Just the beginning

By Andre Pretorius

I can still remember the first day I ever got onto a plane. It was the 24th of October 2014 and the destination was Florida.  I can remember how incredibly anxious I was. A small-town kid, just turned 21 with a fresh diploma in Hospitality Management, flying to the United States of America to start a career in hospitality.

It all started with a manager I worked with while studying Hospitality Management. He was always calm, knowledgeable, and a great mentor. He told me about the Workaway International programme and what it had to offer, how it took him from a server to a manager of a large restaurant. The second I got home I had to get every piece of information. Fortunately, Workaway International is an AMAZING company and their website is extensive and easy to use, getting information about the programme was simple.

I decided to attend one of the presentations in Johannesburg. Charlotte was kind, amazing, and very helpful. I left the presentation knowing this is what I wanted to do, I have never felt so sure in my life.

The process was effortless and before I knew it, I had my first interview set up. With Workaway International’s help, I was able to get a job at the Polo Club of Boca Raton.

When we arrived in Fort Lauderdale, I remember how humid it was and refreshing it was getting into the vans with the AC on full blast. They settled us into our fully furnished apartments, I was in awe of just how beautiful our apartment and surroundings were. It was easy to make friends with the people we were with. I am still friends with some of them today.

We had staff transport pick us up every day, with an extremely nice driver named Carlos, he was always willing to go the extra mile to make sure we were comfortable. We received extensive training over 2 weeks to make sure we have all the tools necessary to succeed. This gave me the confidence I needed to know that I can do this. The rest, as they say, is history.

Now after 7 seasons, 3 of them as a Server Captain, this amazing programme has given me the opportunity to be the Johannesburg recruiter for the upcoming season. I felt like I have truly grown not just in the hospitality space, but as a person. This program has matured me, taught me valuable life lessons, and allowed me to gain friends and mentors for life. It has given me the opportunity to travel across the US and take in all that it has to offer. I have made some of the best memories. I will cherish them forever.

Unfortunately, this season was cut short because of the COVID19 epidemic, but this will not put a damper on our positive attitudes as we will be back in sunny Florida soon! This is only the beginning of our journeys.

The importance of good hygiene in the workplace:

With the country slowly starting to return to a new form of normalcy and the food industry starting to recover, it is becoming more important than ever to observe good hygiene practices in the workplace.

Maintaining good hygiene in the hospitality workplace is expected, especially if you are working with food. By performing personal hygiene and implementing hygiene standards with staff you can gain your customers' trust. Due diligence must be taken, not only to comply with health and safety laws but also to ensure the safety of both the employees and consumers. According to the government, additional procedures must be put in place to manage the risk. Professional health, safety and hygiene training for staff are also essential in maintaining a safer working environment, which is ultimately better for business!

By not upholding hygiene practices, the business is at risk of producing unhygienic food and other produce, which ultimately lead to bad reviews and damaged reputations. This is especially important when you are operating during the COVID-19 epidemic and need to either regain or re-establish the trust of your customers, who are all still very wary of ordering food.

In addition to company policies, observe cleanliness and personal hygiene to protect yourself and those around you. Good personal hygiene practices help to prevent bacteria from spreading. Thorough hand washing is a priority, particularly before handling and preparing food. Personal protective clothing should also be worn to minimise the spread of dirt and bacteria.

In the end, the ultimate reason to maintain a hygienic working environment is to keep employees safe and healthy, this reassures them and keeps them happy. Your company will be able to maintain and improve a positive perception and limit the chances of sickness by preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Four seasons later

By Natasha Kretschmer

I started my 4th season at The Polo Club of Boca Raton, Florida in October last year. There’s something to be said about a club and your experiences if you choose to return to it for the fourth time. Before I get into how this season played out, I should give you a background story…

I come from a very small town in the Eastern Cape where there isn’t much to do, no movie theatre and a very small, unimpressive 'mall', but none the less a great place to grow up. I got my degree in education from the University of the Free State and 2 years into my teaching career, decided that I wanted to travel while I still could. This is when I heard about Workaway International. I was a successful applicant and before I knew it, I was on my way to South Florida. That was the start of a life-changing experience. Not knowing anyone else at The Polo Club, I quickly learned that no matter what, South Africans are family and I never felt more at home.

I was fortunate enough to be placed as a Recreational Aide in the Tennis Department. I went from Pro Shoppe Clerk to Tennis Concierge, to being a tennis/squash/pickleball pro. This is proof that if you work hard, you will continue to climb the ranks and learn new things. Being a teaching pro became a passion and something that I love, and it still allows me to use the degree that I studied so hard for.

I have been lucky enough to travel quite a bit while in the states. Some notable cities and states include the Florida Keys (an absolute must!), Miami, Las Vegas, Atlanta, New Orleans, South Carolina, Utah, New York, Washington DC, New Mexico, Tennessee, and California. Being a nature lover, I have also been fortunate enough to have visited The Grand Canyon, Bryce National Park, Zion National Park, The Smokey Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, White Sands National Park, and Yosemite National Park. If you work hard, save money, and plan effectively, you can travel while on this programme.

