they want to do”. Marx had some stuff to say on that.

“What you want to do” and the whole idea of a Bucket List has become extremely commodified, a thing you can only do if you’ve accrued enough wealth. “I want to travel”, for example, becomes synonymous with vacation, which becomes synonymous with recreational spending money and time off work, which many people don’t have.

This thinking used to stop me from trying things because I felt like it was always out of my price range, but when I divorced the things I was interested in doing from the commodified idea of it, I realized how many opportunities there were to do stuff. Scholarships, grants, job opportunities, etc. especially the more specific you get with a goal, I’ve found there are more doors that have the potential to open.

Travel is a great example: I’m too broke to vacation, but I realized that I did still want to see places. Well, is there a way to do this that doesn’t leave me broke, maybe even pay me? Looked at jobs that required lots of travel—because there are tons, and it all depends on your are of expertise and what you’re personally comfortable with doing. Flight attendant, shipping freighter, summertime farmhand, cruise ship worker, paid educational programs, teacher, technicians, truck driver.

It’s not as glamorous—or the “vision” you’re told is the way to do it—but you still get a chance to do the thing you want to try. And in doing so you’ll also learn how much you’re willing to do something—maybe you realize you do just want to vacation after all, and making affordances to do that isn’t really your speed. And that’s not a problem! You learn more about yourself, and eventually can help narrow down what you do want to do and the affordances you’re willing to make. For example, I want to visit Antarctica. There’s no way I could ever afford the crazy vacation prices to visit, but I realized that there had to be like, custodians at the bases for scientists and stuff. Did some research, and sure enough there are! And I applied for positions. I didn’t apply for waste management work, since I wasn’t keen on making that affordance to do that since I don’t know how it works, but I applied for other ones.

In reframing a goal you have not as something you have to wait for, but something that you can potentially pursue now, you open a lot of doors.

And like, this isn’t to naively say that you can do anything you want. Some things just aren’t possible depending on circumstances, and sometimes you don’t get what you shoot for. But I think the main lesson I took away is that you can do more things than you think, and don’t hold yourself back without researching first.

[ghitathepanda]

Sonic characterization thoughts: Emotional Vulnerability edition

Disclaimer: There isn't gonna be me hating on things here, and also, there are no Sonic movie spoilers. Just felt like talking about my views on different interpretations of Sonic. I promise there is no "thing, Japan better" or any other version of this in the following. Also, I am aware that I am pulling some stuff from second-hand information that I've read/heard years ago so I could be talking out of my ass. Anyways, this will be a really long one, so Imma put the "read more" thing here. Also, I will bring up Sonamy in relation to this for example purposes. If you feel about Sonamy the same way a number of Bkdk shippers feel about MHA chapter 431 (which is to feel very angry), don't even bother to continue reading. Now that I've made my stance clear, you can continue should you choose to

Anyways I got out of watching Sonic Movie 3 and two days later I started thinking about the difference in Sonic's characterization not just with the movies but also between Japanese and Western made stuff. My take on that sort of thing is that I'm more open to different interpretations because even in the 90s Sonic has had different interpretations and characterization across various versions, both west and east but I'll probably elaborate on that later.

Point is, I think about how movie Sonic is much more of a chatterbox compared to how I think game Sonic is like, or at least Japanese game Sonic but again, I will elaborate on that too later. Somehow, my brain came to the conclusion that maybe, and I do mean MAYBE, that the movie writers uses western Sonic, or specifically what I think is western classic Sonic, as the blueprint to write their version of Sonic around and evolve. I do admit, I did not watch any of the American 90s Sonic cartoons so my impression of western classic Sonic is based on pop culture osmosis. I just know he's the version that started liking chilli dogs and a big ol chatterbox and has a very 90s feel. Feel free to correct me but even if I'm wrong about that specific aspect, the point I want to make is that Movie Sonic is closer to what I think about the western original depictions of Sonic.

Note that what I'm referring to is just ONE aspect of Sonic's character and also not every western depictions of Sonic is the same. But what I do get is that western-written Sonic can at times feel more emotionally vulnerable compared to Japanese/game Sonic. Not that Japanese Sonic is completely invulnerable emotionally. Just look at Sonic X for examples of Sonic reaching his breaking point both from a comedic (when he's stuck on a cruise ship) and dramatic (Dark Super Sonic) point of view. I use Sonic X because at least in Japanese, because I don't watch the dub, he is meant to be more in line with the game characterization and they pull it off. But in most situations, game Sonic is most likely doing a better job keeping his cool in some situations and meanwhile someone like Boom and/or Movie Sonic will at the very least show a lil more emotion. That being said, even when game Sonic ends up with scripts written in English and then localized to Japanese, they seem to have to abide by guidelines from Japan about characterization, although I could be talking out of my ass. I HEARD from some sources that say Forces has the story treatment or something actually written in Japan and then the Pontaff duo wrote a script based on that and I don't know if the same applies to previous games under their pen but if it's true then you can really see them struggling with a Sonic meant to be closer to his Japanese characterization once Forces came about because you have a Sonic who waxes on about the power of friendship ala Sonic Heroes but it just hits different and also stuff about Sonic looking seemingly fine for someone imprisoned for six months but I dunno how much I heard was true and there are stuff I could have been talking out of my ass for that but anyways, back to emotional vulnerability between versions.

One of the ideas I heard of in regards to Sonic is how he tend to keep his feelings to himself and won't show himself crying and stuff in front of others, which if I'm not mistaken is from one of the Japanese writers or SOMETHING Japan-related. This is kinda in line with the emotional vulnerability thing. I know I've seen artwork of Archie Sonic crying and stuff but idk the context so I won't make assumptipns but I know Movie Sonic at least would be more willing to open himself up emotionally. But Movie Sonic is much more of a kid compared to other Sonics out there. There's also Prime Sonic who is one of the most emotionally vulnerable Sonics and also more reckless because the writers wants to give him an arc. How you feel about it is subjective but claims that try to make it seem that Prime is connected to the games was probably one of the bigger fuels to the characterization discourse. Again, emotional vulnerability isn't the only aspect that separates different depictions of Sonic from one another but it is a factor as to how different versions of Sonic would react to specific situations.

And now we come to Ian Flynn's Sonic. I admit I have not read IDW because I wasn't in the mood for it but I have played Sonic Frontiers. Frontiers is probably the game where Sonic's emotional vulnerability is put to the test the most (or at least one of if you have examples that I am not thinking of). The general idea of what Sonic goes through, like bearing through the pain of his corruption and dealing with his friends' feelings, truly highlights that emotional vulnerability. Can you imagine Boom or Movie Sonic dealing with what game Sonic does in Frontiers? Or any of the Classic versions, both western and Japanese? They could make it through but their attitudes how they'll react to various things would be different. I specifically added the Classics because even if you only account game Classic Sonic whenever he isn't crossing over with Modern, does any version of Japanese classic Sonic subscribe to this idea about his emotions? OVA Sonic I think is the most emotionally vulnerable, specifically among Japanese Classic Sonics but he's also the most fleshed out Japanese Classic Sonic in terms of characterization, only because he has big "I am so done with this bs" energy that can only be matched by Boom. Oh right, Ian Flynn. I probably have more to say if I read the IDW comics but in Frontiers alone, he does a good job at the very least portraying a Sonic closer to at least what I think the Japanese version is like. Maybe not 1:1 but close, at least that's how I feel.

