Away, Away

After four months of jaunting from one European city to the next while studying abroad, it was time to find a full-time job. I was a senior in college and wanted an employer who would be flexible with my studies and allow me to vicariously live through travelers.

Working front desk at a hotel almost seemed too ideal and the application process was surprisingly easy. I walked in, asked for a job, and two weeks later, I was behind the desk at a hotel in Deptford, chirpily greeting guests.

Hotel work is demanding, frustrating at times, but overall a good experience builder. During my time as a front desk agent, I helped to clean vomit off a guest’s floor for a tip of $2 given in coins.

Once, I had to scold a group of soccer moms for excessive noise and alcohol consumption in the lobby while other guests tried to check in. They laughed at me in response – as if they were the ones who should have been laughing.

I kept a straight face while a guest asked, in all seriousness, to pay for his room in fur. A repeat guest stood by and reported to my manager that I daintily responded, “I’m sorry, sir. Unfortunately, fur will not fit in our cash register. Do you have cash or a credit card?”

Oh, and an elementary-aged child called me “sir” without batting an eye. I had my hair redone after that incident, but my former coworkers still address me as sir sometimes!

While guests did scold me for matters completely out of my control more times than I can count, and while I was typically the only agent on the premises to keep a four-story hotel standing, the job was overall rewarding.

Working at the hotel meant coming in contact with people from all walks of life and treating them equally. In many ways, the hotel showed me how similar we are—money-strapped or living opulently, tall or short, American or foreign born. Appearances really can be so deceiving.

This is my last post – for now – on Patch. Having graduated from college in December, I am now beginning my career as a full-time journalist and I am relocating in the process. While South Jersey is worth it to me, I have found an opportunity elsewhere.

Coming in contact with travelers while working at the hotel taught me that sometimes it can be nice to move around and seek new landscapes.

Thank you all for reading and commenting on my posts.

My final questions for you are fairly simple on the surface, but hopefully mind-provoking if your current location isn't helping you achieve your goals:

If you could reside anywhere in the world, where would you live? If somewhere other than your current location, what is keeping you from moving?