Beginning to Birthday Week!

Thanks mom for sending my tons of birthday party supplies. I'm only a teenager for two more days then 20! This week has been fun thus far. Tuesday it was the Monterey County Hospitality Associations Employee Appreciation Day. It is for all the local hotels around the peninsula to battle in competitions and a bbq after. The culture here for employees is awesome, especially the Hyatts. They do so much for their employees and the appreciation is a great standpoint from my side seeing how they give back to their hard working crew. There was a bed making contest, bartending contest, food & beverage contest, chili cook off, soccer tournament...and..dun..dun...dun..the bellman competition that i was in. Have mercy on my soul.. We did practice but we did not know what to expect. I was about to wet myself when they announced the starting of the relay. The obstacle was to load a bell cart from a trunk race through cones unload it in a specific way, bring the bell cart back to your partner the partner races up loads the luggage, swerves through the cones and loads the car back up in a specific way. Me & the real bellman Ryan (Justin & Ryan), were up second and did pretty well until we found out we didn't place. They take points off for so many things and I don't think it helped that when I brought back the bell cart I smashed it into the famous Laguna Seca Raceway's Lexus SUV, whatever put it on Hyatt's tab. It was a fun day and the sun was shining so I finally got a little burnt. Food was good and it was great to interact with the managers and staff outside of the hotel. Then yesterday I went Whale Watching. it was free to go because it was apart of the whole MCHA Appreciation week. The water was calm and lots of seals lounging on the rocks as we headed out to sea. We only saw one whale and didn't even get close..and also a few dolphins that swam underneath us. But if I was one of the Europeans that was on the boat (we were basically the only Americans), I would have wanted my money back because it wasn't the best. I'm kinda over this blog thing cause now I am not constantly bored and have things to do so I'll try to give updates. Its funny though because now I am in Guest Services doing bellman, the regency club, door attendant, concierge, Camp Hyatt, valet --yeah o god, and reservations. So the mix from front desk and services is seeing all the complaints. This one guy said he asked for a quiet room and was upset because his mini fridge compressor was turning on and off all night?!?! well turn the fridge off asshole..we gave you a quiet room but you still complain about something. I am learning alot and I don't think I want to come back. My birthday is on Saturday and I think were doing a bonfire on the beach. Then also on Saturday and Sunday there is a Charity Golf Tournament and a bunch of celebrities are staying at the hotel.. The only ones I knew were Jerry Rice, Ken Griffey Sr., & the lady judge from dancing with the stars..Their gonna be right next to my room in the Presidents house having parties so I'm gonna snoop and be paparazzi on the down low. Every one keeps asking and here it is: My address is



Justin Wusinich Room 1738
Hyatt Regency Monterey
1 Old Golf Course Road
Monterey, CA 93940

Peace Out.

Past Few Days

So the other night I went down to Fisherman's Wharf and had an awesome meal with calamari and crab cakes to die for. Got some cotton candy from the old fashioned candy store and relaxed after work. I'm finally settled in with both Monterey & work, and finally have a routine down and know how to do things on my own. Last night I went down to Carmel to walk on the beach and unfortunately it was cold and cloudy (what a surprise)...but did get to see Pebble Beach and see some really neat houses on the coast. Drove around the coast to get to know the area a little better. The pacific is so blue and clear surprisingly. Tried doing my laundry and some British bitch threw my stuff everywhere while I was gone..she could have just thrown it in the dryer so I was so tempted to open her washer full of water and let it just sit there but I have to be on my best behavior cause I am practically always on the job living here. She got her karma after rushing me to see if my clothes were dry..because there was tissues all in her clothes. Suits her, don't mess with Justin Wusinich. Works fun most times, especially when I get to go on little adventures. But while I was waiting for my laundry sitting by the golf course and fire, I realized how nice every single person I work with here is. Its good to be away from all the miserable rude and asses of Philly. Everyone has the best intentions and are so generous. It's nice to be surrounded by all these people especially for this long time and strange place as of two weeks ago. I can not say I don't care for at least one person because that is how friendly my associates are here. Well I have to grab more pictures of everything and next week should be fun leading up to my birthday! Send care packages..I don't care if its an empty box I'll take it!! Can't wait to tell you about what is in store all next week..should be fun and memorable for my 20th.

Enjoy the photo looking off the pier of the aquarium out to the bay.

Perfect Day With Many To Come!

