Month: December 2008

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Camp Hosting Tips

I’ve now been at my first camp hosting job for close to eight weeks. It is not going well.

Here are some tips on what should be done to avoid some of the issues I’m now facing:

1) Confirm the details of the arrangement before moving in and sign a written contract;

2) Make sure you and the manager agree on what constitutes hours that qualify towards the minimum expected to cover your rent (or whatever you’re bartering for);

3) Get a bit of background on the people you will be working with (how long they’ve worked there, what they do, what their expectations are for temporary staff);

4) Don’t allow them to make significant changes to the contract without a new contract being signed;

5) Don’t assume that you and the manager speak the same language. Reiterate very instruction that you are told until you’re sure you know exactly what s/he means;

6) Be aware of just how much value you are being given for the number of hours you put in. Camp hosting can turn out to not be cost effective;

7) Carefully evaluate the proposed schedule to ensure that it will not be damaging to your health.

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Headin’ for Oz

This morning, I awoke to find Miranda rocking back and forth. It was almost like being on a boat! So, I sure wasn’t surprised when I stepped outside to find the wind gusting at about 30KPH. As we worked this morning in the greenhouses, their plastic coverings flapping ominously, I joked that if the house had wings we could take off. My surly (but sweet!) supervisor actually found that funny. Bitterly cold wind not withstanding, it’s been a beautiful day with sun and a really odd sky colour. I believe it’s called ‘blue.’

As if the day wasn’t surreal enough, we had that coup in Ottawa. I just can’t believe that our politicians, who are of the talking, not acting, variety, conspired together to bring down the current government. Let’s hope the Queen (via the Governor General, of course) signs off on the coalition!