I think one specific part of Sonic's character tied to the whole emotional vulnerability that I haven't discussed? His relationship with Amy. Both Western and Japanese Sonic media have at times played around with teasing the Sonamy ship. On the western side, whenever Boom and the twitter takeovers sometimes do Sonamy teases, Sonic loses his composure a lil quickly but Sonic in the twitter takeovers is also the closest we get to the game incarnation of Sonic to be emotionally vulnerable but also because it's the voice actors messing around having fun. In Japan, well there's a bunch of things we have to cover but we'll start with the Dreamcast era stuff where Amy is one of those people who Sonic can feel annoyed by because of her young crush towards him (let's not forget how old the Sonic characters actually are before they made things vague) but then later, we have Sonic X giving us genuine moments between the two, no jokes to ruin the moment, even dedicating an ending credits sequence for them. The Japanese social media meanwhile ain't afraid of showing off Sonic and Amy stuff together in ways that ain't subtle. And the rare times we have exclusive Japanese Sonic and Amy interactions like with the v-tuber models, the two are much more comfortable with one another, with even Sonic catching Amy off guard once with the birthday cake moment in 2022's Japanese birthday livestream where the Sonamy bit is as subtle as flashing a pink spotlight on a couple. The point is, whenever a Sonamy moment comes up, Japanese Sonic, especially these days, does a better job keeping his composure compared to his western counterpart. Also Jun'ichi Kanemaru and Taeko Kawata sang a song together as Sonic and Amy about "their favourite things". There's a little more you can squeeze out for Sonamy crumbs as well a bit more to how Japanese Sonic acts around Amy.

I only now finally remembered a specific point to make in relation to all this, and it's certain takes on Sonic's character I see on twitter sometimes. The whole idea that he's less of a character and more of an idea or something. To me that feels like a misinterpretation of his seemingly emotional invulnerability but I can MAYBE understand WHY they thought of Sonic that way. They're probably thinking of the Jason Griffith-voiced Sonic who gets roped into other people's troubles and spends part of his adventure spouting his own life philosophies to others and making a change in their hearts while he saves the day with the cutscene presentation making his points feel more dramatic and emotional. Or maybe it's just how Sonic in the games doesn't seem to have a character arc because some people have narrow views about the different ways characters can be written. But no, Sonic is just emotionally strong. He's doing all he can to put the people he's with at ease when things get bad for them, especially those in need of saving. He still can have an attitude and all and be annoyed but when it matters he steels himself to be strong for others.

I probably have something to say about how his VAs handle that sort of thing. Ryan Drummond's Sonic feels very 90s even when listening to him recently doing his Sonic voice. He does get moments where his Sonic tones down the attitude for a more emotional performance but he doesn't really get to act out anything with Sonic involving his emotional strength. Jason Griffith, having voiced Sonic in Sonic X, means he gets to act out the more emotionally vulnerable moments I've mentioned above and his Sonic does evolve throughout the games he's in. I mentioned those games that I THINK made people think Sonic is less of a character and stuff and this is where I think Jason feels closest to Jun'ichi Kanemaru's Sonic in terms of vibe. My favourite Roger Craig Smith Sonic performance is the Boom cartoon, but that's a Sonic that feels very tailor made for him and also he gets to have a lot of range with a Sonic who sometimes loses it in comedic ways. Frontiers is when he is tested with a Sonic that feels closer to the Japanese incarnation in terms of emotional vulnerability and he can pull it off. People have negative things to say about Roger but it becomes clearer to me he just needed the right script to truly show off his worth as Sonic's voice actor. I mainly wanted to focus this paragraph oh game Sonic but I'll give Ben Schwartz a shout out for his Sonic. He pulls off the sincere moments where his Sonic opens up emotionally with others well and fault with him is more so tied to jokes written for him that folks don't vibe with. How could I forget Jun'ichi Kanemaru after talking about the Sonamy duet last paragraph. This man has been with Sonic since 1998 and has evolved and even voiced other versions of Sonic like Boom and Prime. Idk how well he fits Boom tho because the vibe of Boom Sonic's character is different enough that the usual energy I assume Jun'ichi brings doesn't 100% fit. I ASSUME. But point is, his range with Sonic is pretty wide. Idk how much of this is the writing, voice direction or the performance but his game Sonic, especially in the mid-to-late 2000s, just have a very unique vibe that I cannot describe that makes me just automatically switch to Japanese voices in Sonic games whenever I can. His English VAs are NOT BAD, I just vibe with his Japanese voice more.

So where am I going with this? I guess to summarize, I view game Sonic (especially Japanese Sonic) to be one of the most emotionally strong characters I've known. It's not a bad thing for me, at least, that other Sonics aren't as strong. It's just that non-Japanese interpretations of Sonic are more willing to let Sonic be vulnerable emotionally, most likely because writers have different views on what is considered a core aspect of the character.

[clowncloud]

if i cld tell my mother im interested in applying to a cruise ship tht wld tots help but alas anyways karen told me to highlight my lang skills n get 2 personal refs n a job rec from a current or prev employer so i guess i need to find a job stat ugh n then i hv to work there long enough to get a rec letter how long is long enough cld 6 months work i mean im thinking common sense says a year but i dont even hv a job yet and a year from now might as well be 2026 and i know there's no rush but what if there is 😭

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Humor (6) Masterlist

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five

7 Places Not to Have Sex, a Guide by Dan Howell - ttathinker

Summary: because not every time dan and phil have sex results in careless whispers in the background and scented candles.

an elemental match (ao3) - itsmyusualphannie (itsmyusualweeb)

Summary: “one moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world”

- not buddha

dan and phil, who like everyone else in their world have some level of superhuman powers, are out and about when tragedy strikes. they have powers, though. they can fix this, right? right.

(right?)

Baby, I'm a Star (ao3) - cactusgal

Summary: Phil is a lighting designer. Bored with the community concert gigs he has worked for a couple years, he applies at a touring company. He is assigned to a popular band, the dreamx, to cover a world tour. Getting paid to work on nearly every continent: how rad is that? Phil's excited until the first day of rehearsal when he learns something vital: the lead singer is a complete twat. Will Phil quit his job? Will Daniel, the lead singer, realize how much of a dick he's being? Will they eventually forget their differences and become friends? Who knows. Only time will tell.

can dan and phil nut (ao3) - itsmyusualphannie (itsmyusualweeb)

Summary: dan and phil try no-nut november

Christmas with a few Kinks (ao3) - winstonlives

Summary: Phil’s a cheeky lil’ shit and inspires Dan to set them up with a Mrs Claus they only know for about an hour.

i jump for my phone every moment it lights up (ao3) - natigail

Summary: Dan left YouTube behind to become an actor, but years later when coronavirus hits and forces him into self-imposed quarantine he rediscovers an old passion of his - AmazingPhil. He hadn't counted on becoming internet friends with him, or falling in love for that matter.

