Backpacker Buzz Issue 83 –A Day in the Life of a HI-Whistler Front Desker

Joanne Okey keeping watch at H.I. Whistler's Front Desk

It may sound cliché, but I believe I am living the dream here in Whistler! I came here from the U.K. on a working holiday visa, and soon landed myself a job at HI-Whistler.

I have worked at the hostel since the very first day it opened, back in July 2010. My typical day consists of waking up and cycling to work on the Valley Trail, which links the whole of Whistler with routes around the lakes. Aride through gorgeous trails and fresh mountain air is certainly a great way to wake up and begin my morning shift at HI-Whistler’s front desk. Throughout the morning, I’ll interact with guests, booking tours for many of them, including the popular ziplining tours, bun-gee jumping, and whitewater rafting trips. I also answer lots of general queries about Whistler, such as where to go for lunch, how to get to the Air Dome (an indoor bike training facility with a foam pit and wooden ramps), and where the best places are for bear spotting. I’ve heard them all! I proudly consider myself a bit of a Whistler expert now!

By about 12 p.m., the aroma coming from Cheaky’s Cafe lures me in. (Working 15 metres from the whiff of sizzling bacon destroys my self-control.) So I grab my lunch, usually a Buffalo chicken wrap or wicked Thai chicken soup (yum, yum!), and energize myself for the rest of the day. The last few hours of my shift might be spent checking in early arrivals, and answering e-mail and telephone inquiries.

What I really love about Whistler is that during my free time there is so much to do. In the summer, I cycle to one of the largest lakes in Whistler to work on my tan, or to rent a paddleboard/ kayak/canoe (depending on how energetic I’m feeling). Or, I head to Whistler Bike Park for an afternoon of downhill bik­ing. In the winter, as soon as my shift is finished, I strap on my snowboard and head up to the famous peaks! Of course—as the old saying goes, ‘work hard, play hard’—in the evening I usually end up meeting friends for a few drinks or to dance the night away. Then I’ll grab 40 winks, and begin another day… It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!

Find out more about working for HI at our careers website:  www.hostelcareers.ca

This entry was posted on Friday, October 14th, 2011 at 4:28 pm and is filed under Hostelling International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site. Add to del.icio.us.