The Importance of Teamwork

What did you like most about living in Switzerland and studying at César Ritz Colleges?

I liked everything about being in Switzerland, but my favorite thing about studying at César Ritz was the relationships I made with students and teachers – I made a lot of good friends there! All the courses were interesting. I think my favorite course was working in the Bistro Park kitchen with Chef Rando and the other students from the Cuisines of Europe course. Le Bouveret is in a beautiful part of Switzerland and I loved visiting the surrounding areas including the lake, Evian, Montreux, Lavey-les-Bains, and doing other Saturday activities with my friend Joao.

What did you study?

I was lucky enough to be able to do a special combination of courses from the Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses. I have now completed everything I needed to do to receive a Honorary degree. I am planning on returning to Switzerland to be at the graduation ceremony in Brig!

What are you currently doing?

I have just finished my third and final internship at the Jumeirah’s, Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Now I am back at home in Brussels for a couple of months with my family. I’m so excited that I will be returning to Dubai in mid-December to start my first full-time permanent job at Jumeirah’s Marsa Al Arab Hotel in F&B It is a great opportunity for me. 

What did you like most about your most recent internship?

I always think about the people I meet. I am a real team player so I really loved working with my colleagues in the Private Dining. For me it is so important to have good relationships with the people I work with. It was the same when I did my first internship with the team at the Lake View restaurant in César Ritz Colleges.

Regarding the job, I particularly liked setting up the trolleys to take for room service to the guests, making everything look nice, clean, and tidy. I am an organized person.

What was a typical day at work like for you?

Living in Oasis village is a beautiful campus where the Jumeirah staff live. It was easy for me because there was a bus every morning to take me to and from work at Jumeirah Hotel, Burj Al Arab. All meals are provided there too, so I didn't have to worry about shopping and cooking for myself. My working schedule was fixed from 9am to 5pm with days off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. When I arrived at work in my smart uniform, I had to start clearing the trolleys which had been used for the breakfast service, recycling and sorting out the linen, etc. I had a special app on my phone to tell me which room I had to go to for trolley clearance, as well as new customer orders for breakfast and lunch. Mealtimes could sometimes be very busy and I had to learn all the meals and ingredients from the various menus so I could set up the trolley correctly. I worked with my buddy Niyaz and we helped each other.

What do you like about living in Dubai?

I feel like Dubai is my home, especially Oasis Village, where I have everything I need. There is a swimming pool, a shop, a hairdressers, a laundry, a gym, and a basketball court and indoor playground. I know everything by heart and have friends there that I can hang out with. I like the sunshine in Dubai and the amazing shops, although sometimes it can be too hot!

Do you have a favorite place to visit in Dubai?

My favorite place to visit is Emirates Mall because I go there with my friends sometimes and we have a drink together. It's not far from Oasis Village.

Is there something you miss about your school days?

I have many good memories from my school in Belgium, as well as from César Ritz College in Switzerland. I have photo albums to remember all the good times. I take the happy memories of people with me in my heart. 

What’s something you’ve learned since starting your internship?

The main thing I have learnt is not to be shy anymore. I used to be scared of talking to new people and trying new things. But now I am more confident, independent, and adventurous.

What makes you feel proud about your work?

I give my work 100% and I can work hard and focus, even if people are rushing around me. I will soon be a full-time staff member of one of the most luxury hotels in the world and I am so proud of the work I have done to get to where I am, and for never giving up. It’s an amazing hotel in a great city. After some training I know I can work independently without being told what to do. I am also proud of the things I have learnt about different types of food and drinks for the Arabic, American, or healthy breakfast, and I am also proud of all the things I have learned about dietary requirements and allergies. 

What’s something you’d like others to know about you?

I can bring a lot of joy and love to any team. We are all different and we all have different things to offer - I can sing, act, and dance (including breakdancing and moonwalking) and people really like working with me. The F&B team at Lakeview used to say they learnt so much from me and having me in the team was a good stress reliever when things got a little crazy. Having a good team is about working well together, even though we are all different.