I think it's unfair, but they have the right as fallible, screwed-up humans to be unfair; that's the human condition.

Well... that's how the life goes. I had a terribly enjoyable shift yesterday and I thought to myself then 'Hell, I like this job'. Even though it's not EXACTLY where I want to work, I was learning a lot... And really that shift was cool.

I started off with long, boring talk with the manager, which was boring and funny at the same time, because the manager treats me like stupid, trying to check my knowledge. I felt like a primary school kid and felt quite silly telling him how to do the most basic stuff with our hotel system. To be honest, as a person who was born in 90s I was growing up with computer, so it's no magic for me. I have no problems learning computer system, especially after someone tells me how to do everything.
Then I listen to the same remarks as always, about some mistakes, which I never did, but as I am the newest worker here, so of course it's me to blame for all that. Well, I could just smile and say 'Yes, I got it'.

So after the manager left, I had half of the day left. And guess what! A Japanese guest came! I was quite nervous, but I did ask him in Japanese if he's Japanese. Ok now. I know it's a stupid question to ask. Especially using Japanese. Anyway, that's how I started the Japanese check-in for the first time in my life. I was so nervous, I forgot some words, so I said them in English and it was an interesting mix, but the guest seemed to be ok with my Japanese, so I was so happy~~~~!

And then some nice guests came, one of whom asked me....
The Guest: Are you French?
Me: Why, no?
G: Your Polish sounds a bit French...
Me: Oh really?
G: I had a friend once and she was French. She talked in Polish just like you.
Me: I'll take it as a compliment then!
G: Will you work here tomorrow too?

Oh, was it some kind of pick-up line? I'm happy then! I was wearing my favourite dress then (I wore it twice in my life and it already feels a bit too small for me now.... wait! Am I still growing? Damn...).

One of the guests came to talk about tv remote control which seem to be out of order, but we googled for the instructions and we found out we can fix it.

I also got a call which made me laugh for 2 hours or more. The other hotel from our small hotel group called to ask if we have room no 101 in our hotel. We did. "Oh, then your guest got stuck in the room!" Whaaat? Hahahah ^^
I went to check on it and yes, indeed. The guest was quite unlucky. He had some other problems with the room earlier - something connected with electricity and then there was no hot water in the bathroom for some time..... Did I mention why this place is not exactly where I want to work?
The guest was very understanding, he didn't shout or get irritated at all, instead he looked really scared. Every time he went out and came back he was telling me to rescue him in case something happens ^^



And of course when something nice happens, something less nice must happen too. And that is work meeting to make schedule. Suddenly it turned out they don't really want me to work normally. They want me just for weekends, while I have dance practice on Saturday evening, so I can only take either morning or night shift. Normally it shouldn't be a problem. But it became one. Forget about the fact that I was hired to work full time and suddenly I became a part-time weekend worker, which I didn't really wish for. But other workers are unwilling to compromise. And who else is there to blame if not the newest worker? Of course. I left the meeting with a feeling of disgust for myself and for the other receptionist.

People working in China were so different. They were working really a lot. Their salary was more or less the same as ours here, just that they were doing hundred more things than here. And they never complained about 4 days off a month. And here the people are just... Working in a hotel means working weekends, Christmas, New Year's Eve... But it doesn't mean that one worker works every weekend. They cannot hope to work Mon-Fri in a hotel.

But they do.

And they work like this.

That's why I need to protect my dance practice and my dreams. And I have to move on. I plan to hand in my resignation. Why? Because that's not what I was hired for. I want to work normally. I like hotel job. And I think the higher rating on booking.com is partly because of my contribution too. I want to work somewhere where they admit that I am an important worker and they will appreciate my hard work! Is it really too much to ask for?

I'm always busy, but I'm lazy as well.

My mistake mode is still on. Beginning with the big one, small ones come in jumping around me like bumble bees flying around the beehive. I'm trying to deal with them alone, but as easy as it seems, it gets more difficult as much as I'm trying to figure out the solution.

I was enough forgetful to take the reception keys home and falling asleep for another 4 hours and make the receptionist on the morning shift nervous about not being able to open the cash register. I sold a room to a lady, who was a total fox. Half an hour after checking in she decided she didn't like the room and I had to cash out the money back to her. Well, it must have been on my shift, of course. Not mentioning that the only Japanese guests that we were expecting cancelled his reservation. Damn it.

