I know many people have probably seen this, but it's so funny that I think I'm going to post this here on my blog.

"I am a Front Desk Agent"

I have advanced degrees in Accounting, Public Relations, Marketing, Business, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, and Swahili. I can also read minds.

Of course I have the reservation that you booked six years ago even though you don't have the confirmation number and you think it was made under a name that starts with "S".

It is completely my fault that the blizzard shut down the airport and you have to sleep in a warm king-size bed while 5000 of your co-travellers are sleeping in benches at the airport. I am sorry.


It is not a problem for me to give you seven connecting, non-smoking, poolside suites with two king beds in each, four rollaways, 3 cribs, and yes, I can install a wet bar. I know it is my fault that we do not have a helicopter landing pad.

I am a Front Desk Agent. I am expected to speak all languages fluently. It is obvious to me that when you booked your reservation for Friday on the weekend we're sold out that you really meant Saturday. My company has entrusted me with all financial information and decisions, and yes, I am lying to you when I say we have no more rooms available. It is not a problem for me to quickly construct several more guest rooms. THIS time I will not forget the helicopter landing pad. And it is my fault that everyone wanted to stay here. I should have known you were coming in, even though you had no reservation. After all, you stay at our brand of hotel all the time, 300 nights a year, and this is only the first time you've ever been to our city.

I am a front desk agent. I am quite capable of checking three people in, two people out, taking five reservations, answering fifteen incoming calls, delivering six bath towels to room 625, plunging the toilet in room 101, and restocking the supply of pool towels, all at the same time. Yes, I will be glad to call the van driver and tell him to drive over all the cars stuck in traffic because you've been waiting at the airport for 15 minutes and you've got jet lag.

I am a front desk agent, an operator, a bellhop, houseman, guest service representative, housekeeper, sales coordinator, information specialist, entertainment critic, restauranteur, stock broker, referee, janitor, computer technician, plumber, ice-breaker, postman, babysitter, dispatcher, laundry cleaner, lifeguard, electrician, ambassador, personal fitness trainer, fax expert, human jukebox, domestic abuse counselor, and verbal punching bag. Yes, I know room 112 is not answering their phone. And of course I have their travel itinerary so I know exactly where they went when they left here 9 hours ago, and what their cell phone number is.

I always know where to find the best vegetarian-kosher-Mongolian-barbecue restaurants. I know exactly what to see and do in this city in fifteen minutes without spending any money and without getting caught in traffic. I take personal blame for airline food, traffic jams, rental car flat tires, and the nation's economy.

I realize that you meant to book your reservation here. People often confuse us with the Galaxy Delight Motel, Antarctica. Of course I can "fit you in" and yes, you may have the special $1 rate because you are affiliated with the Hoboken Accounting and Bagel Club.

I am expected to smile, empathize, sympathize, console, condole, upsell, downsell (and know when to do which), perform, sing, dance, fix the printer, and tell your friends that you're here. And I know exactly where 613 Possum Trot Lane is in the Way Out There subdivision that they just built last week.

After all, I AM a Front Desk Agent!

After my super long vacation, I finally packed my bags and arrived at Jackson Hole on Nov. 1st to get ready for my new life here.

This town is a very different place from everywhere else I've ever been to (and mind you, I have been to a lot of places before). There was a sign you see when you arrive and drive out of the airport that says that Jackson is the last of the West, and that is so true. The whole town remained very "wild West"-like. It's almost as if you've been on this special time machine going back to those good old days.

I was quite nervous at first about how it is going to be here, but everyone here in Jackson seems to be super nice and friendly, so that was a big relieve. As much as I enjoyed my time in Switzerland, I hated the locals there, since they are so damn unfriendly, but I guess that wouldn't be my concern here in this town anymore.

The thing about Jackson though, is that it is a resort town, so it is in a very remote location. Although we can buy almost all of our necessities here, entertainment-wise, other than outdoor activities, it can be quite dull here. There are no clubs here at all... which, I don't know how much that is going to concern me, because as much as I love clubbing and dancing, ever since BBA, I've been kind of sick of it. I mean, if somebody as me to go now, I would, still, definitely say yes, but will I be dying to go all the time? Maybe not. I guess I came a long way in the past 3 years regarding partying. I still remember the days in SHMS, especially in 1st year, when I would go to grotto every Friday and Saturday and party like there's no tomorrow. I think I still like it, but I just am not as crazy about it anymore... I guess. :P

Work began this Monday, and I went through 3 days of off the desk training with one of the girls at the front desk. The training is interesting, but can be a little dreadful at times, since it is 8 hours of blah blah blah and a lot of information. But I guess everything will be much better when I begin my on the desk training tomorrow, which I am very excited, yet, nervous about.

People in Four Seasons seems to be quite nice, and I believe that they do have a very different corporate culture than many other companies, which made them one of the Top 100 Employers in the US (Fortune Magazine, I think). As employees, we also get a lot of different discounts when we want to purchase fitness club memberships or ski passes and other stuff. So that's kind of nice.

Right now, I'm just looking forward to learning everything that I have to learn and be able to excel in my job when I do get to be on my own. But then, that would probably take a while. Well... I guess I'll just have a add oil~~~ hehehehe...

So there I was in my Bikram Yoga class, as usual, today, sweating and working my muscle strength and flexibility, with the intent to loose some weight and become more healthy. As I was doing my 3rd to last posture, the Rabbit Pose, something went through my mind... ok, I know my mind wanders everywhere all the time, and it's not good when doing yoga, but that's just how it was today. My instructor, Barb, was saying that we need to compress and curl up our bodies as if we're rabbits, trying to touch our fluffy tail.

And then, there it was... I thought about rabbits and flexibility. Maybe humans are one of the least flexible animals on Earth. Think about it, if you were a rabbit, you'd be using your legs to scratch your ears instead of your hands. And if you were a rabbit, and you want to clean your butt, you'd lick it clean with your tongue instead of whipping it with a towel in your hands. But since we're humans, we wouldn't, and hardly could, scratch our ears naturally, and we definitely wouldn't, and probably couldn't, lick our butts clean.

If you really think about it, it's so laughable when people say human are better than animals. It's not only because humans are also just a kind of animal, but also because there are so many things other animals can easily do when humans can't. Or at least, I don't know any animals other than humans would need to do yoga to increase their flexibility and get healthier.

It's just funny how people think they're better than others, when there are so many things they can't do and others can. And they can only say they are better because they chose to ignore everything else that they can't do, and only focus on what OTHERS can't do and then make the comparison.

Now, how pathetic is that?