So last night went to Tom (fellow Temple STHM graduate/ Banquets Manager out here) house for a BBQ with some of the crew. good food and comfortable company. The produce in Cali is awesome we had chicken and veggie skewers, homemade guacamole from the Corporate Management Trainee Intern Brian and chocolate covered strawberries with other fresh berries that were so sweet, better than the stuff we get from Jersey. Relaxing day and evening for Memorial Day, but today was the best so far. The sun is shining and the weather is breezy but not cold and cloudy like its been. Relaxed today, decided to order myself some raspberry walnut cinnamon bun french toast, that was good and finally got some snacks from the store and stocked my fridge. Then tonight was awesome!! First all the interns got shuttled to the famous and historic Sardine Factory where we had wine and some hour dourves (however you spell it you know what I mean)..Justin pretended like he knew his wines that didn't question the lady to card me..thank you united airlines inflight magazine for your tricks on how to pretend to be a wine expert ;) after taking a tour of the restaurant with its many different rooms and cool history we walked down Cannery row to the Aquarium where we got a short tour. Its really cool and I met a lady who would hook me up when I come next to finish seeing everything. After seeing the local fish, birds, seals, otters, seahorses!, etc. we headed to Stokes restaurant for some more wine and appetizers. This outting was hosted by Diane the concierge and was for the Northern California Concierge Association. Met some nice people and did my networking skills for when if I head up to SanFran. I also met a guy from the famous Laguna Seca speedway and he said he would hook me up for July 4th weekend Red Bull's Grand Prix Race..your welcome Dad. Then walked down the main street Alvarado where every Tuesday they shut it off and have a farmers market. Got to try some local fruits and other foods and breathe in the Monterey culture. Got some nice little gifts from those places and came back to sit by the gazebo fire pit for a little and uploading my pictures from the day. It was great to finally see Monterey at sunset and enjoy what I came to see finally with the sun! I'm excited for everything thats in store. Wish I missed home and the people..Sorry I'm having fun and experiencing alot. I just hope I don't take it for granted and the summer just disappear. Again though keep in touch and let me know how much you miss me ;) The picture uptop is all the interns, corporate management trainee and one of the bellmans.

Memorial Day Weekend

It's been a loooonnnnggg weekend, hope your ready for it... Yesterday I started out bright and early at 7am. worked the whole day, and it was a full house overbooked. that means there more people expected to come then the amount of rooms we have. so after a week I'm apart of the crew now. Saturday was such an adventure. busy all day trying to check in over 400 arrivals it was a mad house. Made friends with alot of guests though check in in and one couple considers me their favorite intern (yeah they got champagne and choco-covered strawberries to their room when they returned from dinner for that!) my adventure didn't start til late afternoon when they had me running laps around the resort (keep in mind its like 2-3 football fields long if not more). finding out which rooms were clean, and the ones that needed to be cleaned. so i get back and they tell me to be ready to "walk" (move) to another hotel for the night because they need to give people my room as well as the other interns. So I rushed back and packed my stuff up. Then I come back and the resort is out of cribs. So the highlight was that me and Patti (the reservations manager) head to target to buy cribs and guess whose driving the Escalade..ohhhh yeah. Hopped in that baby and headed off to Seaside (coastal town next to Monterey kinda looks like OBX). The Escalade has a step that comes out the side when you go to open the door, outside cameras to back up and see around you, and a key start ignition. Its pretty nice. So I drive throughout the area (at least I got a tour of the area while I was grabbing cribs). Get back deliver and find out how to configure these damn pack and plays then get back and they tell me I'm shipping off for the night. I go grab my stuff, load the other interns stuff, one girl had just flown in that afternoon and prob. shitting herself she had no idea what was going on. They took us down to the Portola Plaza at Fisherman's Wharf. I was excited, get to head down to the bay for the night. Check in-gave me a warm cookie and all was good until I got lost heading to my room with the other intern and the rooms were just alright not what was expected. So then I saw Monterey at night got to walk the Wharf at night and up Alvarado (the main local street). Head to bed to do it all over again. Wake up and head to work for the day. Its rewarding when people remember you. I made friends with a woman who grew up in Camden and lectures at Stanford. Shes writing an Atlas and told me that made her famous..(No Joke). Also made friends with the family of a ping pong champion that insisted on making me look it up on YouTube. They rented out a whole side of one building which was two rooms and two (parlors) which are like living room areas that are almost the size of regular rooms. So their rich and told me they would be back in like 3 weeks so hell yeah will I be their best friend. Took the initiative to do my own thing today and go through some training stuff and get my tasks completed. Did alot of running around and can't remember half of it (lucky for you that you don't have to read more). Overall, successful weekend. Tomorrow heading to a BBQ at my fellow TU friend (Tom who graduated few years ago from school of tourism at temple who is the banquets manager) with a bunch of the crew and some interns. I have off tomorrow and Tuesday, to catch up on the school work side of things for this internship. Lastly, since they used my room I was given a new room, just as big and a little better (pictures on facebook, or to come attached to another post). Lofted ceilings and wrap around deck with large desk for me to type this up. After I finally got off tonight I went and shared a beer with one of the cooks and food-beverage intern. Things are shaping up and its apart of me now and I'm so excited for whats to come!! I'll update this on Tuesday night after I get back from my surprise night for all of you! The only thing that's depressing surprisingly is the weather. So far its always cold and cloudy/foggy. Its not fun. It's not sunny hot Cali. hopefully the weather will shape up soon cause its getting me down. Like I said I'm sure I forgot tons of details about my long hauled weekend. Enjoy the picture attached of the other night for Kate's promotion dinner (the limo ride I talked about)..and from left to right is Patti, Kate, Brad, Me. Have a great holiday and enjoy the hot weather on the east coast cause it's sure not over here.