What I got most out of this program is how I’ve grown as a person. When you are alone in a “strange” country you learn so much about yourself and what you are capable of… fast!

The 2019-2020 season is not what anyone could have predicted and not how the Workaway participants wanted the season to end. The COVID-19 epidemic put a stop to everyone’s plans. Going up north for the summer season was an uncertainty and getting home to South Africa while on lockdown was considered impossible. Fortunately, the Workaway International team worked tirelessly and managed to get us all home safely and quickly. It is not ideal but necessary to stay safe and return before our visa’s expired.

After a long charter flight on Ethiopian Airlines, I reached my destination – Cape Town. Arriving at the shutdown Cape Town International Airport, we were greeted by friendly airport staff and in no time, our passports were stamped and our luggage collected. We arrived at our designated quarantine facilities around 12:30 a.m. and was once again greeted by friendly hotel staff welcoming us home. It is currently day 5 of quarantine and so far, so good. Friendly staff, good food, and a clean and safe hotel room make it just a little bit easier to be stuck in a room by yourself for 14 days. 

Once we are released, I will be going to Port Elizabeth on transport organized by Workaway International, where my parents will pick me up. Who knows what the future will hold for us as we are all trying to get used to the new normal. I will take everything day by day and wait for the chance to go back to Sunny Florida, and The Polo Club, for another adventure.

Always make the most of the opportunities given to you, because you never know where they may lead, and, in my experience, it’s usually towards something better than you could ever have anticipated.

Touchdown in Cape Town

By Tara Clampett

It has been an extremely challenging month for all of us working in Florida! Mid-March we were busy finalizing release dates from Boca West and plans to go up north or to go home. Then, over a few days, everything changed. Covid-19 made the world and certainly, the hospitality industry come to a standstill. Suddenly airlines started discontinuing travel, the northern club visa extension process was suspended and many of us started feeling extremely anxious.

Our HR director, GM, Executive Assistant, and Workaway International advised us that the safest option was to go home. While this was heartbreaking for many employees who had plans to go up north, we knew that they had our best interests at heart and wanted to ensure that we get home safely.

Over the next six weeks, the Workaway International team worked TIRELESSLY trying to get flights back to SA as more and more airlines started discontinuing travel. We had our suitcases half-packed, apartments half emptied, waiting for final confirmation of a flight. When we received confirmation of the charter flights, we all felt a huge sense of relief. We were going home!!!

With our gloves and masks on, we headed to Miami airport. The usually busy airport was eerie, no one around besides the staff to assist us and the Country Club employees. As we arrived, we were met by Cedrick and Annie who performed a health screening. We then went on to receive our tickets and head to the boarding gate. The process was smooth and surprisingly quick. Before I knew it, we were off the ground. The Ethiopian Airlines crew were fantastic and so accommodating. Finally, after about 21 hours of travelling (including our refueling stops) we were on South African soil. As we landed, the entire plane started cheering and clapping – we were HOME.

Upon our arrival in Cape Town, our temperatures were taken before we collected our luggage and headed to the buses that were to take us to our quarantine facility. We were going to stay there for the next two weeks. Despite it being midnight, all the airport staff were so friendly and welcomed us home with true South African hospitality. We arrived at our hotel in the CBD, met by more friendly staff who got us checked in and to our rooms in no time. It is now our third day at the hotel, and I am so grateful to be home and taken care of by the incredible staff at the hotel. They bring us coffee at 6 am with huge smiles on their faces – I hope they know that we appreciate them so much!

Upon our arrival in Cape Town, our temperatures were taken before we collected our luggage and headed to the buses that were to take us to our quarantine facility where will stay for the next two weeks. Despite it being midnight, all the airport staff were so friendly and welcomed us home with true South African hospitality. We arrived at our hotel in the CBD and was met by more friendly staff who got us checked in and to our rooms in no time. It is now our third day at the hotel, and I am so grateful to be home and taken care of by the incredible staff at the hotel. They bring us coffee at 6 am with huge smiles on their faces – I hope they know that we appreciate them so much!

I would also like to thank the Boca West and Workaway International teams for the hours they spent ensuring that we get home safely and that we are taken care of. We are all so grateful to ALL of you (Barbara, Lironne, Mr. Linderman, Mr. Mayville, Annie, Cedrick, Elena, Pio, Charlotte, and Lucy).

While it is strange to be home without the freedom to see our families, go to the stores and enjoy the outdoors, it is a time to reflect and realize that these are small “luxuries” that we have always taken for granted. Here’s to making the most of the next few months in our beautiful city and appreciating every moment we have with each other!

And then everything changed…

By Sonia Marques

The COVID-19 epidemic came as a shock for everyone all over the world. We all had to quickly adapt to a new way of living. Being away from home during this time has been very difficult as this is obviously something that none of us have ever experienced before and we do not know what to expect. Many clubs have had to stop operating during this time and some have even had to send their staff home, as there is no work for them. Workaway International and the respective country clubs along with SAA have done a great job in arranging a charter flight to bring the participants home during this time.