It all started with a snake bite (ao3) - winstonlives

Summary: Dan accidentally turns Phil on. Ribena gets all over the couch. While cleaning it up Dan finds out some surprising, and arousing things about Phil's university life.

Kick Me While I'm Down (ao3) - jerseker

Summary: Dan and Phil meet in an adult kickball league. Phil is just there to make friends. Dan is - not.

Lipstick (ao3) - winstonlives

Summary: Inspired by an Instagram filter, Dan tries lipstick.

Moments (ao3) - TwistedRocketPower

Summary: Dan and Phil had a file. A file of moments that were for their eyes only. Until one day, they were broadcast to the world.

One Last Time (ao3) - greensweater

Summary: When Dan Howell moves in with Phil Lester to help pay the rent, Phil isn't expecting anything but a new friend. What happens, however, is a connection neither of them can deny, even as much as they want to. A Housemate!Phan au.

Practice Makes Perfect (ao3) - winstonlives

Summary: Phil said he would paint Dan’s nails in a live show, and doesn’t think much of it until Dan finds someone else to do it. Dan is surprised and amused at Phil’s reaction.

Reflections (ao3) - howlthenight

Summary: After the US TATINOF tour, the guys decide it's time for a day at the beach.

“This is perfection, isn’t it?” says Dan peacefully, feeling what he assumes others consider the lightness of being. Phil makes a noise of agreement. Serenity permeates the air. A cruise ship appears as if it’s sitting at the edge of the ocean. They dig their toes into the sand.

Ring It On (ao3) - ahappyphil

Summary: @danielhowell: come hang out with dizzle and pizzle while we tell you the true life tale of how phil desecrated our marriage

seasons change (ao3) - sadlybunny

Summary: The boy is irresistible. He’s got that “couldn’t be bothered” attitude that has always intrigued Phil, always made him want to know Danny a little bit better. Phil knows falling in love with his best friend’s younger brother is wrong. But he just can’t seem to do the right thing.

The Boy In The Garden (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: Dan Howell and Phil Lester had nothing in common. But when the two of them end up working together in the abandoned school garden, will friendship- or something more- develop between them?

the money summits - LetGladnessDwell

Summary:

You might think you’re talking about numbers, but it’s always more than that, Kath had said.

(Or, what Dan and Phil talk about when they talk about money.)

You push all my buttons down. (I know life would suck without you) (ao3) - sinking_wthatship

Summary: Dan and Phil are together, but they have a fight. They don’t speak (only to argue), and have to film a video together. They act civil and what not but it is obvious that they aren’t as close. After the filming, there is a lot of sexual tension, so Phil kisses Dan and it ends up as angry/make-up sex.

[causenessus]

OMG NEVER FEEL SORRY ABOUT NOT RESPONDING RIGHT AWAY!!! I totally get it, some days are just like that!!!! I’m literally just here to yap at you so respond whenever you feel like! Don’t feel obligated to respond at all because you don’t owe me anything!!! <3333

Slowly but surely I’m making my way through the depression room lol. My mom wants to turn my room into a guest bedroom and the basement into my new room so it needs to be cleaned by the end of the year. So hopefully more surely than slowly lol- OMG GOOD JOB!!!! I LOVE THE FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT FROM FINISHING SOMETHING WELL!!!!

NESS YOU CAN’T JUST TELL PPL YOU’RE PROUD OF THEM- I WILL START CRYING 😭😭😭😭😭😭🫶🏻

Worry not! I am not stressing about senior year!!! I’ve already decided where I’m going to college just waiting for the applications to allow me to apply for fall of 2025 (I’m going on vacation summer 2025 and thus will not be able to start- it is a cruise in case you’re curious 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ my graduation present if you will) BAHAHA!!! Definitely what happened! I smash so many holes in walls/j

(HOW DID YOU KNOW I HAD A COOKIE HEAD??? WHO TOLD YOU???/lh)

Good news! We did not take senior photos! And yes my hair appointment went very well 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ I now have purple and pink hair (split into like four sections and it’s like alternating so pink in front and purple in back on one side and the opposite on the other side) THE ORANGEY PINK WAS NOT PRETTY. DO NOT LET IT FOOL YOU. It was like bad blonde orange and like salmon pink- not good it looked really bad and washed me out bcs cookie anon has a complexion that rivals Casper the ghost.

AHFJWJCJSJ I WILL SEND SO MANY ASKS. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE STARTED. I LOVE YAPPING AND APPRECIATE THAT YOU YAP JUST AS MUCH IN YOUR REPLY!!!! <3333

I too think about Suna a lot, just a weekly basis (love notes Suna gets like three-four times a week. Regular/Timeskip Suna only gets like twice a week if he’s lucky. The rest of the time is spent thinking about that one Osamu manga panel 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨)

I can see it now; Atsumu did something (took the Mac n cheese from Y/N’s apartment for his own selfish Mac n cheese midnight snacks) and Y/N of course goes to complain to Suna who laughs at her and then tells Osamu- In which case, Bakery Anon will become evil 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ anything for Osamu (+ Love Notes! Y/N…Suna is there but Y/N <3) so we put chiles in the icing of cupcakes and give them to Atsumu. Tada! Self Shipping During the week hours-

Okay! I think I found the fic so RAMBLE TIME.

NAH Y/N IS SO REAL FOR THE “I mean he wasn’t hot before” BUT THEN HE GETS COVERED IN BLOOD AND PATHETIC. REAL REAL REAL. AND THEN SUNA SENDING THE PHOTO. I’M NOT ENTIRELY CONVINCED HE DIDN’T PURPOSEFULLY TRY TO RECEIVE WITH HIS FACE TO SEND THE PHOTO TO HER.

ALL OF YOUR TAGS ARE SO REAL. I ALSO HAVE VERG NON PG THINGS TO SAY ABOUT HIM. JWJFJWJDJSJ

Okay back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I read your little about me and I agree. Oikawa is also very important to me. I could write an essay on him and why he’s such a Human character. and why he’s perfect to be like a 1-1 with Kageyama but also be his own thing separately- this is not a ramble about him though so 🧍🏻‍♀️

OKAY YAPPING DONE. CLOCKING OUT.

For the people who made it this far and see this: YOU GUYS ARE WORTHY OF LOVE. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise, you deserve to be loved and not be a secret. You deserve food, your body needs it to function. You deserve water, it’s very important. It helps with headaches, make sure to get sleep. I know it’s difficult (I have insomnia so I get it) but routines help even if just a little bit. Remember to rest and that you deserve a little break. And if no one else tells you today. I LOVE YOU <3

For Ness: I LOVE YOU <333 YOUR WRITING MAKES ME FERAL. (If you can’t tell). I can’t wait to continue yapping with you, yap sessions >>>> you ALSO deserve a break. If you don’t feel like writing then we’ll be here after your break. Remember to have fun and take care of yourself. Drink water and eat food! I know it’s easy to forget but as long as you eat some sustenance! Good job!!!!

