Home away from home!

By Jasper Burger

It has been exactly a month ago since saying goodbye to family at the Oliver Tambo airport and things have been so busy at Jupiter Hills that time flies by so quickly.

Upon arrival seeing familiar faces at the club was fantastic and truly does feel like a home away from home where colleagues have become friends and where special bonds are made. Thanksgiving is coming up and preparation is critical, working with mostly new crew of South Africans is fantastic as everybody is willing to work hard and help each other. I have been also lucky enough to catch up with my brother, his wife and my little niece in Connecticut NY in between all the craziness where you come to the realization once more how big this country is when you get on a plane in Florida where it is hot and humid and land in New York 2 hours later where it is snowing.

Taking everything in and learning as much as possible from my mentor and manager at work is also something I enjoy daily, mostly I pinch myself just to be sure I'm not in a lucid dream. The festive season is upon us and there is much to look forward to thinking ahead. The conclusion is to keep your head up, work hard and enjoy this gift of travel.

The Sun Shine State...

By Nivedna Sewchurran

To all the Workaways, on the program it is my pleasure to welcome you to The Sun Shine State. You have survived that long flight from South Africa to the USA, (which I thought would never end).

 

By now all of you would have become familiar with the beautiful club that you work at, as well as you would have met all those amazing people that you get to work hand in hand with on a daily bases, that like I mentioned before will become your family away from home.

Do not be overwhelmed with the amount of information being thrown your way, after a couple of weeks all the things you are stressing about will become natural. The duties of your position will be "Old Hat" in no time. The names of your members will start flowing past your tongue as if you were with family. If you stay calm and pick up a few things every shift, it will change your life with regards to things getting easier.

 

Work hard, get those hours, make those dollars, but also remember, to get some sun as you are of course in The Sun Shine State.

What a welcome!!!

By Nasiphi Sobahle

Leaving our Families and Friends behind on the 21^st October must have been the saddest part, after a number of farewell parties and gatherings that we all had with our loved ones.

A long 18hr flight awaited us that day, remembering how excited everyone was when they were collecting their flight details, I guess that was the only time one could actually process that they were leaving, and finally the adventure and dream was becoming a reality!!

We said our goodbyes at the airport, YES, Mixed emotions were in place more than anything else, Bittersweet moments, However we knew what awaited us on the other side of the world, Indeed it was greener pastures.
Exhausted from an 18hr flight, we finally arrived in Florida, Everyone was just so exhausted especially the peeps who flew from Durban to Johannesburg, What made things worse was the 3hr delay we had in Durban, such an unpleasant flight, I’ve never experienced such turbulence- ever!!!!

We arrived at the Gateway Club apartments and received our Apartment keys and I must say, that was the most exciting part of our day, almost like a day made, everyone was thinking of that long awaited shower and changing into clean clothes. As we were directed to our lovely apartments, we were told to make sure that we get some rest as we are requested to be at work the next day at 8am, not even a day of relaxation_ WOW WHAT A WELCOME!!!! But at the end of the day, one is here to work and not on vacation, so this was it!!!

The biggest highlight for me thus far has to be the 8day training we attended, My Goodness, I can’t get over it, I really can’t! You know you will perform your best when you are trained by the BEST, We were trained by one of the most amazing individuals I’ve ever come across, the Food and Beverage Director Himself (Mr. Reza Fazard), A man with so much Patience and Understanding, A man who appreciates each individual, as unique as we all are, I am still in awe, astonished that we have such a cool management Team, We also have the funniest Manager from RSA ( Courtney Johnson) ,he’s too COOL!

Overall, Hunters Run, Boynton Beach, Gateway Club have been amazing!
We already pulling long hours at work, I don’t think we anticipated this, not so soon LOL! They always say “Work hard and Party harder” and having said that… We looking forward to the staff party on Monday the 11^th November… We have FUN at Hunters Run!!!

Your Girl, Nas Leaves you with this…Oprah Winfrey once wrote “The Biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams” Cheers- Until we meet again!!!

Yay! It's finally time for my adventure :)

By Janine Dawson

So after months of planning, lists, nerves and excitement it’s finally my turn to leave! Nothing seemed to sink in until I received my flight pack with my ticket and now it has hit me, I'm leaving...wooh!

My bags are just about packed, all of my things are together, and all I’m waiting for is for the next 48 hours to pass and then I will be at the airport with butterflies in my tummy and millions of thoughts in my head.

