Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Internship Saga...

As anyone have not already guess, yes, my school has put alot of student in a spot, tight spot to be precised. And before I blabber on this, let me give you a rough picture...

We are suppose to go for internship after this semester. Everything is not really in place yet. We do a degree in Hotel and Resort, and so far out of the list of potential employers, only one of which is a hotel. The rest ranged from Jurong Birdpark, to fine dinning restaurant doing waitressing, to Underwater world. Honestly, if you are me how are these related to our course... I donno. The best of the crop have Singapore Island county club (compared to the rest of course) I mean this are all based on my own opinion and honestly.. even after today's trashing session, I am not very happy still.

I see where the school is coming from, taken for the fact that our internship period is so short, and also since our course should exposed us to anywhere within the service industry, which pretty much determined their choice of employers. Like our director said, its about learning experience, he went on to talk about all the possibilities that we can learn. Honestly at that point of time I am just too tired and kinda pissed ba.. will talk about it later. Back, our director was telling us all the possibility that we can learn as a waiter. I see his point, honestly I do, being a fine dinning restaurant and all, the clients you face are no ordinary dinner and service quality is definitely something to master, benefit yes. But seeing the period we are there, how willing are these places to teach us? that is another problem. Its not that we are lazy and just want a title but not do work, all they want is to gain as much from the employer as much as what the employer hopes to gain from us I guess. hope its not confusing...

Anyway, there was this guy name CK, I really think he was crap talking, coz he suddenly tried to make his presence felt by "adding his view" into the situation, which I totally dun get what he is driving at except that we are spoilt brats that should learn more of the english (or aussie) style of working. He mention that we are very disciplined since young, and has been spoonfed every step of the way, then I guess he got lost in what he had said and started to say something about its the experience of learning. I was like WTF... To me, what I am getting from his little speech was "we are already spoon feeding you spoilt brats in the best of our abilities, if you are not happy also bo bian" that kinda thing... I felt it would be better that he didn't talk at all... remain hidden in the shadows at least we won't see how dumb he is... hahaha honestly talking without thinking...

Enough on that character, If you ask me, I see todays session pretty redundent, thou I get to see the challenge the new management has to face, the "old MDIS culture" from the rest of the staff, and so called debate and trashing session turning into a useless lecture. Everyone was pretty much quiet, but only a few brave soul try to voice out, but before we can finish what we have to say, we get interrupted and the vicious "lecture" cycle will result. The bottom line I got from today's session is that we should just take the internship, finish it, and F off... hahaha

On the other side, I will have to say that the students are depending too much on the school, not that they are wrong doing so coz it was originally within their job scope. However, will remain in a leaking boat that jump into the sea and swim for safety? This is what I didn't understand from them I guess. Taking the schools' word for it, that they are trying their best and all continue to help them secure better positions. Please lah, can you really be that naive to think that once they find you one position, they will still bother to source for another for u? I donno lah honestly, I just feel that both party have a role to play and this saga rage out due to poor communications and plain assumption and jumping into conclusions...

Apart from this saga, I, being the only evening class student there, voiced out the concerns and unhappiness about the administration, thou they say they will handle it and seemingly pushing the blame to Vaani, I honestly will not dare take their word for it again. We shall see as it goes... Right now, I dare say that there are 3 groups within MDIS Tourism Mgt side; the strong newbie, the sly oldies, and the kana shoot party... Its going to be a tough war.... and am sad to be a victim of it.. but what to do... i hate to say it... but I chose the school... will reconsider my options again thou....

Thats it for now...

But what many full time student are stating that they would prefer something in the hotel, with more relevance to the course. I mean they are not wrong to say that too... for the fact that, hey thats what we are promised in the first place.