Hello! This has been a whirlwind adventure. I think the best place to start would naturally be the beginning but there’s just so much to say! So let’s do some bullet points so I can remember everything.
- · Applying for the job
- · Interviews
- · Training
- · Ship assignment
- · Flying to the ship
Alright! Just a warning the post will most likely be my longest post because there are so many details and fine points I want to mention. Most, if not all posts after this will be brief updates with loads of pictures.
Applying for the job!
How did this start? Why a cruise ship? Why art? Well honestly, I was bored. I uprooted my life and went to go live with my mother after my rape. And it was super helpful but I didn’t do anything to improve myself. I ate, slept, drank, and watched TV. I occasionally cooked cleaned and went to the gym. It got old after a while.
After living with my mom for months and not accomplishing anything or furthering myself, I began to think, what’s next? I wrote down a list of things I would like to do and things to accomplish. I made a sort of bucket list if you will and one reoccurring theme was travel. The next was to work on a cruise ship.
So let me start off by saying I love cruise ships! Always have and always will. And working on a cruise ship? Man that was the dream! I have always loved the staff and crew on all the ships I’ve been on. I even have a lot of them as Facebook friends still. I noticed that they all loved their job. What an amazing concept that you could truly do what you love and make money.
So I wrote my list and I decided to look up cruise ship jobs. I knew what I didn’t want to do and I knew what was unattainable so I looked for a happy medium. I use to dance in high school but It’s been a while and I can’t sing. I briefly played the saxophone and quit after a year so band was out. I barely clean my own room, so no housekeeping. And just as I was giving up I happened across a website with the taglines: Want to travel the world? Love art? Um. Yes please. Sign me up.
I applied on a whim. I looked up the job and the reviews for it showed lots of haters but the reviews on their sites were glowing reviews. I was conflicted but I went for it anyways.
Interviews.
The night I applied was pretty memorable. I was on a high after being asked by 3 airlines to interview for their flight attendant program. I wanted to travel and I wanted to get paid for it. But this little nagging thought came into my mind again. What about cruise ships? So I poured a glass of wine and filled out in application and submitted it within the hour. I was buzzing!
The next day, I checked my email and I had an invitation to interview over skype. I freaked. Not going to lie, I didn’t think I stood a chance in …. Well you know the saying. So I went to my mother’s closet and “borrowed” her most professional looking dress that fit my style. ;)
I looked up interview questions and practiced for two days and then the interview came. I thought I failed it. I was so nervous and I kept talking and oversharing and I thought all was lost. But I’m a Texas girl. We pull up our big girl pants, keep calm and carry on. So I wrote the best thank you email I could manage to finagle and sent it.
After that came interview number 2. Artist presentation. Haha. Let’s start this by saying my art knowledge was bare minimum at this point. The artistic people in my family were my mother and her father, as far as I know. So I had two choices Pino or Peter Max. I ran to tell my mother and ask her which I should present on, and before I could even ask, she replied “Oh man Peter Max! I liked him.” I felt so stupid. I didn’t even know who he was. So my mother told me and a little about him and I ran to do more research.
I think that was the moment I knew. I knew I would get this job and that art had quickly become my passion. I was hooked and I couldn’t wait to get started.
Training
Oh my Lanta. What a refiner’s fire. I didn’t know the true meaning of that phrase until I was literally thrown in the deep end also known as Southfield, Michigan. Training started April 2 in Michigan at the Park West Art Gallery. It was a beautiful building that looked like it was plucked from Grecian painting.
10 days. I learned so much in only 10 days. I made friends that I hope will last a lifetime and memories that will stay with me forever. I learned artistic movements, artists biographies and accolades, public speaking, and how to spot a good bottle of wine! ;)
I had an absolute blast! We spent 2 days in Detroit getting familiar with the museum and the legacy that we hold being one the biggest art dealers in the world. It is an honor to work for a company that has your best interests at heart.
This is not to say that it was easy, it was so freaking hard. I wanted to quit multiple times. I arrived ill prepared and defeated. I saw others who had memorized things that looked like gibberish to me. So I did what I do best. I prayed. I got down on my knees and I asked for help. I knew this was the job for me I just needed to get over this hurdle. I would not be defeated.
The next day after my prayer things changed. I got a new senior trainer and things just started clicking. I had a lot of help. I did NOT do this alone. But I started feeling and acting more confident. Just the act of believing in yourself can make you excel in ways you didn’t know possible.
I graduated. I made it through training intact and without quitting. Major win.
Ship Assignment
Ya’ll graduation lasted basically 3 days. We celebrated not only making through a difficult training but also we celebrated the friendships made and most importantly our ship assignments. Park West Gallery operates on over 90 cruise ships around the world. This is why we are one of the largest art dealers in the world. We are a massive company dedicated to making art available for everyone.
Anyways I’m not going to get into my spiel, I just want you to understand to magnitude of what I am about to embark on. I was assigned to the Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas. We start off in Australia and then swing around to Alaska. I was ecstatic.
And also a little bummed. I was being separated from my new friends and I had only packed for summer. I need a coat and jeans and boots. Yikes.
But it’s an adventure yeah?
And some of the friends I’ve made at training will dock with me in Alaska so I’ll know some people. I’m just excited to get started and compare experiences. We are all doing the same thing but I can’t wait to hear the crazy stories and big sales. It’s going to be everything.
Flying to the ship
And now I’m in the airport. I have 2 connecting flights to get to Australia. And I’m ready! I’m chugging iced coffees so I can be on Australia time when I arrive because I only have 2 hours to get to the ship and get to work.
It’s a lot. I’m completely overwhelmed. I’ve cried like 5 times in the last two days and I’m not sure I’m done yet. But I know this is the right choice. Nothing but good things are coming to me.
I have to go now. It’s time to board my flight. I love you all and I can’t wait to keep you updated on my adventures.
