In the Summer of 2023, I worked as a Hospitality Intern at Village Suites Bay Harbor. My coworkers came from diverse backgrounds, including Mongolia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Colombia, Slovakia, and Thailand. This incredible experience allowed us to share and celebrate our cultures through food. We organized a cookout specifically to showcase traditional dishes from our home countries, enjoying treats like s’mores, brownies, Mongolian beef, Korean fried chicken, and Slovakian rice pudding. It was a joy to taste authentic dishes prepared by my friends and to share American favorites with them.

Working with such a diverse group was eye-opening. I learned the importance of listening to their concerns and adapting my communication style. For those who were less fluent in English, I made an effort to speak more slowly and clearly, and to explain words when necessary. This experience also taught me about the cultural differences they encountered, highlighting the unique aspects of each country, even among neighboring nations.

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Skills Cultivated: 

• Contributed to event preparation and dismantling ensuring a great guest experience

• Swiftly resolved guest concerns, displaying a strong commitment to their satisfaction

• Managed reservations and optimized check-in and check-out processes for guests

• Offered details of local dining, shopping, and entertainment options to enhance guests’ stays