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About me
My name is Rachel and I am 26 years old. I have a level 4, 5 and 6 in professional cookery. I have studied at Roslyn Park college and BIFE. I work at the bakery section in Pettits Supervalu Bray. I love to listen to music and watching movies in my spare time. Walking my dog up Dalkey hill is my favourite thing to do. There are four people in my family. My mom, dad and I also have an older sister Lauren. She currently lives in Malaga, Spain. |
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Getting ready for the trip
I applied to the Erasmus through the college online and had an interview with Gabriel and Martin. When accepted I was told to participate in language classes in Spanish. I attended a few but didn't continously go throughout the year. I began an online spanish course called ols and completed the assessment.
I went to two meetings which provided most of the information I would need to get to Valladolid, receive my payments and what the experience would entail.
I also enjoyed shopping for new summer clothes. Remembered to pack my knives and uniform. I was excited to go.
I applied to the Erasmus through the college online and had an interview with Gabriel and Martin. When accepted I was told to participate in language classes in Spanish. I attended a few but didn't continously go throughout the year. I began an online spanish course called ols and completed the assessment.
I went to two meetings which provided most of the information I would need to get to Valladolid, receive my payments and what the experience would entail.
I also enjoyed shopping for new summer clothes. Remembered to pack my knives and uniform. I was excited to go.
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Accommodation
I had a room in the hotel that I was working in. This was good as I didn't have to travel to work. I found it lonely though. I was introduced to two Swedish girls on the first day Stella and Kimberly. They were very nice but much younger than me so I felt we didn't have a lot in common. We were on good terms and they helped me to translate when they gave me a tour and introduction to my workplace. I appreciated their help. My room was spacious and I had a small fridge so that I could keep food in. It was on the bottom floor so I had a whole door I could open to let air in. I contracted covid and had to stay inside my room for five days. I went a bit mad and couldn't wait to get out. There was an attached bathroom and I was supplied with towels. |
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Work Place
In the hotel Santa Ana Palacio, there are two kitchens. They have one upstairs for the restaurant and to prepare tastings for events. Downstairs they have a larger kitchen for events e.g. weddings, communions. My role was mainly in the events kitchen doing prep. There was a head chef Victor and Javier, Vanessa who were in charge. There were other student from valladolid called yan and Martha. We together would do another of prep for events from Wednesday to Saturday. I got to prep with baby squid, sirloin steak and prawns. It was interesting work and I felt I improved on my knife skills. On Saturdays we would serve the food. It was my job to clean the plates before service. I also got to plate some pieces like the deep fried cod and the mini burgers. |
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Culture
The cultural differences were interesting to me. The language I struggled with alot. I found they spoke very fast and I didn't pick up on what they were attempting to translate on Google very well. Not many people spoke English as they didn't seem used to tourists. This was my fat as I should have dedicated more time to learning the language. I liked the response to gracias was casually de nada or its nothing and used it often.
It was difficult to co operate with my colleagues as I didn't speak their language. There was alot of pointing and demonstrations for me to understand the next step. At times I let useless standing around waiting for the next job as it was time consuming for them to show me my next task.
The cultural differences were interesting to me. The language I struggled with alot. I found they spoke very fast and I didn't pick up on what they were attempting to translate on Google very well. Not many people spoke English as they didn't seem used to tourists. This was my fat as I should have dedicated more time to learning the language. I liked the response to gracias was casually de nada or its nothing and used it often.
It was difficult to co operate with my colleagues as I didn't speak their language. There was alot of pointing and demonstrations for me to understand the next step. At times I let useless standing around waiting for the next job as it was time consuming for them to show me my next task.
Freetime
I was an hours walk away from the city centre. I couldn't order a taxi form the hotel because of a language barrier over the phone. Taxis usually cost 10-15 euro, so I tended to avoid using them.
I usually worked 9 -5pm which is 8 hours which was different fro everyone else's schedule. Sometimes I would feel it was too late to walk to town and didn't go out a s much as I should have. I would walk to lidl and back again everyday for my breakfast the next. I went to McDonald's and burger king a few times. I wish I had experienced more of the spanish cuisine.
A stand out moment was when we went to the foiegras farm. I was interested in trying it but not the butchery or slaughtering side. Pacos cave was fascinating to be in and I enjoyed the music a lot.
I also enjoyed meeting up with friends at plaza de mayor at night. We had a usual spot at the green cafe which had a very funny waiter.
I was an hours walk away from the city centre. I couldn't order a taxi form the hotel because of a language barrier over the phone. Taxis usually cost 10-15 euro, so I tended to avoid using them.
I usually worked 9 -5pm which is 8 hours which was different fro everyone else's schedule. Sometimes I would feel it was too late to walk to town and didn't go out a s much as I should have. I would walk to lidl and back again everyday for my breakfast the next. I went to McDonald's and burger king a few times. I wish I had experienced more of the spanish cuisine.
A stand out moment was when we went to the foiegras farm. I was interested in trying it but not the butchery or slaughtering side. Pacos cave was fascinating to be in and I enjoyed the music a lot.
I also enjoyed meeting up with friends at plaza de mayor at night. We had a usual spot at the green cafe which had a very funny waiter.
What I have learned
I learned a lot form the top kitchen at the hotel. The Mexican head chef horje was very good at challenging me to try new things. He often had me taste traditional Spanish foods. Veal cheek and baby squid were too I didn't enjoy.
The abilities I have received are to do with confidence in the kitchen around service time. The speed and plating techniques used by other chefs was impressive to watch. It inspired me to take the initiative with what the head chef needed. I think my intuition improved greatly as time went on.
Some positives I got from the experience was working with food I hadn't had the opportunity to before. Closely watch a head chef cook and serve plates in a professional kitchen.
Negatives were being far away from everyone else on the erasmus. Also sometimes I felt there was not enough to do in my kitchen until Saturday when we served the food for the event.
I learned a lot form the top kitchen at the hotel. The Mexican head chef horje was very good at challenging me to try new things. He often had me taste traditional Spanish foods. Veal cheek and baby squid were too I didn't enjoy.
The abilities I have received are to do with confidence in the kitchen around service time. The speed and plating techniques used by other chefs was impressive to watch. It inspired me to take the initiative with what the head chef needed. I think my intuition improved greatly as time went on.
Some positives I got from the experience was working with food I hadn't had the opportunity to before. Closely watch a head chef cook and serve plates in a professional kitchen.
Negatives were being far away from everyone else on the erasmus. Also sometimes I felt there was not enough to do in my kitchen until Saturday when we served the food for the event.
Recommendation
My recommendations for people going on an erasmus trip is to take the language lessons. They will help greatly with the communication on the trip. Explaining to your boss even that you understand what you are going to do after they make the effort to explain a job is beneficial to your experience.
My recommendations for people going on an erasmus trip is to take the language lessons. They will help greatly with the communication on the trip. Explaining to your boss even that you understand what you are going to do after they make the effort to explain a job is beneficial to your experience.