Day 6

Long day, but longer will come tomorrow..working from 7am-? to get the feel for a managers real schedule. Happy Memorial Day Weekend, the resort is busy. Today I got to give out doggy bags of treats for anyone checking in with pooches and made little crayon and coloring stuff for the kids coming in. The hotel is great on fun filled service. I actually was not too useless today, got to check in people and deal with some complaints. Sent my first amenities basket to a room with a lady that I knew would be complaining from reading reviews..i wanted to ask when she said she read all bad reviews..then why did you come here if you thought it would be bad..I turned that around when I brought them wine and chocolates to their room. Also tonight there was live jazz, the hotel really knows how to make a fun filled atmosphere for all ages. Made some connections of people (where their coming from) and found some from or familiar with Philly. Again met more generous staff that are willing to help me anyway they can. I've been here almost a week so now its that point of reevaluating my decision like I do with every decision I make. Its all about me getting through the next few days then Ill be good to go and probably not want to come back. Hope everyone has a great week and its sunny in Philly or the shore wherever your heading. I have some fun stories for when the time comes of what I'll be doing next week and especially the week of my birthday..FUN ahead for me. Chao.

Day 5

I'm prob not gonna do these everyday, just until I get busy. Today went to a training and tonight the hotel had two events. Every Thursday they have Pause for a cause..since the hotel is dog friendly, on the outside lounge they have basically a doggie cocktail hour..you can bring your dogs and socialize with others. a percent of the sales goes to the SPCA. Then there was a local wine teaching class in the italian restaurant TusCa. A local vineyard brings their wines to share and teach how to drink wine. But I didn't attend any of those cause we celebrated my managers promotion.. took a limo down through Monterrey and had dinner with some of the crew. But found out on Tuesday ill be heading to a cocktail/hour dourve meeting and back stage pass through the aquarium..and maybe getting paid for it!!! I love it here, getting better and better each day can't wait until time moves on. & from now on everyone but phish is aloud to comment. miss everyone and get in touch asap.

Day 4

Ok, Now I'm starting to get comfortable. I had off today and didn't know what to do with myself. This is prob the first summer in a while that I have had a day off the first week (thank you Maggie Moo's for ruining my past summers). & Thank you STHM for ruling my world. I did alot of work for the internship class itself (reports) and jumped on stuff for the end of the summer for being President of the STHM Student Association this upcoming school year. Slept in and finally am on California time. Tried out the gym and took a walk over to the Del Monte Golf Course (oldest golf course on the peninsula, some of the holes are on our property). So after relaxing and being bored out of my mind I got to do alot of thinking...1. I need to independently achieve all my tasks for the internship. 2. I need friends. Blah, Blah, went to dinner at the sports bar Knuckles at the hotel. They have a really cool thing where they bring over a radio to your table and you can listen to whatever channel you want thats on their tv's so they don't just have one game on. Watched the Phils blow it (cait..thinking of you)...and enjoyed their herb fries (Ry you would like)..dad like I told you, you would like the bar, your response what bar don't you like. After I went and sat by the Gazebo thats a firepit also, gonna be nice when its less windy..so I went in and sat by the lobby fire and lounge. Had a long talk with one of the F&B managers and had some laughs. I just need to get comfortable, i'm so innocent right now, but they don't know me yet..idk if thats good or bad. Then I realized...I live in a hotel! I basically am a millionare without the money?!? I have this large property, amenities if I need them, chefs and waitors and big pool/ hot tub..I'm gonna start living the life haha...went in the hot tub and relaxed. Now just writing this and Skyping. Thank you for reading this in keeping me sane until I make friends not colleagues. Get in touch, and thanks everyone for checking in with me..but I want more comments to come back to!! Adios amigos!