-sincerely bakery anon 🍪

BAKERY ANON THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH :(( AND PLEASE COME IN HERE AND YAP WHENEVER!! like even if i haven't answered a previous ask DON'T BE AFRAID TO SEND ANOTHER ONE!! I WILL GET TO THEM ALL EVENTUALLY I LOVE READING YOUR ASKS AND WHATEVER YOU TALK ABOUT!! I LOVE IT ALL <3

AND AA!!! GOOD JOB TO YOU TOO!! i would come there and help you clean out your room if i could </33 I AM THERE WITH YOU IN SPIRIT!!! AND I HOPE IF YOU MOVE INTO THE BASEMENT IT'S NICER!! i feel like basements are always kind of nice bc they have more room and privacy?? but that's just me!!

AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE NOT STRESSING ABOUT SENIOR YEAR!! have as much fun as possible <3 like i had friends who went crazy and were taking ap bio and ap chem and ap calc BUT I WAS LIVING MY BEST LIFE WITH THE BARE MINIMUM REQUIRED CLASSES AND CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT CLASSES!! i'm glad you've already got where you plan to go and everything planned out!! good luck with your applications <3 AND HAVE SO MUCH FUN ON YOUR CRUISE AAAA THAT SOUNDS AWESOME!! (personally i'm terrified of the water BUT I HOPE YOU HAVE FUN!! THAT'S SUCH A COOL GRADUATION GIFT AND YOU TOTALLY DESERVE IT <3 PLEASE DO CHECK IN LIKE NEXT MAY OR WHENVER ABOUT YOUR CRUISE/AFTER YOU GO ON IT AND HOW IT IS!! [and ofc pls check in again before that as well <3 i love hearing from you <3])

AND I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO?? MOVE YOUR SENIOR PHOTOS OR THEY AT LEAST DID NOT HAPPEN BEFORE YOU GOT YOUR HAIR REDONE!! and OMG THE PURPLE PINK SOUNDS SO COOL!! i just saw someone on instagram today who like half their bangs were bleached sort of platinum-gray-white and the top of her hair was the same color but then the sort of undercut/layers were her natural dark hair color AND IT LOOKED SO COOL!!! (but i don't think my asian hair would let me do that color unfortunately </333) AND DW ABOUT THE ORANGE PINK COLORS 😭 i remember my sister tried to dye some of her hair purple but (once again blaming it on asian hair) it literally just died and turned some type of medusa/ursala green-grayish color it was so bad 😭😭 BUT AA THE RED AND PURPLE NOW SOUNDS SO GOOD!!

REGULAR/TIMESKIP SUNA ONLY GETS TWICE A WEEK IF HE'S LUCKY 😭😭😭😭 LMAOO THAT MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD AND OMG i think i was driving yesterday and i thought about that one really cute osamu timeskip panel where he puts on the jersey and like looks back at the camera to match atsumu on a tv screen also wearing a jersey <33 LIKE OMG HE'S SO CUTE (i shouldn't think about that while driving tho like...i was definitely distracted ahem...ANYWAY)

YES OMG BAKERY ANON JOIN THE SELF SHIPPING HOURS!! you and love notes osamu and me and love notes suna <33 it's perfect!! it's so so cute <33 imagine u and osamu like coming up to atsumu being like "tsumu!! we made u mac n cheese because we know how much u love it <3" (you guys made it with orange juice 💀) AND SUNA AND YN ARE BOTH RECORDING FROM BEHIND A WALL </3 ik u guys just set up the most foul pranks ever!! (but atsumu def deserves them <3)

AND OMG NO I THINK SUNA DEF TOOK THAT RECEIVE TO THE FACE ON PURPOSE AND LIKE IMAGINING HIS LITTLE SMIRK WITH THE BLOOD COMING OUT OF HIS NOSE HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I NEED TO GO REREAD THAT FIC OMG

and omg yes oikawa is so so important to me <33 i just ranted about that in my answer to mango anon's ask 😭😭 BUT HE'S SO HUMAN AND HE DESERVES THE ENTIRE WORLD!! HE DESERVES SO MUCH LOVE AND TO BE REASSURED HE IS ENOUGH AS HE IS AND THAT HE'S SO SO AMAZING AND THE BEST PERSON IN THE WORLD AND <333 i think i've said this somewhere here before but like every few months or so i have this one friend who also watches hq who is a very firm kageyama stan and maintains "oikawa tried to abuse him!!" he's bad!!! and me (very firm oikawa stan) am like "OKAY?? HE ABUSED HIS MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMMATES?? they both changed oikawa is NOT a bad person yap yap yap!!!" (sorry i def turned this into a ramble about him 🧍‍♀️)

EVERYONE LISTEN TO WHAT BAKERY ANON IS SAYING!!! YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT AND LOVED <3 MAKE SURE TO EAT AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER <3 TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES!! (and that goes for you too bakery anon!!! <3)

and thank you for your sweet reminder bakery anon!! i'm so glad you enjoy my writing <33 that makes me so so happy to hear genuinely it means the world and really fulfils my motivation!! i will make sure to take a break if i feel like i need it and thank you so much i love u <33 I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN I LOVE THESE YAP SESSIONS!!)

[batmanschmatman]

Hello!! 1, 4, 10, 18, and 22 for the End of the Year ask game please 😊

ONE Song of the Year: My Spotify Wrapped claims for me it was the Placebo cover of Running Up That Hill, which is admittedly on almost every single one of my playlists, but I think it was actually Meet Me in the Woods by Lord Huron, because I listened to it a billion times while writing my NaNo project.

FOUR Movie of the Year: The Boy and the Heron, both because it was great and also it was the only good theater experience I had all year that wasn't a rerelease like Titanic and The Lion King lol, people at our home theater are very poorly behaved. ;;

TEN Something that Made You Cry This Year: LOL WELL I lost my job a couple weeks ago and that has been some VERY MIXED EMOTIONS including a lot of hysterical crying. It was an extremely toxic work place I was trying to get out of anyway (museum board full of old white men who hated me, boss is/was an alcoholic mean girl - no exaggeration, has driven home drunk from work lunches with her kid in the car and been blackout throwing up in her office after work events - who had a toady work bff who also hated me, no health insurance, making $26/hr despite having an MA and living somewhere where rents start at $2,000 a month) but my boss basically reamed me out right before Thanksgiving telling me I was the worst person ever, had a bunch of provably false claims about how bad an employee I was (never meeting deadlines, making other people do my work for me, never attending events or suggesting ideas for programs, all bullshit I had ample evidence to refute) and told me I could either quit now and be paid through February or be on like mega probation indefinitely, so I came back from the holiday like alright I quit, they're like cool actually this is a budgetary thing and not at all personal, we're SO SORRY this didn't work out also we can only afford to pay you through mid January, so now I'm unemployed applying to a million jobs and scared about money but also I'm free??? So there's been a lot of on and off weeping/grieving and it's kinda ruined the holidays for me lol. But also hopefully it'll pivot to a much better paying and stable job somewhere closer to home, so fingers crossed.

