Food and Beverage 1

Week 1
Let me start off by telling you this is going to be the course that I blog most about since I'm going to be here for about uhm, 9 weeks!
Here we go!
We are six new students in this course, Tarine, Sulize, Katinka, Zanderi, Morne (the only boy) and myself.
Only Tarine and I have actual previous waitering experience but this was nothing like I expected.
I was expecting waitering the whole day and making some extra cash since I as a students can use it, if you know what I mean...  I'm talking about stocking up on our main food source, 2 minute noodles! What were you thinking?!
But no, we spent the whole week with a conference of about 60 people for the bubblegum producers Wrigleys, being at their beck and call.  This was how every day of our week went.

We arrive and we immediately have to set up the tables and chairs for breakfast, we need to lay out the tables with centerpieces and cutlery etc.  We set up the coffee station with cups and saucers, with coffee, hot water and all the essentials.  While the guests had their breakfast, we stood by, ready to remove a plate or cup as soon as it is emptied.  Once they are finished, we remove everything from the tables and we start preparing for their tea break that will take place at about 10AM.  Once they have retreated into the hall once again, we set up for lunch, making up the tables and polishing all the cutlery and steaming all the glasses, making sure they are all in tip top shape.  Once again at lunch, we ran away with all the dirty dishes etc.  We would pack up once they were finished and get ready for their power breaks that included cold drinks and snacks.  Then again, we prepared for dinner.  During the day, white table cloths would be used with colorful overlays but at night, black table cloths with a more subtle overlay for example a leopard print.

On the Thursday, I worked a double shift for the gala evening of the conference.  We were all dressed in black and white, looking oh so snazy!  We served drinks and cleared the tables after every course.  All in all, the evening was a success.  One tip, don't try doing long working hours in high heels!

The week was a tough one but it was good in a way that we got to get to know everybody in the new department and see different sides of people when they work under pressure.  It's been a bit difficult learning everybody's names since there are so many staff members but we are getting there!  This was a fun week but my feet don't agree! 

Interesting fact: The Wrigleys company's staff members are very loyal people, during one power break, we made the mistake of serving candy bars that were not their brand name and all the people refused to eat it.