The way work should be

I once heard that a happy man is one who finds out what he loves then finds someone who will pay him to do it. Well I think I'm almost there.
I really like my current job. I work at the reception of the 2nd largest hotel in Europe: Disney's Newport Bay Club Hotel. Front desk may not seem like anything special, but I really enjoy it. My days consist of check-ins, check-outs, taking payments, exchanging foreign currency,
canceling mixed-up minibar bills, inspecting rooms, showing off our suites to potential guests, answering questions about the Disney parks, restaurants, area transportation, and giving directions for anything from the nearest bathroom to Paris tourist spots like the Moulin Rouge. All that makes for a job full of variety in spite of the repetitive nature of working in a hotel.
But the best part is the people. I work with a great team of people from Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Spain, Portugal, and Africa. Plus, just this week I helped guests from Spain, Portugal,
Italy, all over France, Canada, Hungary, Russia, Poland, Ireland, Scotland, Moldovia, England, Norway, Belgium, Germany, and Austria. So interesting...
I LOVE people. I love learning their stories, and how they came to be here, now. I LOVE culture. It's so much more than language, dress or music, it is in the way we behave towards others, our simple customs and habits. And I LOVE to laugh!! My favorite guests and fellow cast members are the ones who laugh with me. French people can be very serious and impersonal, especially parisiens, so it's always refreshing to meet someone who is relaxed and open enough to just laugh at life.

A few of my favorite experiences at work so far:
3 italian families spent a few days in our hotel. I checked them in, and somehow managed to be there when they returned with other questions 2 or 3 times throughout their stay. The trick is that it was all done in a mix of english, french, and italian to be able to understand eachother. The 3 dads were the ones who did the communicating, and it was hilarious! The best was when the 3 dads showed up at the reception the last night of their stay, saw me and were instantly laughing. "Amanda! 3 problem!" It took only a few seconds to realize what the problem was. They had been out drinkning, had no room keys, and their wives and kids were already sleeping. All this from my limited comprehension of italian, and their few words of french and english. It was awesome:)
About a week ago, a little Irish man came to the counter in search of cardboard. My french colleagues couldn't understand his thick accent, so I stepped in. Turned out that he wanted to make a sign for his granddaughter to hold up at the parade. She loved Snow White, but the only time they had found her was in the parade. So they thought if they made her a sign she might come over for a picture. We weren't busy so I cut up a box and wrote in both french and english: I love Snow White, with a big red heart. I didn't make any promises, but it was a fun project. The next evening, the grandpa - Johnny - came back with a big red kiss mark on his forehead, and a story. Snow White had come down off her float, taken a picture with the family, kissed the little girl on the cheek, and the grandad on his bald head - just like Dopey:) They were thrilled! Johnny even said he loved me, and came back the next night to introduce me to his grandbaby and say goodbye. Magical:)
This week I checked in a Canadian guy and his Hungarian fiancee. He's from Vancouver Island, but currently working with a fishfarm in Scotland. Yeah, crazy. Anyway, he kept coming back to me with his questions, etc. cuz of our common roots, so I got to chat with them everyday. They were so cute and adorably in love! It made me miss North American men and the feeling of being in love. But at the very least, I got to help make their holiday a little happier.

I forgot how it felt to really enjoy your job. I go home each night mentally and physically exhausted, yet completely content. It is challenging, yet fulfilling. I have been blessed to have a number of very diverse work experiences. None that specifically require my formal education, but in all of which I have used my training and knowledge. I would love to be able to take all that education and experience home to just being a mom, but for now I must keep working to provide for myself and progressing as an individual. But as long as I must work, I want to enjoy it. I realize now more than ever what I need in a job. I need human interaction, I need variety, and I need to be on the move. And for now, I have all three. I feel so blessed!

As for the personal side of my life... nothing to report. I guess I only get one aspect at a time:)