Don't get into the museum field, folks, it sucks here.

EIGHTEEN A Memorable Meal This Year: For Valentine's Day, @heystovepipeboys and I made a bunch of recipes from Last Dinner on the Titanic, which was SUPER FUN. I love historic cooking/baking and have had the cookbook forever, but had never made anything from it before and everything was INCREDIBLE. We made cream of barley soup, chicken Lyonnaise, chateau potatoes and asparagus, and then got eclairs from a bakery near us and the Harney & Sons Titanic tea blend, which is supposed to be similar to the special blend they served on the ship. We listened to period music the whole time we cooked and then we went to see Titanic in theaters for its anniversary rerelease.

TWENTY TWO Favorite Place You Visited This Year: hmmm very tough call. My parents very generously took the fam on a Disney cruise to Alaska this summer which was a childhood dream of mine, and wifey and I had an awesome trip to Old Sturbridge Village in MA for their Halloween event, which was probably the best Halloween themed thing I've ever done. They set up the museum with a bunch of themed performances by a bunch of traveling circus performers who are Definitely Not Vampires and everything was really spooky and fun. Would super recommend if anyone is looking for fun Halloween things to do in New England next year.

Thank you for the ask!! Hope you are enjoying a relaxing end to this weird year.

[butchsaint]

wow congrats on the ship steward position!! make sure to pack enough vitamin c to prevent the full jopson experience!! but how did you become aware of that job, it just sounds so interesting but also kind of unique?

thank you!! and yes lol, i have to make sure i don’t homoerotically die in front of a hallucination of my captain 😔

i honestly just googled “cruises that go to antarctica” and applied to lindblad expeditions (they’re still hiring btw!!!!). turns out they have a completely different hiring process for antarctica and the passage, but the american/central american expeditions seem to be relatively easy to break into!

[fatfables]

Fat People Can Sing Too (Part One)

The Santa Rosa was on her way back to Southampton after three months at sea. Ben was relieved. It had been his first voyage, his first time working on a cruise ship, and he hadn’t really enjoyed it. Yes, the weather in the Mediterranean was much better than back home in Nottingham, and he had developed a healthy tan, but he hadn’t enjoyed the job. He had always wanted to sing for a living, of course he dreamt of being a pop star, but he had always known that this was unrealistic. Still he lived for the stage. He had twice applied to RADA and twice been rejected, instead opting for a musical school for gifted youths in Manchester. The job on the Santa Rosa had at first seemed perfect, his big chance to perform regularly to real audiences who weren’t just his mates. He was a good singer with decent range, and he was handsome, not pretty but handsome, with deep brown eyes, a constant five o’clock shadow and thick brown hair that swept over his forehead. The audiences liked him but he hadn’t been so keen on them.

It was the repetition that bored him. He sang the same nine songs to what felt like the same twenty people every night. They were not the same people every night of course, but he could have sworn that they were. A retired couple from Basingstoke and their friends, also retired from Basingstoke. A loud fat business man always on his phone, the type who could never leave his job behind. A lonely bachelor and a lonely widow. Neither of whom would talk to each other, both hoping to catch someone twenty years younger. What a waste. A gay couple, a lesbian couple, four people who would wander in and out at least three times during a one hour set, and worst of all the children. Rude, demanding, obnoxious, and always on their phones. They all applauded politely. One or two would talk to him afterwards and tell him half-heartedly how good he was and that he should be on TV. He didn’t believe them because they didn’t believe themselves. As the Santa Rosa came into harbour he was glad it was over.

David was surprised at how well Ben was looking. They had been in constant contact via text for the three months that Ben had been away and all Ben had said was how much he hated it and couldn’t wait to get back home. So when he saw Ben disembark looking very well tanned, bulked, and smiling broadly, he was a bit shocked. He had been expecting him to appear depressed and anorexic, kind of like he had been that time in college when they both smoked too much weed and got dumped in the same week. He complimented Ben on his healthy appearance but Ben just waved it off blaming it on too much sun and too much access to the staff buffet three times a day. They drove back to Nottingham in near silence.

Ben had planned to go and live back with his parents for a while but David convinced him that was a terrible idea and that he should crash on his couch until he’d worked out what to do next. At twenty five David was slightly older than his friend and had maybe assumed that Ben was a touch more mature than he actually was. Ben wasn’t by any means childish but he took David’s kindness for granted and treated his apartment like it was his parents house. He spent his days playing computer games and eating snacks on the sofa and made no effort to look for an actual job. Singers don’t work in customer service or offices and they certainly don’t labour or lay bricks. He had replied to a few trade advertisements looking for club singers or band members but had no luck and anyway he really wasn’t into emo or death metal. So like a lot of self-proclaimed artistic types he sat around on his friends sofa waiting for his dreams to come true.

When David first read the advertorial on the pop-up strewn website of what used to be called the Nottingham Evening Post he considered asking Ben first but quickly dismissed the thought. Ben would complain but wouldn’t be able to turn the chance down. This was a chance to be a pop star and although it wasn’t the way that Ben would want to do it, it was at least an opportunity. It lacked artistic integrity , which he would hate, but he wouldn’t be able to say no. David turned out to be correct. The chance of success must have been less than one in a thousand but even one in a thousand was a chance to get Ben off his sofa.

The first round auditions for the new show took place at the Theatre Royal on a Sunday morning. There were no TV cameras or judges present. Ben was asked to perform a song, he chose, I Want to Break Free by Queen, and the sound only was recorded and sent off to the BBC, where a production team would listen to it and decide if you made the cut for the first round proper in front of the cameras. Ben was nervous but performed well. Three weeks later he got a letter to say that he had been selected and he was to go to London for filming at the end of the month. He was over the moon.

David attended with Ben. The new show to be broadcast on Saturday nights was called ‘I Can Sing Too’ and it followed a very familiar format but with a twist. Which performers would go through to the next round would initially be decided by four celebrity judges, who could not see the performers, only hear them. Nothing new so far. The twist was that the judges would never get to see the performers, voting them through on their singing ability alone every week, until the grand final that is, then they would be allowed to actually watch the acts. Public voting was of course involved and began at round three. Viewer and judge votes were equally weighted until the semi-final, at that stage it was seventy five percent public and twenty five percent judges. For the final the judges had no vote, only the viewers would get to decide the winner. Ben and David had yet to get to grips with the intricacies of the show, at this stage they had no idea that Ben would even get through round one.

