rachellll-xo

[rachellll-xo]

The holidays and the end of placement both near so quickly!!!⛄

I can barely believe that next week is my final week doing placement with Cathay! I can't even count all of the things I've learned working here and how much more I feel like I know about the travel and hospitality industry. I still have even more shifts to continue to gain experience and perform all of my tasks properly and efficiently to keep the passengers' days running smoothly.

I'm so much more comfortable and confident with my responsibilities during my shifts than I was for the first few weeks, and I love interacting with the passengers. They are so, so sweet and I feel so glad that I can help them!

I will update again soon.

/)/) ((\ ( . .) (. . ) ( づ ♡ ⊂ )

[rachellll-xo]

♡ ∩_∩ („• ֊ •„)♡ |￣U U￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣| | Working with friends<3 | ￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣

Time flies even faster when you're working together with your friends 🥰

Its great when we can use our teamwork to make things even smoother for our passengers. When there are many of us working together like this, we can make things move even faster and get our passengers on their way quicker. I also think its very beneficial to passengers when we all get along very well because whether consciously or subconsciously, it will create an environment of positivity, and our good moods can reach the passengers through our service as we assist them with smiles and friendliness. :)

Making friends and building more of a community at Cathay has made me feel much less nervous and more settled into the position. I feel much more comfortable and assured of myself, my abilities, and the knowledge I've gained as I've worked so far.

[rachellll-xo]

As each week passes, I'm growing more and more adjusted to the working routine.

Every shift I take the link to terminal 3 and enter the employee area to catch the alternate elevator, as the original one has broken down. I walk down the long winding hallway until I reach the end, where I enter the Cathay office door and change into my uniform for the briefing. I take note of my position, as well as the gate number in my notebook, as well as any other additional important information offered that day. Then we go to stock the dim sum cart and the baggage sizer, before we take our small break and then make our way down to the counters bringing the dim sum cart, baggage sizer, and rolling computer with us. Then we retrieve the totems for business, premium economy, self check-in, E-travel QR codes, and finally bag drop. I work my shift and then return to the office to change and eat my lunch in the office kitchen before returning to my bus and repeating my routine the next shift :)

P.S~

The back hallways leading to the office with their endless identical doors always remind me of an alternate dimension or otherworldly reality. (Shown above) I was able to capture some evidence of a ghost dwelling in the halls :0 He seems friendly, maybe he will help me push the dim sum cart across the carpet ( ˶•̀ ᎑ - ˶ )

[rachellll-xo]

Friends ♡⸜(˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝

I'm having such a fun time working alongside the new friends I'm making!

I'm feeling more confident and professional with my Cathay uniform on, and I'm trying to be more outgoing with passengers.

Alice has taught me the Cantonese translations of some words that might be used often by the passengers such as

Cathay Pacific

Economy

Carry on baggage

Cantonese

I am still too nervous to try them with passengers but it is very cool to be able to pick up a few terms in conversations!

[rachellll-xo]

My first shift in Cathay uniform!

I was so glad to be wearing the uniform proudly. I really felt more official once I was representing the company clearly. It also made it a lot easier for passengers to recognize which airline I work with which made me feel much more accessible to them. :)

[rachellll-xo]

New haircut and more new experiences<3

I continued to hone my skills and learn by gaining more experience. I was feeling slightly more confident in my skills, however I did often have questions when faced with a new situation, or a question from a passenger I hadn't been asked before.

I keep reminding myself that that is how one learns!

Until next time.

[rachellll-xo]

The end of my first week!

Sunday was my last shift until next week, and I can't believe the amount of things I've learned so far, and that I'm still learning.

Some of them are:

Attaching baggage tags

checking and weighing bags

operating the kiosk

improving my knowledge of airport operations

I was positioned at the queue, where I directed passengers to the proper areas for check in, and I even assisted at the kiosk as well.

I'm feeling much more confident than my first shift, however I still sometimes find myself questioning my abilities, and being afraid of making a mistake. This is something I'll continue to work on throughout my placement here.

I'm so thankful for all of the help and guidance I've received during my first week, and I'm excited to become more well versed in the role, and continue to form friendships. (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡

My Cathay rat represents my mood after my first week is done ~

( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ

[rachellll-xo]

My second shift!

Today I started my shift at the baggage drop again, where I enjoyed using the skills I learned the day before. Then I moved to the kiosk, which I felt far more confident working with the second time around. I had so much fun working with my friends, and making new ones <3

I'm trying my best to be more outgoing so I can seem more open and approachable to the passengers, and I think its been going well. 🥰

I'm looking forward to all of the other new things I'll learn working here:))).

[rachellll-xo]

My first shift!

I arrived early, and waited eagerly for the briefing to start. After that, we all stocked the dim sum cart, and brought all of the totems out to prepare the area for the day.

I started at the self service bag drop, and I was so, so nervous, and afraid to make too many mistakes in case the passengers were going to be inconvenienced. I was so glad that the past students were so helpful in showing me the way, and that the passengers were so patient with me! 🥹 Eventually I got more comfortable with the baggage drop, and felt more confident.

After this we changed shifts, and I worked at the kiosks. I was nervous to work in a new section at first however, I got help from the other co-op students to find my way.

In the end it was a very good first day, and I felt very happy to have conquered my first-day nerves.😊

[rachellll-xo]

The beginnings of a new chapter:)

Orientation was so fun and informative! It was great to be able to meet everyone, and start to form a community. We learned all about our role in the company, the expectations for our service, and the standards for our grooming and uniform. We were also able to see the Cathay office, and learn the procedures of stocking the dim sum cart with all the needed materials. Lastly, we received all available pieces of our uniform, as well as our nametags. It was a day full of new information and experiences to remember. I was so nervous for my first shift, but I was also very eager for the weeks to come!

ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