Day 3

Hello All,
I am here and still alive. This first one is long because its 3 days in 1 so bare with me I'm excited!!! (and I hope this blogging stuff isn't lame and hopefully you will enjoy my updates).Sunday was a long long long day up at 4:30 am headed to LA, got there saw brad and angelina with seven kids. Thought I would see the sites from the plane but LA is a bunch of smog. Then took the 1965 small jetliner up to Monterey. Coming in the houses were bigger than Garnet Valley High School. Finally at the hotel I walked around the property waiting for my room. Up on a hill, looking over the golf course, not much beach/coast view but its NOT my usual homeless trashed street view in Philly! I finally get to my room thinking I would be sharing it with another intern, small room, double bed, usual hotel room. I was suprisingly hooked up! A private room, King size bed, couch, porch, large flat screen, walkin bathroom with separate small room with glass marble shower and toilet and big walk in closet...2 sinks, just incase?!? This rocks..then I grab dinner, and come back to a whole snack and drinks basket with a letter from the managers welcoming me. This is too good to be true. So everything I'm worrying about is put to rest. Still off from the time, because I'm constantly reminding myself Philly's time, I jump onto my King size with covers and pillows galore. Wake up and head to my first day "on the job." Everyone is welcoming and comforting me, its awesome. I've been trying to do anything I can to contribute what I know, but I've learned I will not be somewhat useless for very long, I have to learn. So yesterday work, adjust, meet 10000000 people and try and engulf everything. After work I immediately head down to check out the sites. I'm about 10 short blocks from the beach and the weather was not the best so I didn't really appreciate the views like I did tonight. I finally touched the Pacific for the first time and it's warmer than Jersey but still cold and prob doesn't have the trash and needles of Cape May to ACity. I went to Fisherman's' Wharf, nice little pier saw my first sea otters and heard seals but couldn't find them. Then went up the main street with restaurants and shops. Almost ended up walking on the freeway but caught myself. It's very old school kinda typical lower scale of Laguna Beach looking...(See facebook pictures for visuals :) ). Let's get to today, Wake up to fog...It's not hot sunny Cali like I thought it was but it is nice..even though I'm prob. not gonna come back with that tan I said I would. The weather is the same every day, morning fog, sun comes out over the mountains and cold/crisp air. So I'm looking at my shorts and shirts and am wearing sweats. Today at work I did a scavenger hunt around the property got to know everyone everything, check out the suites and everything the hotel has to offer. My Manager is probably the nicest girl ever and i am so appreciative of the comfort she has given me..we hopefully bonded..she said I was fun and were gonna have a good summer so thats good to hear. I'm excited to start doing more and learning the different programs the hotel uses. then went out after work with some managers to Dollar Taco Tuesday on the bay...really good place, they said it was a chain, but it wasn't like our El Gran Rodeo or Upscale Taco Bell, they had great food. Wish I could have enjoyed the margaritas with them but I'll have my fun soon prob..theres a liquor store across the street from the hotel (sorry mom). After dinner my manager (Kate) took me on a drive up the coast around the peninsula with amazing sunset and great views. It's absolutely amazing. Downpart--have to drive everywhere and since I don't have a car thats not too fun, but one intern does so it will work out. Theres six of us, three here and three on their way...2 in my division so future friends will be here by next week. It is somewhat lonely though...thats why everyone reading this needs to come visit!!!! You can stay with me in my room, why wouldn't you take advantage of me! Its a chance in the lifetime for me. Well now I'm gonna finish up reviewing my day's work and have off tomorrow so am hopefully going to site see and use the facilities around here that are free for me and people are paying a ton for.. Hope all is well with everyone and keep in touch...Download Skype so we can webcam for free and I'll hopefully will do these little updates for my parent's sake..and my sake so I feel like I'm not that lonely (def. feel sad for me ;) ). Idk if you can comment on these but if you can please update me with your lives..what your all doing any funny stories that will keep me entertained and what not. But I'm tired and have to make a to do list, so Peace Out!