Making it RAIN

By Emma Seager

So we just finished Christmas week and “tired” is a complete understatement. I worked two weeks straight with no off days BUT I just got my pay cheque and MAN it was worth it. It’s hard work in season SO PREPARE YOURSELF! Especially at a big club like Boca West, expectations are high, we were serving around 1200 people on Christmas Eve, but it really does pay off once you see all that cash money. Boca West goes all out for these events and we had some amazing set ups and displays. My favourite was definitely the seafood buffet! The chefs even carved out ice sculptures as décor. One of our head Chefs dressed up as Santa and walked around the club giving us all ice cream! He did this every day before our evening shift.

It’s tough sometimes at these big events because members can sometimes be extremely demanding and occasionally rude, and you just have to take it all in your stride.

The managers are great and always there for you, they work through Christmas week with us with no off days and really are team players. I am in the bar as a cocktail server and we are like a big family, there are only 21 of us in our department so we can really get to know each other because we work together so often. We also get the most overtime which is a bonus!! Things have slowed down a little now, but we are preparing to open the new steakhouse where I will be moving to and it’s looking beautiful! (Watch this space). The steakhouse is a fine dining restaurant, so when that opens along with another new restaurant called Grand Central, we will be really busy again… or “in the weeds” as they say here at Boca. We should also be busy at the end of February when all the members come back for president’s week so I am sure I’ll have a lot to tell you about that!!! 

Going up north!!!

By Marvin Seekoei

Hi there my fellow Workaway participants. I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a belated happy holidays and a Happy New Year. I wish you all of the best for 2017.

It's that time of the season where the northern clubs will be scouting for staff for their upcoming season. Please just be careful if you’re deciding to go through private channels. I always prefer to stay with Workaway International because of the professionalism and efficiency of the organisation but unfortunately there are a limited amount of positions available.

So if you do end up going through different channels, please be mindful that other agencies do not operate at the same level. Do not fly up to any club or resort unless they scan and 

e-mail your new visa extension first. If you do not have it by the day before your visa expires I will encourage you to rather pack up and go home and spend the summer back in South Africa and return with Workaway.

You do not want your future US visas to have any issues or get denied because your visas have to follow one another. Also call and find out how much it will cost to extend your medical insurance. We don't always think about it but it has happened that I have two friends that passed away and while in the USA their families were stuck in debt to get their bodies home and with the loss of their loved ones at the same time.

Also always keep your channel of communication open with Workaway International at all times as you never want to burn bridges in life. All of the best with the rest of the season and remember that you can only go up north if you stay employed so work hard, be punctual and stay positive because there's still a few months left in season.