Portugal 2019

Now that I have something to update you with I thought I'd write a new post! I recently finished my two-week training in housekeeping and now I've been working in reception for a few days - quite a difference as you can probably imagine! In housekeeping I spent one week in the laundry department and another cleaning the rooms. I must say that after an experience I now understand that world much better than I did earlier - it's complicated, hard and not very rewarding work. Yet still the most important in the entire hotel! Personally it wasn't my cup of tea as it was very repetitive and I prefer working directly with customers. My first impression of working in the reception is that it requires you to take in all the information around you and process it because you have to know everything that's going on in the hotel and outside of it... But it's very entertaining, my colleagues are awesome and time passes SUPER quickly! (Unless it's a slow day like tod...

Hello! Sorry about my radio silence here, so much has been going on and that combined with my laziness... Well, it's good to be back! I'm going to get back to posting on this blog more often. This week I switched from the food & beverage department to housekeeping. I'll be doing it for two weeks and then I spend the rest of my training in the reception - how cool is that! While I was gone there was also a leak in the hotel, I made a short trip to Sweden to visit my family, experienced the local nightlife, worked in fine dining for the first time in my life and other cool stuff! Recently another trainee started in the hotel - she's from Germany - so it's always nice to get even more awesome company to work with. Here's some photos to brighten up this post, enjoy! Oh you know, just a casual fire going on right next to our dorm around 8 am...

My first week working in Portimão went by so quickly I almost didn’t realize to make a post about it! I’ve started off easy, helping at breakfast every morning and then going to a restaurant upstairs. Currently I’m taking care of a group of football players from Norway and Iceland, so I haven’t spent my afternoons in the restaurant this week. My shifts have been mostly eight hours but some days I’m allowed to leave a bit earlier, which means I get to enjoy the sunlight a bit longer - the sun sets after 6 pm everyday! Feels like home, right? Later during my training period I’ll move to the front desk and housekeeping. The weather is pretty interesting, mornings and evenings are super cold & moist but during the day it’s been around +20 celcius degrees the whole time. I’m looking forward to the hotter days! Not... I’ve become pretty close with the other trainees who I live with. They all work in the kitchen but we’re all pretty much the same age so we get along well, ...

On Saturday evening I finally arrived in Portugal! I’ve had only two days of work so far but I can tell that it’s going to be an amazing journey! This far I’ve been helping in the restaurants of the hotel but I’m also going to be at the front desk and soing some housekeeping - needless to say that I’m very excited!   My co-workers have been the loveliest, everyone takes such good care of me! I’ve had a few people keep and eye on me and guide me through all kinds of tasks so I haven’t had to feel abandoned or helpless at all. In general I think Portuguese people are much more upbeat and social. It’s a nice change from the usual! I live in a dorm with other trainees who are mostly Portuguese. My roommates don’t speak such good English but we manage - we ude google translate and body language a lot! The dorm is very cold compared to Finnish homes but nothing is cozier than burying yourself in blankets and turning on a heater! I’ve also tasted some Portuguese food, my f...

This time I'll be listing some words and phrases that are going to be useful for me personally. Onko teillä vapaita huoneita? = Do you have free rooms? = Tem um quarto livre? Huone kylpyhuoneella = A room with a bathroom = Um quarto com casa de banho Suihku = Shower = Duche Yhden hengen huone = A single room = Quarto individual Kahden hengen huone parivuoteella = Double room = Quarto de casal Kahden hengen huone kahdella vuoteella = A twin room = Quarto com duas camas Portieeri = Doorman = Porteiro Avain = Key = Chave Minulla on huonevaraus. = I have a booking. = Tenho um quarto reservado. Voinko maksaa luottokortilla? = Can I pay with a credit card? = Aceita cartões de crédito? Vastaanotto = Reception = R ecepção Valitettavasti olemme täynnä. = Unfortunately we are full. =  Peço desculpa, estamos cheios. Onko hotellissa ravintolaa? = Does the hotel have a restaurant? =  Há um restaurante no hotel? Milloin ____ tarjoillaan? = When i...

In this assignment I will be combining some useful phrases in Portuguese! Asking for directions: Where is... ? = Onde está/estão... ? Ordering in a restaurant: I'd like... = Queria... ... mineral water = ... água mineral ... fries = ... batatas fritas ... beef = ... bife ... coffee = ... cáfe Asking for help: Excuse me, please =  Com licença, por favor Help! = Socorro! (in emergency) Asking if someone speaks a language: Do you speak English? = Fala Inglês? Greeting co-workers and manager: Hello = Olá (informal) Como está? = How are you? (formal) Starting a casual conversation: What are your hobbies? =  Quais são os seus passatempos?

In this assignment I will be introducing you to my beautiful home country.