He almost never made it on stage. The train to St. Pancras was badly delayed and then both being inexperienced with London they had gotten lost on the tube. When they arrived at the BBC they once more lost themselves in a maze of corridors looking for the right studio and set of dressing rooms. They had a strange conversation with a security guard who had eventually pointed them in the right direction after at first seeming to be very confused. Ben told him that he was to be on the new singing show, to which the guard said, “Oh you mean FPCS2.” Ben and David had no idea what the man was on about, “No, It’s called I Can Sing Too” Ben explained. “That’s kinda what I said” the guard had responded with a smirk, “I’m surprised you’re on that show. You’re really not so big.” “Er thanks,” Ben replied with growing uncertainty as to what was happening.

The guard did show them the correct way and Ben made it into make-up with less than five minutes to spare. There some nice scouse ladies powered his face, did his hair, and dressed him in a tight revealing translucent t-shirt that clung to the thin layer of podge that his stomach and chest had developed while he was on the cruise ship. He had protested and said he wanted to wear his own clothes but the scousers said that choice of clothing was contractually theirs and that it was just to keep the housewives happy at home. “You’re a good looking boy” they said “If you want them to vote for you in the later rounds then you need them to start liking you now.”

Ben sang ‘I’ll Make Love to You’ by Boyz ll Men and the judges voted him through in second place. He was ecstatic. Three contestants out of ten were taken forward to the next round the others were a fat old pensioner who crooned out a long forgotten Tony Bennett hit and a brother/sister combo who were so misshapen and ugly that it was hard to correctly gender assign them. All of the successful contestants were assigned a voice/career coach to help them train for the forthcoming rounds.

Ben’s coach was called Brian. He was a friendly but directly spoken thirty something with round rimmed glasses, a penchant for red wine, and his own house in Notting Hill. Not a couch in Nottingham. Brian had explained to Ben and David that they needed to find Ben a sad backstory, a sob-story to endear him to the housewives. “They need to feel sorry for you and sympathise with you at the same time as they want to fuck you.” Brian was nothing if not to the point. Ben hated the idea, he protested that he wanted to win based on his talent and nothing else. Brian laughed at him, “Gareth Gates had his speech impediment. Susan Boyle was as ugly as an arsehole with piles. You need to have something wrong with you. A weakness that is not your fault.” “Who’s Gareth Gates?” Ben had asked. “Oh, don’t worry about him, I’m pretty sure he’s dead now,” Brian replied.

After an hour or so of going round in circles with terrible ideas David finally chipped in with, “Didn’t your gran die from complications with her diabetes last year?” “Yeah but she was like eighty seven and I barely ever saw her.” “It’s a start,” said Brian jumping in on the faintest whiff of a workable idea. David was suddenly hit with the gift of inspiration, “And now you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes too!” “I have?” Brian purposefully misconstrued what Ben said. “That’s perfect! Having the same disease that killed your gran, your poor gran, who you loved so dearly and meant the world to you. Well that must be terrifying! That’s the sympathy card! That’s an ongoing problem and character development!” “I’m sure that lots of housewives have diabetes or know someone who does,” David chipped in. He was getting good at this. It was agreed. Ben had no say in it. He was now a young diabetic singer and needed to learn his place - if he wanted to be a pop star...

[joinmyship12]

Navigating Your Maritime Career: The Best Shipping Job Portals to Find Sea Jobs and Join a Ship

The maritime industry offers a wide range of career opportunities for seafarers, from deck officers and engineers to cooks and stewards. Finding the right sea job can be challenging, especially with the competitive nature of the industry. Fortunately, Shipping job portal provide a convenient and efficient way for seafarers to connect with potential employers and secure their dream job on a ship.

Why Use a Shipping Job Portal?

A shipping job portal acts as a bridge between employers and seafarers. These online platforms offer a vast database of available jobs across different vessel types, including container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers, and cruise ships. Job seekers can apply directly through these portals, making the job-hunting process smoother and more efficient.

Key Benefits of Shipping Job Portals:

Access to a wide range of job listings from reputable shipping companies

Ability to apply online with just a few clicks

Regular updates on the latest vacancies

Direct communication with recruiters and crewing agencies

Transparency in job requirements and salary expectations

Top Shipping Job Portals for Seafarers

Seaman Jobsite A popular platform where seafarers can Find Seafarers job listings from international shipping companies. It offers various positions for officers, engineers, and ratings.

Martide A well-structured portal that connects seafarers with shipowners and crewing managers. The site also provides career advice and resume-building tools.

Crewtoo Known for its user-friendly interface, Crewtoo allows seafarers to browse jobs, create a professional profile, and get updates on maritime news.

Job2Sea This job portal features a large number of vacancies across different types of vessels. Seafarers can also subscribe to job alerts based on their qualifications.

Marine Online A growing platform where seafarers can apply for positions in the merchant navy, offshore sector, and luxury cruise industry.

How to Find the Right Sea Job?

Update Your Resume and Certifications

Ensure that your maritime certificates, including STCW, passport, and other relevant documents, are up to date before applying. A well-structured resume with relevant experience will increase your chances of getting shortlisted.

Choose the Right Vessel Type

Different ships have different working conditions. Whether you prefer working on a cargo vessel, tanker, or cruise ship, make sure the job aligns with your skills and experience.

Register on Multiple Job Portals

Do not limit yourself to one job portal. Register on multiple platforms to increase your chances of getting hired.

Stay Updated on Job Openings

Regularly check job portals for the latest openings and set up job alerts to get notifications about new vacancies.

Verify Employers and Agencies

Scammers often target seafarers with fake job offers. Always verify the credibility of the shipping company or crewing agency before accepting any job.

Final Thoughts

Finding a Sea Jobs has never been easier, thanks to online shipping job portals. By leveraging these platforms, seafarers can explore a wide range of opportunities, apply for jobs with ease, and take their maritime careers to new heights. Whether you are an experienced officer or a fresh deck cadet, these job portals can help you find the perfect opportunity to join on ship and sail the world.

[hospitalitymanagement]

Dreaming of Hotel Management? Here’s How to Make It a Reality

If you’ve ever been fascinated by the vibrant world of hospitality and dreamt of managing luxurious hotels, planning grand events, or curating exceptional guest experiences, hotel management could be your calling. But where do you start? This guide will help you navigate your journey toward a successful career in hotel management, from education to practical steps.

Understanding the Scope of Hotel Management

Hotel management isn’t just about running hotels—it encompasses a wide range of roles, including front office management, housekeeping, food and beverage services, and event planning. With globalization and a booming travel industry, the demand for skilled professionals in this field continues to grow.

Key highlights of hotel management include:

Diverse career opportunities across hotels, resorts, cruise ships, and airlines.

Hands-on experience in customer service and operations.

Competitive salaries and growth prospects in domestic and international markets.

Whether your interest lies in managing luxurious five-star properties or creating unforgettable guest experiences, hotel management offers a dynamic and rewarding career path.

Why Education is the Key to Success in Hotel Management

A solid educational foundation is crucial for building a successful career in hotel management. Pursuing a formal course equips you with industry-specific knowledge, practical skills, and a competitive edge.