I don't know if it's me making mistakes that made our manager to take a leave. He's got a week off, so I'm not really sure whether I can call him in case of any problems or not. Better not. I bet he's making out with his girlfriend right now (no, please no, I'm not gonna imagine it yuck).

The snow fall from Wednesday continued non-stop for the whole day, so now the whole world around me is covered in a thick snow layer, which in a way makes it look nicer, but in a way not. It looks nice where I live. It looks dirty where I work. The city center and the snow is a no-no combination.

Tomorrow is my mother's birthday, which... we might not spend together... and no, not because of me. I will wake up in the morning to bake a cake for her, but she already announced that she's going out around 11 am for a few hours. And I have my dance practice at 5 pm, which makes it impossible to coordinate. I guess the celebrations will take place around 7 am in the morning. Thanks god, I'm not working the night shift today!

Happy birthday, mom!

Bad news isn't wine. It doesn't improve with age.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Tell me it's not true! NO NO NO NO NO! NOOOOO!!!!!

I'm in despair. Everything got screwed! Boohoo!!!!
I think when I finally find myself in China, I will be half-dead, I know it.

Today I got a message from Tom (the guy from Budapest). Hungarian Airlines bankupted and so all the flights from Budapest to China with Hainan Airlines got cancelled. Dunno what's the connection between Hungarian and Vietnamese Airlines, but anyway. MY FLIGHT got CANCELLED! The reason is not important. I didn't get any notice or information at all, but when I checked it, it was true!

Next thing I remember is when I finally got my head straight after having been panicking for a few hours, that is like running in circles, banging my head on a wall, trying to pull out my hair and making other weird stuff that were supposed to change my bad fate. As it didn't really work out, I decided to buy a new ticket. Of course, I had to buy it for the cheapest price possible and this way the date of my departure moved slightly. The new date is 29th. I'm leaving from Warsaw on 29th of March, arriving to Xiamen on 30th in the morning, that is around 10-11am.

Dear God, I hope you don't have another hurdles for me to jump over, because lately I'm quite sensitive. Too much work, I'm telling you. This week too, although I had things planned, everything will fail again, because I need to work overtime again. Ah, one more wish, please oh please, may it not be true that we'll have uniforms at work, very pleaaaaseee!

Well, this way...

Days left for my Big Annoying Chinese Adventure (new shortcut: BACA): 45

The greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you'll make one.

Okay. Lately I have my worst times. A level of stress is getting way above the average. I know that it's no good, but then what should I do. I made a few mistakes, which will cost me a lot and I'm quite sensitive before my departure to China. I got a ticket already, but then Chinese AIESEC is all closed, because of the official holidays in China, from 22nd to 28th of January they celebrate Chinese New Year, so I don't have any news from them. I don't want to hear that I cannot go there after all, or that I was disqualified or something. I have to go this time. But how is it that Chinese people are sooo slow. Okay, I know, Poles are even more beaurocratic and annoying and slow too probably, but now, it's very important to me. Sometimes this part of me awakens, when I become an organized person. I need to take care of everything to prepare properly to my CA.

Plus, today, I totally quarelled with the new manager at work. He came here and started picking on every mistake that I made. Of course, I make mistakes a lot and I'm aware of it. And it's his job to tell me to change it. But his way of saying it pissed me off.
Manager: How many times should I tell you to blablabla
Pam: I'm sorry. I forgot. I will remember about it this time.
Manager: I'm telling you every time... You should do this this that blabla
Pam: I think you're better than me at this job, so if you could come here for a few hours and work, I will watch how you do things and learn.
Manager: That's the issue of competence, I'm here to show you your mistakes. I was learning techniques of sales...
Pam: That's right, competence...

Well, basicly the manager is new at our company. He never worked on my position, nor can he operate all those sales systems we have here. He never wore contact lenses and he smells of cigarettes. He talks like he never studied and uses dirty words. He thinks he's cool, but I just cannot digest his sense of humour.
After our conversation and a few words that I said later too, he was practically running away from me.... ^^;

Phew... I feel so much better, having it all written here ^^)v
I hope he won't find out about this blog. Well, even if he did, he wouldn't understand English. Oops.... I forgot about Google Translate haha.

Days left to CA: 59