The Citizen, 2003-05-21, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2003.
Co-op placement has Brussels girl out to sea
Cruising
It was fun and games, which meant work for Nicole Lowe of Brussels, left, as she completed
a co-op placement aboard a luxury cruise ship. The Fanshawe College student was one of
several in charge of keeping young passengers entertained.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
If it weren’t for the often long
hours, some might be hard-pressed
to call this work.
Nicole Lowe of Brussels spent
three weeks aboard a luxury cruise
ship for her co-op placement, part of
the recreation and leisure program at
Fanshawe College where she is
completing her final year.
With the placement compulsory,
Lowe says when she was
considering her options, travel was a
priority. “I knew I wanted to go
away and figured that if I had this
opportunity 1 might as well take it.”
With assistance from her program
co-ordinator Lowe applied to the
cruise ship, then underwent an
extensive medical examination and
police background check.
Despite an early start, it wasn’t
until days before her placement was
to begin that she was notified of her
acceptance. She received by fax a
letter of employment, essentially
saying that she had been hired as a
seasonal youth co-ordinator. This
meant she would do programs for
children aged two to 17.
Travel arrangements were made to
catch the MS Norwegian Dawn in
Miami, but Lowe hit stormy seas
early.
“I tried to leave April 5, but four
of my flights were cancelled because
of an ice storm. I literally camped
out at the airport for two days.”
The ship eventually sailed without
her and Lowe returned home.
Monday at noon she received a call
asking if she could be at the airport
by 4 p.m. that day. This time she
made the flight and spent the night at
a Miami hotel. “Smalltown girl
travelling by herself.”
On Tuesday she was flown to San
Juan, Puerto Rico, then to St.
Thomas where she finally caught the
Dawn.
But not before a few final gliches.
Her name wasn’t on the security list
as it should have been so she had to
wait until details were checked out.
Also, *1 was so mad because a port
agent was supposed to meet me but
didn’t. I had to find the boat myself.”
Once found it was an impressive
sight. The ship is 13 decks high and
holds 4,000 passengers and 1,200
crew members. On this voyage,
Lowe says there were 1,160 in the
crew from 65 different countries.
“Because they have people from
everywhere taking the cruise, they
like to have a wide variety on the
crew.”
Lowe worked under the
supervision of the lead youth co
ordinator, who just happened to be
from Lucan. She showed her around
and Lowe was bunked in a passenger
cabin rather than the crew quarters
because she was seasonal.
The latter, she says, are really
small and underwater. “You can hear
every sound that ship makes.”
Though she didn’t suffer from
seasickness, Lowe did see others
afflicted. “If you have an easily-
upset stomach, cruises are not for
you.”
The first week of the cruise was
through the Eastern Caribbean. The
next round was the Western
Carribean, which Lowe particularly
loved. The final week was a repeat
of the first.
Each trip had one sea day, when
tyaniltcwwiG, MaVuaCfe,
?? Harvey & Sandy Stewart
of R.R. 1 Clinton
and
Ross & Trudy Huber
of Teeswater
wish to announce the upcoming
marriage of their children
Jeff Stewart
&
Marlene Huber
on
Saturday May 2d, 2003
at Londesboro U”iti . ’lurch.
Friends and famii h< . me to
attend the reception at ’p.m.
at the Goderich Township Hall
in Holmesvihc.
(Photo submitted)
the ship never docked.
It was particularly busy for the six
youth co-ordinators at these times.
“We had programming all day.”
The first week there were 600
youths on board. The number went
up to 650 the next week and 750 the
final week. Programs to entertain all
these young people were geared to
age and level of development.
“We always did theme nights. The
T-Rex Centre had ball pits and a
cinema area. We had access to the
whole ship and took kids to see
shows such as the juggler and
musician, who performed.”
The pirate afternoon was
particularly amusing. Lowe said
they convinced one of the DJs to
dress up and steal the treasure.
“Seventy-five kids chased this guy
through the rest of the pool area.
When we caught him we were going
to make him walk the plank. We
weren’t really going to have him go
in the pool, but this little four-year-
old girl burst forth from the group
and shoved him in.”
Lowe had nothing but praise for
the cruise line, saying they treated
their crew “like absolute gold.”
Uniforms were provided and
cleaned. Crew members got
discounts at the spa and shops and
Sea cruise
Nicole Lowe of Brussels enjoyed the special experience of
working aboard a 13 deck cruise ship for her co-op
placement. The MS Norwegian Dawn holds 4,000
passengers and a crew of 1,200. (Photo submitted)
for excursions. Lowe took the
opportunity to go snorkeling and
said despite a mouthful of salt water
the experience was nice. “There
were sting rays below my feet and
all types of little .fishes you don’t see
every day in the Maitland.”
Crew could also use the fitness
centre, and had jacuzzis specifically
for their use. Beer was 75 cents in
the crew lounges.
The only drawback was the long
hours, says Lowe. “You work long,
hard hours and always had to be in
uniform with your hair up and tag on
when you were in the passenger
area. You’re in the^public eye a lot.”
An average sea day could begin at
8:30 a.m. and not end until 1 a.m.
Work weeks were generally 40-60
hours. “Anytime I was frustrated,
though, I just looked out and saw
where I was.”
Lowe was also part of the crew
staff department so had other duties
such as in the library and with
security. As well she conducted ship
tours, the first after one week to the
St. Thomas government and coast
guard.
There were also safety boat drills
every week for which there was an
exam. “You have to pass or you can’t
be part of the ship’s crew.”
Returning home was far less
eventful than the trip south. Lowe
has kept in touch through e-mails
with the many friends she made on
board, and also has something
important to consider.
“I was offered a full-time job, but
it was important to me to come back,
write my exams and graduate. But I
am definitely taking the offer into
consideration.”
WINGHAM AND DISTRICT
HOSPITAL CORPORATION
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Wingham and
District Hospital Corporation will be held at the North Huron Wescast
Community Complex, Knights of Columbus Lounge, 99 Kerr Drive,
Wingham, Ontario on Thursday, June 12, 2003 at the hour of seven p.m.
(7:00 p.m) for the election of Directors; for the appointment of Auditors;
and for the transaction of other such things as may properly Come before
the meeting.
Copies of the Annual Report, Hospital Financial statements and amended
Bylaws may be obtained at the Emergency Entrance of the Wingham &
District Hospital, effective June 5, 2003 and at the Annual Meeting.
Elections will be held for two Directors in the Central Zone, and one
Director in the Western Zone. Nominations for these positions will be
received up to and at the Annual Meeting on June 12, 2003.
Due to circumstances regarding SARS, a membership, granting voting
privileges may be purchased by pre-registering with Mrs. B. Ritchie at
357-3210, Ext. 216 prior to five o’clock p.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2003.
No membership sold after that time will entitle the purchaser to vote. The
membership fee is five dollars ($5.00). You may pay this fee and pick up
your membership at the Complex on the evening of the Annual Meeting.
Dated at Wingham.Ontario this 2nd day of May, 2003.
By order of the Board of Directors.
Cali 1-866-734-9425
or visit www.medicalert.ca
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