For aspiring professionals in West Bengal, enrolling in a Hotel Management Institute in West Bengal can provide access to expert faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and valuable industry connections. These institutes offer comprehensive courses that cover everything from hospitality basics to advanced management techniques.

What to look for in a hotel management program:

Accreditation and reputation of the institute.

Curriculum that balances theoretical knowledge and practical training.

Internship opportunities with renowned hospitality brands.

Placement support for graduates.

Investing in the right education can set the stage for a fulfilling and long-lasting career in the hospitality sector.

Choosing the Right College: Factors to Consider

Selecting the right college for hotel management is a critical decision. The institute you choose can significantly impact your learning experience, networking opportunities, and career prospects.

Some of the top hotel management colleges in Kolkata are known for their excellent academic programs, experienced faculty, and strong industry ties. When evaluating colleges, consider factors such as their rankings, alumni success stories, and placement records.

Factors to keep in mind while choosing a college:

Specializations offered (e.g., luxury management, event planning).

Modern infrastructure, such as training kitchens and mock front desks.

Partnerships with leading hotels for internships and on-the-job training.

Student reviews and testimonials.

Studying in a reputed institution ensures you gain the knowledge and exposure needed to thrive in this competitive industry.

The Role of Internships and Practical Training

Practical training is a cornerstone of any hotel management course. Internships provide invaluable hands-on experience, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. These experiences also help build essential skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.

If you’re pursuing a Diploma in Hotel Management in Kolkata, you’ll likely have access to internship opportunities with renowned hotels and resorts. Such exposure not only enhances your resume but also helps you understand the day-to-day challenges and nuances of hospitality operations.

Benefits of internships in hotel management:

Real-world exposure to hospitality operations.

Opportunities to network with industry professionals.

Development of interpersonal and organizational skills.

Increased employability upon graduation.

Make the most of your internship by actively participating, asking questions, and seeking mentorship from seasoned professionals.

Building a Career in Hotel Management: Tips for Success

A successful career in hotel management requires more than just education—it also demands passion, dedication, and a willingness to learn. Here are some actionable tips to help you excel in this field:

1. Master Essential Skills

Communication: Effective communication is crucial for dealing with guests and colleagues.

Multitasking: The ability to juggle multiple responsibilities efficiently is a must.

Leadership: As you progress, strong leadership skills will be essential for managing teams.

2. Stay Updated on Industry TrendsThe hospitality industry is ever-evolving. Stay informed about trends like sustainable tourism, contactless services, and digital marketing in hospitality.

3. Build a Professional NetworkAttend industry events, seminars, and alumni meets to connect with professionals. Networking can open doors to mentorship and job opportunities.

4. Explore SpecializationsAs you advance, consider specializing in areas like luxury hotel management, food and beverage services, or event planning to enhance your expertise.

Conclusion

Hotel management is a gateway to an exciting and diverse career filled with opportunities for growth and innovation. Whether you’re drawn to the glamour of managing luxurious properties or the satisfaction of crafting memorable guest experiences, the journey begins with the right education and dedication. By selecting a reputable institution, gaining hands-on experience, and continuously improving your skills, you can turn your dream of a career in hotel management into a reality.

[ahaudaipur4574]

Why Should You Study Hotel Management for a Future in Hospitality?

The hospitality industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide. If you are passionate about service, guest experience, and the travel industry, pursuing a career in hotel management could be the perfect path for you. Hotel management offers numerous opportunities for growth, skill development, and job satisfaction. In this article, we will explore why studying hotel management is a great choice and how it can lead to a successful career in the hospitality sector.

A Dynamic Career Path

A degree in hotel management opens the door to a dynamic and rewarding career. The hospitality industry is diverse, encompassing hotels, resorts, restaurants, cruise ships, and event management. By pursuing a career in hotel management, you are not only learning the basics of managing a hotel but also gaining skills that are transferable across various sectors. You could work in food and beverage, front desk management, event planning, or even marketing and sales.

The wide scope of hotel management gives you the flexibility to choose from various career options and pursue the path that best suits your skills and interests.

Hands-On Training and Skill Development

Hotel management courses are designed to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical training. These courses typically cover a variety of subjects, including operations management, marketing, customer service, finance, and human resources. One of the key benefits of studying hotel management is the emphasis on hands-on experience. Many institutions offer internships at hotels or resorts, allowing you to apply what you have learned in real-world settings.

By gaining practical experience in different areas of hotel management, you will develop a well-rounded skill set that is highly valued by employers in the hospitality industry.

Growing Demand for Skilled Professionals

As the hospitality sector continues to expand, there is an increasing demand for skilled professionals who can handle the challenges of managing a hotel or resort. This growing need for qualified staff creates opportunities for graduates of hotel management programs. Whether you are looking to work in a large international chain or a boutique hotel, there are always opportunities available for those with the right skills and qualifications.

In addition, the rise of tourism and the increasing number of travelers has created a constant need for professionals who can deliver exceptional customer service and manage hotel operations efficiently.

Excellent Career Prospects

A career in hotel management offers excellent job stability and growth prospects. The hospitality industry is less likely to be affected by economic downturns, as travel and tourism remain essential to many people’s lives. As you gain experience and climb the career ladder, you can expect attractive salary packages, bonuses, and the possibility of managerial roles.

In addition to job stability, hotel management offers opportunities for international careers. Many hotel chains operate globally, giving you the chance to work in different countries and experience new cultures.

The Importance of Quality Education

To succeed in the competitive hospitality industry, it is essential to receive quality education and training. Enrolling in a reputable hotel management program can make all the difference in shaping your career. Institutions that offer comprehensive hospitality courses in Rajasthan provide a strong foundation for students to develop the necessary skills and knowledge required for the industry.

The best hotel management institutes in Rajasthan focus on delivering high-quality education, combining classroom teaching with practical training. By choosing the right institute, you can ensure that you are well-prepared to meet the challenges of the hospitality industry.

Conclusion

Studying hotel management is a fantastic way to build a career in the thriving hospitality industry. The knowledge and skills gained through a hotel management program can open doors to numerous job opportunities in the global hospitality sector. By pursuing a course in hotel management, you will be well-equipped to take on managerial roles and contribute to the success of hotels and resorts worldwide.

Choosing to study hotel management not only sets you on a path toward career success but also offers the opportunity to be part of an exciting and ever-growing industry. Whether you are interested in working at a five-star resort, running your own hotel, or managing events, hotel management is a path full of opportunities and career growth.

[afreen9]

Does Experience Matter? How Previous Jobs Can Improve Your Flight Attendant Odds When applying for a flight attendant position, one of the most common questions candidates ask is, "Does experience matter?" The short answer is yes. Having relevant work experience can significantly boost your chances of landing a flight attendant job. Airlines look for candidates who demonstrate strong customer service skills, the ability to manage stressful situations, and a solid work ethic—traits often gained from previous jobs in customer-facing roles.

In this blog, we’ll explore how different types of prior work experience can improve your odds of becoming a flight attendant and what airlines are looking for when reviewing applications.