So after looking through the Facebook group constantly looking for updates on the recruits that are already there, I think I can finally  say that I feel ready. Obviously I’m a little bummed that I have to leave everything behind, but I’m more excited for what’s to come.

The flight schedule looks so draining, I think it’s going to feel like eternity on that plane, but I’m sure I’ll survive! I’m so excited to see what my apartment looks like, who my roommates will be and what life has in store for me for the next 6 months.

“If we wait until we're ready, we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives"- Lemony Snicket

And so it is...

By Nivedna Sewchurran

Congratulation to all those who have made it on this program, and to those who didn't quite get this far, remember there is always next year, so don't be dis heartened, as your time to shine will come....  

After the long stressful months of screening, interviews and of course waiting (which was the worst) many of you are now ready / or have already jetted of to the USA... It's a bitter sweet emotion for both candidates as well as parents having to say good bye to their kiddies, but I'm sure they know you will do great. P.S - Please do call your parents as often as possible, as they do miss you!! 

It's been a great experience to have worked for Workaway as the Durban Representative; I got to meet some amazing people, with lovely personalities, which I think is what we look for!!! Like our motto in Durban remember "Big Smiles". Thank you guys for making this recruiting season fun and easy as most of your personalities did shine through during the interviews which made my job simple. 

But for now, you off to sunny Florida to start your work season at an amazing country club. Take in and learn from this experience as for many it is only but a dream. Fun and hard working times are ahead, make us proud!! And please make smart choices....  

But for now 

Excitement is everywhere!

By Jasper Burger

It is unbelievable to believe that our applicants are already boarding planes and that some are already in Florida busy working at the country clubs. While some of us are still waiting in anticipation to begin our journeys abroad I want to congratulate everybody on their visas and to give one piece of advice. Embrace the next 6 months no matter what!!!

At the moment 99% of the hard work is done only a couple more days of consulate appointments which will go smoothly as it has gone so far. Handing out flight packs is a real treat as applicants and parents are ecstatic and the excitement is contagious with people already becoming good friends before they board the plane.

It truly was awesome going through this whole experience with all of you from interviews up to this point I just want to say well deserved to all of you. There are still one or two people that got the phone call only recently that they should pack their bags so things are still going from my standpoint doing final orientations.

This is the last stretch people get excited!!!You don’t know what you are in for.

When the excitement amounts...

By Nasiphi Sobahle

WOW, WOW & WOW…!!!!!

On a beautiful Tuesday evening (10^th September 2013) … Hundreds of successful Workaway candidates gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Durban for Their Pre- Departure Orientation…

One couldn’t help but notice the HUGE SMILES as everyone began coming into the Hotel, Eager Candidates, Keen, Smiley Faces…Everyone walked in Gracefully, All geared up for Information Overload regarding where to from the Pre- Departure Orientation ( Stage 6 )… I do know what everyone was thinking though…It is stage 6 out of the 8 stages on the Workaway Program, certainly we are almost at the end of the tunnel, Almost completed the race, Little did they know what really lies ahead from here…

Important information was given out by Charlotte & later on, we were separated according to our respective Country Clubs, This was social time after so much of information to program, some made friends during the Social while some managed to find roommates… In all of this being done, it was evident enough that the Durban Candidates Live by their motto “HUGE SMILES” and one couldn’t, not by any chance miss the excitement that filled the meeting room in which we gathered in, SMILES resemble HAPPINESS, JOY, EXCITEMENT… and this was definitely what filled the room, all the HUNTERS SMILES, BALLEN_SMILES & MIRA_SMILES (to name a few LOL) were no near being hidden, what an amazing crowd.

The majority of us began with our medical examinations the following day, as much as you know that you are somehow clear from what we have to be tested for, you can’t help but worry about the blood test results etc, My friends and I had a Monday (16 September 2013) GP appointment, I can’t really express in words how excited you become when you are informed that you have PASSED your medical evaluation, such an amazing feeling knowing that you are a step closer to the finishing line of the process. Now what is next???

At this stage, it feels like it is the beginning of the process, with so much to do in so little time.

DS_160 Visa Application Forms, Take Visa Pictures (The CORRECT size), putting your ties to RSA together and getting yourself ready for that US Consulate Interview.

It is stressful, that much I know, BUT, I strongly recommend that you listen to the advice that Workaway will give you closer to your interview and on the other side, your Girl “Nas” leaves you with this_ Think, Act, Speak Positively, against all Odds!!!!Cheers, Until we meet again J