Addison Reserve Country Club has successfully managed to operate a non-contact delivery service for our members and we are therefore still able to work throughout this pandemic. We were given the option to go home if we wanted to, which some people chose to, however, those who chose to stay until the end of our contracts were given this opportunity too. Addison Reserve has done a phenomenal job of keeping us safe and having our best interests in mind. While working, we observe all safety measures as well as wear facemasks and gloves to ensure that both the employees and the members are kept safe. Our staff, including management, has been divided into 2 teams, as to minimise the amount of contact we have with each other. We offer deliveries during lunch and dinner, as well as the market menu, where our members can order groceries and household supplies.

Although we are in unprecedented times, the best thing we can do is follow the advice from professionals. Practice social distancing, keep physically and mentally active and healthy as well as try our best to keep a positive attitude.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_TdtGblWTw/?igshid=6uujj04uehpa

We’re all in this together!

“Your positive action combined with positive thinking results in success.”

~ Shiv Khera

With Love, 

Season Finale

By Nondumiso Sibanda

What a wonderful season it has been. We enjoyed our Christmas party, Secret Santa, club trips to Miami beach, a trip to Universal Studios, and celebrated many birthdays. Everyone grew to become a family. 

Sadly, the season ended sooner than we anticipated due to the Covid-19 epidemic. As much as we wanted to go up north for the summer season, we had to cancel and go home. A huge thank you to Workaway International, South African Airways, and our respective country clubs for making sure that we got home safe.

We are grateful that we were repatriated after almost everything was shut down and the country was on lockdown. We were quarantined for 14 days at designated government facilities. We were checked by nurses every day. We were well taken care of.

As sudden as it was to leave our country clubs and the USA, l am so happy to be safe at home. Even though my bucket list was put on hold! l cannot wait to go back to sunny Florida for another season.

Stay home.

Stay safe.

How to improve essential hospitality skills at home:

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, we find ourselves in unprecedented times. The hospitality industry is taking a large blow and we find ourselves sitting at home in a nationwide lockdown. This might be the perfect opportunity to brush up on your essential soft skills so that you can return to work with extra confidence! Here is a list of soft skills you can work on from home:

Listening to others:

Listening is the most important skill to have in the hospitality industry. When you actively listen to a customer, you can understand what they need and proactively work to make them happy. Never assume what they are going to say, but rather take the time to listen to what they have to say so that you can deliver. 

Practice your listening at home with a family member. There are various games and activities available for you to practice mindful listening. For example, get a family member to describe a drawing to you while you are both sitting with your backs towards each other. While they are describing the drawing, you will need to draw it without looking!

Be positive:

Being cheerful and happy around customers will make them cheerful and happy. If you stay positive, your customers will have a good experience, and this will only benefit you and the business. Positivity is rewarded by praise from customers and recognition from managers at work. It also helps you to enjoy what you do. 

Practice positivity by keeping a list of what you are most grateful for. You could look at the current lockdown and list the positives -for example, you are safe and healthy, you get to spend more time with loved ones, etc. Strive for optimism and resilience and find ways to laugh at the little things. Continue to keep an eye out on our social media pages for motivational quotes to lift your spirits!

Take in criticism:

Change the way you look at criticism. It is an opportunity to improve yourself. Remember that you are not getting feedback to feel bad but to improve your performance. Listen and thank people for taking the time to feedback. Try taking the negative and learn from it. All successful hospitality leaders are open to criticism, learning, and improving their offering and service. Therefore, you need to practice staying open to change. 

Try cooking a dish you have never cooked before and get a family member to try it and give their honest opinion. Or write a short story and have someone review it for you. 

Practice non-verbal communication:

Clear communication is an important skill to have in the hospitality industry. When you communicate clearly with other people, you can build a positive rapport and understanding with that person. Practice good communication by making eye contact and acknowledging everyone in the room. Use clear, open body language, and monitor other peoples’ non-verbal cues and respond to questions in a non-judgemental language. 

Stare into a mirror and mimic certain emotions that you think you will have at work. This includes all the negative emotions as well. This will make you mindful of what the customer sees when you are experiencing certain feelings. Work with family members and have one person act out behaviours you might see at work. Write down what non-verbal message you receive from the behaviour and see if you all agree. Non-verbal behaviours can include:

• Leaning back in a chair with arms crossed;
• Leaning forward in a chair;
• Smiling;
• Frowning;
• Yawning;
• Nodding;
• Resting chin in both hands;
• Resting chin on knuckles;
• Rubbing your temples;
• Tapping fingers on the table;
• Looking at your watch;
• Staring around the room

Lastly, practice all your skills combined by spoiling family members to a session of stellar hospitality. Offer to make and serve a meal. Design a menu (even if you make sandwiches), prepare and serve the meal to your family members, and treat them the way you would treat customers at work.