Well, it has been over 3 months since my last update. If there is anyone who is an avid follower of my blog; I offer you my deepest apologies. So let's get on with it and get caught up already!
November came and went with nothing of much excitement to write about aside from the new car. It continues to run perfectly and I love driving it whenever I can! December came without the cold weather and abundance of snow I was expecting and almost looking forward to after living in snow-free Moriya, Japan for 4 years!
Christmas was on the way and I was feeling festive and looking forward to the holidays ahead. My first real Christmas present came on December 23rd. My parents had arrived from Nunavut a few days earlier and were on their way to our apartment for coffee and chat before heading onwards to Guelph. Shortly before they arrived, the phone rang. It was Sandra Ricci from The Travel Corporation calling me in regards to my application for employment I had sent in nearly 3 months prior. She conducted an interview with me (which went amazing) and invited me in for a live interview with her in the new year on January 4th. This really filled me with happiness as I had been rejected for the position with Thomas Cook Travel a few weeks earlier. My parents were also thrilled for me. *More on the job coming soon!*
On Christmas Eve day, D and I drove from Toronto to London to spend Christmas with my parents, Jeff, Brad, Tina (Brad's wife) and Mya (my 15 month old niece!) We checked into the Radisson hotel and then made our way over to Brad's house. Christmas Eve day was a nice relaxing day. We ordered dinner from The Mandarin as it was easier for everyone than cooking. D headed back to the hotel early as he was tired, but I hung around and had a *few* drinks with my brothers as per Christmas tradition. Christmas morning was not the white Christmas I had hoped for but rather a slippery hell of freezing rain. We arrived in the morning to open presents and have breakfast with the family. I realized I had forgotten my laptop at the hotel as well as my new Christmas toy from D: a 32GB iPod Touch! I went out to the car and SLIIIIIIP! Right on my A$$! Freezing rain covered everything.. Not a great way to start Christmas with 2 scraped knees. Christmas dinner was amazing as my brother is a chef and made the most amazing food! On the 26th, we all headed to Cora's for breakfast before my parents, D and I headed to Guelph to my Grandmother's house. D stayed for a quick visit before heading back to Toronto. I stayed in Guelph until the 28th and had another day of Christmas festivities at my aunt's house.
Well, January 4th rolled around and I got in the car, all dressed professionally and headed to 33 Kern Road (home of The Travel Corporation). I had my interview with my manager Sandra and Rares. The interview went great and I headed home. Not 30minutes in the door and my phone rings..and yes... I GOT THE JOB!!! YAHOO!!! Such, began my employment with The Travel Corporation; a privately owned conglamorate of companies which included the likes of Trafalgar Tours, Insight Vacations, Contiki Tours, AAT Kings, Uniglobe Travels and many more! I would be working as a Reservations Sales Agent for the Trafalgar Tours USA. I would work out of our office in Canada but handle calls/bookings/reservations from US Travel Agents. I spent the next 3 weeks doing my training and really getting a handle on what my job would entail. I had never been more excited about a job in my life. I had went to school for Tourism & Travel but had not worked in that field since I had moved to Japan right after gradutation from college.
About 2 weeks back, I started handling calls & bookings on my own and discovered that I'm a natural at it! In my first day on the floor taking calls, I made 14 bookings. (A company record for a new hire!) I will be taking some pictures of my workplace soon and will post them when I do. Until then, have a look at the companies that fall under the Travel Corporation umbrella and a few of the brochures/tours that Trafalgar Tours offers! 
November came and went with nothing of much excitement to write about aside from the new car. It continues to run perfectly and I love driving it whenever I can! December came without the cold weather and abundance of snow I was expecting and almost looking forward to after living in snow-free Moriya, Japan for 4 years!
Christmas was on the way and I was feeling festive and looking forward to the holidays ahead. My first real Christmas present came on December 23rd. My parents had arrived from Nunavut a few days earlier and were on their way to our apartment for coffee and chat before heading onwards to Guelph. Shortly before they arrived, the phone rang. It was Sandra Ricci from The Travel Corporation calling me in regards to my application for employment I had sent in nearly 3 months prior. She conducted an interview with me (which went amazing) and invited me in for a live interview with her in the new year on January 4th. This really filled me with happiness as I had been rejected for the position with Thomas Cook Travel a few weeks earlier. My parents were also thrilled for me. *More on the job coming soon!*
On Christmas Eve day, D and I drove from Toronto to London to spend Christmas with my parents, Jeff, Brad, Tina (Brad's wife) and Mya (my 15 month old niece!) We checked into the Radisson hotel and then made our way over to Brad's house. Christmas Eve day was a nice relaxing day. We ordered dinner from The Mandarin as it was easier for everyone than cooking. D headed back to the hotel early as he was tired, but I hung around and had a *few* drinks with my brothers as per Christmas tradition. Christmas morning was not the white Christmas I had hoped for but rather a slippery hell of freezing rain. We arrived in the morning to open presents and have breakfast with the family. I realized I had forgotten my laptop at the hotel as well as my new Christmas toy from D: a 32GB iPod Touch! I went out to the car and SLIIIIIIP! Right on my A$$! Freezing rain covered everything.. Not a great way to start Christmas with 2 scraped knees. Christmas dinner was amazing as my brother is a chef and made the most amazing food! On the 26th, we all headed to Cora's for breakfast before my parents, D and I headed to Guelph to my Grandmother's house. D stayed for a quick visit before heading back to Toronto. I stayed in Guelph until the 28th and had another day of Christmas festivities at my aunt's house.
New Year's was fun! D and I went to our friend's house for poker and food. It was a great time and the lobster was a particularly yummy treat! New years resolution: GET THE JOB! (the one I had a January 4h interview for!)
Well, January 4th rolled around and I got in the car, all dressed professionally and headed to 33 Kern Road (home of The Travel Corporation). I had my interview with my manager Sandra and Rares. The interview went great and I headed home. Not 30minutes in the door and my phone rings..and yes... I GOT THE JOB!!! YAHOO!!! Such, began my employment with The Travel Corporation; a privately owned conglamorate of companies which included the likes of Trafalgar Tours, Insight Vacations, Contiki Tours, AAT Kings, Uniglobe Travels and many more! I would be working as a Reservations Sales Agent for the Trafalgar Tours USA. I would work out of our office in Canada but handle calls/bookings/reservations from US Travel Agents. I spent the next 3 weeks doing my training and really getting a handle on what my job would entail. I had never been more excited about a job in my life. I had went to school for Tourism & Travel but had not worked in that field since I had moved to Japan right after gradutation from college.
About 2 weeks back, I started handling calls & bookings on my own and discovered that I'm a natural at it! In my first day on the floor taking calls, I made 14 bookings. (A company record for a new hire!) I will be taking some pictures of my workplace soon and will post them when I do. Until then, have a look at the companies that fall under the Travel Corporation umbrella and a few of the brochures/tours that Trafalgar Tours offers!
