Dubai Expats: Working in a hotel.

This was the first expression that I was like, I'm gonna burn here all, you know, like a desert, desert, desert, desert. And I was like, what? What is this? Where are all this, you know, like the towers, the beautiful places. It's just desert and the road and nothing else. Hey guys, welcome to OxyVlogs. It's been a long time. I posted my last video, but now I am back. As you know, Dubai is a very popular tourist destination. That's why many people are looking for a job in hospitality here. Currently, I live in the hotel. That's why I decided to interview one of the employees and ask him about her experience. Let's go! Can you introduce yourself in a couple of words? My name is Nuri. My full name is Nurizat, but everyone calls me Nuri because it's really difficult here for everyone to remember my name. Where am I from? I'm from Kyrgyzstan, originally from Kyrgyzstan. So, yeah, I came here in 2019, so it's been one and a half years that I'm here. Is it your first experience of living abroad? Well, let's say I've been living in Russia before, if it counts as an abroad, but yeah, it is first experience and also like with English, with a different language. Yeah, it is. What did you do before you came to Dubai and why did you decide to come here? It's a good question. So, I've been living, as I told you already, I've been living in Russia for a long time and I I was working as a yoga instructor and also in a yoga studio before in Yekaterinburg, and then it was just five years I've been staying in the same place without any changes because it was a really like a yoga studio and there was nothing else to do and also one reason is because it was really colder. So, I just decided to change the place where it could be warm, but when I came here, it was really hot. It was summertime. So, yeah, this is the reason. What was your first impression when you arrived? When I arrived, it was, as I told you, because it was in Yekaterinburg, it was May month and in May it was still, you know, like snow. It was still cold and snow. Yeah, it was. I was expecting that it's gonna be like warm, but I didn't expect that it's gonna be hot, like really hot. And I also wear, you know, like just long-sleeve clothes with the trousers and when I just came out from the airport, this was the first expression that I was like, I'm gonna burn here, okay? And I didn't have any clothes to change at the same time because everything was packed in my bag. And, yeah, and then the person from the company, he met us, he took us, me and my friend. So, we met with her as well at the airport and he took us and it was around like 40 minutes, I guess, to our accommodation and all, you know, like desert, desert, desert, desert. And I was like, what? What is this? Where are all this, you know, like the towers, the beautiful places. It's just desert and the road and nothing else. So, yeah, and also he took us and dropped us in the desert, in the middle of the desert. So, our accommodation is almost in the middle of the desert. But now it's getting better because they have, again, new towers, new buildings, trees building. But, yeah, this was the first expression. What challenges did you face? I wouldn't say that it's challenges, but again with weather, I guess. Because it wasn't what I expected here. I just, I was expecting it's gonna be warm, but not 50 degrees or 40 even. First of all, when I arrived, I was like, I didn't really love downtown. Okay, because it looked for me too, like, too perfect. It's like a video game, for example. Yeah, but about challenges, I guess it was just the weather and, oh, at the beginning. Because I didn't have any experience, like, that I was, that I talk English with anyone. It was just, you know, like maybe I'm practicing with my teacher sometimes, again, once a week. Yeah, I was so scared, so scared to say any word and everyone thought that I'm super quiet girl here, that I don't talk to anyone. It was just the barrier, language barrier, I guess. Yeah, this was a challenging for me. What was your first job in Dubai? First job in Dubai, so it's hospitality. So it's gonna be, it was here, it was, it's Vida Emirates, here's the hotel, so in hospitality. And by the way, it was my first experience in hospitality in the hotel itself. So as a GSA, guest service agent, as a front-deck receptionist, so how I find it, I found it through the agency in Russia. So I just sent, well, actually, my CV for a hostess. Okay, well, started from hostess because I really wanted to change a place. And I sent my CV and after half year, they sent me an email that there is a hotel who is hiring a lot of staff, like whole staff for the hotel. And I went there for an interview, all was good. And well, and then I met one guy who came as a recreator as well. And he said like, which position are you looking for? And even if my CV was hostess, I said, I would like to go as GSA. And he's like, do you have any experience? I was like, no, I don't have, but I want to go as a GSA. I don't care. And he said, okay, you can try, but without experience, they will not hire. Okay. That was like, you know, like with 100% of confidence, I just went in with CV of hostess and the GM of the hotel, he was interviewing us. And we just, he is super simple and he's super, I don't know, talkative person, I would say, yeah. And the questions we talk about, it was just about like, do you miss your country? Do you miss your national food? And all this stuff, you know, like he, of course he asked also like questions about my experience and et cetera. But mostly it was just five minutes, maybe not even more. And he said, okay, okay, that's good. That's it. Did you try to find a job as a yoga instructor? That time, no, because as I told you, I wasn't good in English, first of all. And I wasn't sure that they're going to hire me because I don't have, I didn't have also the international certification. Because I mean, license with Russian, I cannot work here. Did you get any additional benefits besides the salary? Yeah, so of course we do have accommodation. It depends on the grade, for example, for each person. A grade depends on what position you're working in. So designation. Yeah, we do have accommodation included and food, for example. What else? Transportation, all this stuff and visa, tickets. If people want to find a job in hospitality, what would you recommend them to do and where to look for a job? Well, again, if it's in a different country, so I would offer to, again, to come with the agencies because it's more safe. It's an easiest way to find a job in other countries. I mean, in hospitality, in another country. And again, if you're staying in Dubai or in the