Customer Service Experience is Key One of the most critical aspects of a flight attendant's role is delivering excellent customer service. From greeting passengers to resolving conflicts mid-flight, flight attendants are expected to handle a wide variety of customer interactions with professionalism and care. Therefore, having previous customer service experience in industries like retail, hospitality, or restaurant work can be a huge advantage.

Why It Matters: Communication Skills: Previous customer service roles often require clear communication with diverse groups of people, which translates well to the airline environment. Conflict Resolution: Airlines look for candidates who can handle difficult or upset customers while maintaining composure, a skill you likely develop in customer service positions. Empathy: Providing excellent service also involves understanding customers' needs, which is crucial when working with passengers. Action Step: If you’ve worked in customer service, make sure to highlight your achievements, such as resolving customer issues, handling high-pressure situations, or maintaining customer satisfaction scores, on your resume and in interviews.

Hospitality and Tourism Experience Working in the hospitality and tourism industry can also enhance your application for a flight attendant job. Positions such as hotel staff, tour guides, or cruise ship employees often require similar skills to those of a flight attendant, including managing guest experiences, providing top-notch service, and dealing with international travelers.

Why It Matters: Cultural Awareness: Working in hospitality often exposes you to guests from various cultures and backgrounds, a valuable skill when serving diverse passengers on international flights. Teamwork: Flight attendants work closely with other crew members, just as hospitality workers collaborate with teams to ensure guest satisfaction. Adaptability: Hospitality jobs often require you to think on your feet, an essential quality for flight attendants who must respond quickly to changing conditions in the air. Action Step: Emphasize any roles where you were responsible for guest satisfaction, problem-solving, or managing logistics in fast-paced environments when applying for flight attendant roles.

Healthcare and Emergency Response Background While less obvious, having a background in healthcare or emergency response can significantly improve your odds of becoming a flight attendant. Airlines are always looking for candidates who can stay calm under pressure, especially in emergency situations. If you've worked as a nurse, paramedic, or lifeguard, you may already possess the skills needed to deal with in-flight medical emergencies, which can set you apart from other applicants.

Why It Matters: Emergency Preparedness: Flight attendants are responsible for the safety and well-being of passengers, including handling medical situations mid-flight. CPR and First Aid Skills: Some airlines prefer candidates who are already certified in CPR or First Aid, as these are critical skills for in-flight emergencies. Calm Under Pressure: Having experience in fast-paced, high-stress environments like healthcare prepares you for the unexpected challenges of being a flight attendant. Action Step: If you have emergency response or healthcare experience, be sure to list any certifications you have, such as First Aid, CPR, or AED training, on your resume. Highlight specific examples where you’ve managed emergency situations.

Teaching and Childcare Roles Surprisingly, experience in teaching or childcare can be a great asset when applying to become a flight attendant. Both roles require patience, effective communication, and the ability to manage different personalities—all essential skills for flight attendants who interact with passengers of all ages.

Why It Matters: Patience and Problem-Solving: Handling groups of children or teaching students requires immense patience, a quality airlines value when it comes to managing passenger needs and potential conflicts. Communication with Diverse Groups: Teachers and childcare workers often communicate with both children and adults, honing their ability to adjust their communication style based on the audience. Responsibility: Managing the safety and well-being of children translates well to the in-flight responsibilities of ensuring passenger safety. Action Step: If you have teaching or childcare experience, showcase your ability to manage groups, provide care, and handle challenging situations, as these are all relevant skills for flight attendants.

Leadership and Management Experience If you've held leadership or management roles, this experience can also work in your favor when applying for a flight attendant job. Airlines seek individuals who can take charge during emergencies and who demonstrate strong decision-making skills. Leadership roles, whether in customer service, retail, or other industries, indicate that you can handle responsibility and lead others effectively.

Why It Matters: Decision-Making: Flight attendants often have to make quick decisions, especially in emergencies. Leadership roles demonstrate your ability to take charge and make sound choices under pressure. Team Management: Managing a team in any capacity highlights your communication and coordination skills, which are crucial for working with fellow crew members and ensuring smooth flights. Delegation: Knowing how to delegate and share responsibilities shows that you can manage tasks efficiently, an important skill for flight attendants who juggle multiple duties. Action Step: Highlight leadership roles on your resume, especially if they involved decision-making, managing teams, or handling high-pressure situations.

Multilingual Skills If you’ve worked in a role that required you to speak more than one language, you’re in luck. Airlines, particularly international carriers, highly value multilingual candidates who can communicate with a broader range of passengers. If you’re fluent in a second language, it can significantly increase your chances of getting hired, especially if the airline serves diverse regions.

Why It Matters: Passenger Communication: Speaking multiple languages allows you to assist more passengers and provide a higher level of service. International Airlines: Some airlines prefer bilingual or multilingual flight attendants, especially on international routes where communication barriers can arise. Action Step: Make sure to highlight your language skills prominently on your resume and be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency in interviews, if applicable.

[darkmoonkestrel]

daily kestrel 3:

day two at my practicum site went great! I'm genuinely considering focusing on elementary school openings when the time comes to apply for jobs, although where I end up is definitely gonna depend on what is actually available next fall. among other things I learned how to catalogue books today (ironically my very first one was a Minecraft graphic novel), came home and wrote my blog post, and promptly forgot about my class meeting tonight when Peyton got home and set up Minecraft and Bob's burgers

come to think of it we didn't actually eat a real dinner, we had tater tots and queso and cookies and snacks. oops. I also forgot to start the laundry for my work clothes until a few minutes ago, but they're in the washer now so as long as I put them in the dryer first thing in the morning they'll be fine by the time I have to leave for work

we had to dose Peggy with half a tab of gabapentin to get her last stitches out, but it is done (and I still forgot to call the vet today damn)

Paige called from the cruise ship, it's their last night so they're close enough to land to have signal. it was good to hear her voice, even if it was only for a couple minutes while she decided which of the tiki bar signs to buy for my parents and told me about the shows she wants to tell me about when she gets home

mom got the cat tree in for Abby today and she's already gotten it set up & sent me a picture of Abby on it. the fact that she got a cat tree at all means that dad is settling into acceptance of having a cat, which is something I never thought I would say, but hey, I suppose an old dog can learn new tricks

[clowncloud]

if i do get the library assistant position im not sure i can in my right mind really leave a stable enough job to apply for a cruise ship position i mean it'll all depend on how things are by then like my dream is to work at the library but also i know im not going back for a masters so I'll be stuck as an assistant pretty much or whatever which i dont think i mind also i feel like i wanna like get out of home by 25 but 2 years seems like a short n stupid time to leave a job n risk job stability for a position im not even sure I'll be fit for enough n the idea of coming back n having to start over feels scary n i know im thinking too far ahead but ahh myb wait till 30 instead but also a lot of reviews n stuff are like it's better to start on cruises in ur 20s i mean like ah idk stupid thing to think abt rn considering absolutely nothing is set in motion so whatever