country, you would like to find a job. So then there is a lot of websites, for example, with vacancies. Did you pay anything to the agency? It was a Russian company, I guess everyone knows about it. So usually they hire staff for different companies, like for hotels, for hospitality, even for Emirates Airlines, I guess they do it. So, yes, they usually ask for money, but also it depends on the vacancy. There are some vacancies which are not chargeable and for which you have to pay. Mostly for hospitality, as I understood, they charge. So it's around like 100-150 dollars maybe. Today is your last day at your current job. Where are you going now? So, yes, today is my last day, which is really good. And again, it's a little bit sad because I really get used to this place, to all the guests, to all my staff, colleagues. It's a beautiful place, but again, I have to move forward, right? So, yes, as I wanted, I've just found a job as a yoga teacher. Let's say my dream job for now. And I'm moving to Abu Dhabi, to one of the beautiful islands, which is Nuray Island. Yes, hopefully I will enjoy it. What do you like about working in hospitality? Well, in the hospitality, again, I would, you know, like say Vida itself, like Vida brand itself, I like it more. Because, I mean, I had offered maybe to move to Address, but I didn't like Address because it's 5-star and everything, you know, it should be perfect. And I'm not a person who is all about the perfection. So here it's more simple, first of all, and it's more about people. So, yeah, also about service as well, but about people more, so you can meet a lot of different people and you're free to talk. It's not only about like, yes sir, ma'am, or something else. What challenges did you face while working in hospitality? Again, we're working with people, right? We can meet a lot of different people. So, yeah, I mean, I faced a lot of different situations here. It depends on the person. If you are really good in communication with people, so it will be really easy for you even to handle the situation. But if you're not, I mean, not interested in, or I don't know, if you're not the type who likes to talk with people, right? So it's going to be really difficult because, again, I had colleagues who just worked maybe for three months and they left because it was hard. Just to handle people and again, it's again providing the service. Finally, you managed to get a job as a yoga instructor. How did it happen? Okay, so during my oldest time when I was working in the hotel, I was trying to actually take some private classes outside as well with people. And the best time for me was, you know, like the quarantine. This quarantine was really hard, but again, it was the beginning of everything for me because I had enough time. I had, yeah, first of all time. And also my friend, she was always with me and, you know, like encouraging every time, like you have to do it, you can do it, you know, like supporting me every time. And I just started, we just started doing yoga every morning because there was nothing to do else, right? And we were locked in our accommodation and nowhere to go. I started making also videos, you know, like posting on Instagram and putting all these hashtags like yoga Dubai, something else. And making some posts about yoga as well. And well, it worked. People just started like messaging me, are you doing like private classes and all this stuff. And then on the end of the quarantine, before the opening of the hotel, I already had like almost three or four clients who was doing yoga. So that time before the reopening the hotel, so we were three months, right? In the quarantine, like the strongest one, which was really locked down. And later it, when it opened, when it was allowed to go out till 11, I guess. So, yeah, I was taking yoga classes. And then when I was good at yoga in English, I was ready to teach in English. So I just decided to take a license so I could work here. I started my online courses and I, when I was done with my license, I just started sending everywhere just CVs. You know, because after the quarantine, there was so many, so many vacancies, like everywhere, not only yoga. So I decided that it's time to change, like, yeah, and it happened. Just make sure that you really want to move here. Maybe just to search more information about this place. If you would like to stay here or not, for how long, about the weather and about the rules, because sometimes it's really difficult here, right? And that's it. And just come if you want to come. What about skills? Skills? Oh, come on. I mean, so many people just come here without any skills. And also, I mean, even here at the restaurant, we have some people who didn't speak any English. It was just a little bit, so just to say, you know, hi, bye, and what would you like to have, all this stuff. But later, when you are inside of this, so you will just quickly learn the language. If your friend was planning to move to Dubai, what is the minimum monthly budget would you advise to have? It again depends on where, what are you going to do. For example, if it is in hospitality, as long as your accommodation and food and transportation is covered. So maybe, okay, maybe you can just keep some, I don't know, 400, 500 dollars. It's going to be enough because everything you have, you just need maybe, because when I was moving, I was just, you know, like I didn't take all these basic things as dental kit, as a shampoo, all this stuff. So that's why I just needed this money. But again, while you're moving, you will need at least one month just to get used to this place, to your work, you know. And then you start exploring because again, you will need your energy and time, right? Because it's something new for you. Do you miss your home country and what do you wish to have here? Sometimes I feel that I, yeah, I miss my country because for now, for example, I'm just, I'm a person who really loves New Year, you know, this holidays and there is no snow. I really want to snow and also food. I really miss food. And also when you work, for example, for me, I don't have a kitchen. I don't have an opportunity to cook. I'm not able to, so yeah, the food is most important. What will make you go back home? Nothing. No, I mean, it's not about what will make me. I just, if I feel that it was enough for me in this country, maybe I will go home, but I don't have any plans for now to go back. Yeah, I would like to just finish all my plans here, first of all, and then maybe for vacation. Thank you for watching this video. If it was useful, please don't forget to support me with your likes and follow me on Instagram where I share my daily stories. See you soon. Bye-bye.