9+1 Questions about being a tour leader
First of all, writing in a language that is not my native one doesn’t feel totally right..I mean I can express ideas, but the problem is, I am too cool and stylish and funny when I write in Italian (ask my friends, I am, really). So I still prefer that.
Anyway we are not here to discuss in which language I can bullshit better, but to answer 10+1 questions that I often receive, either by friends or clients, the main one being: what do I do for a living? What’s my job?
1) What’s your job?
If you are Australian or Kiwi, in most cases few words would be enough to describe it: Trip Leader for Topdeck. If you are European or Italian I need at least 15 words to describe my job, which makes people things that I am either unemployed or making up shit..or a lawyer (I kind of am, see next question).
To keep it simple: I work for a travel company as a Trip Leader (tour director, trip manager, whatever you want to call it), I run trips around Europe, on a bus, with group of people from 20s to 30s.
I don’t drive the bus; I explain stuff (almost like a tour guide), I take care of the logistic (meals, hotels/hostels, timings, accounts) I can help organize some extra activities with our suppliers (Skydiving, Vatican museum, Cabaret, etc), I make sure everyone is safe and sound and having a good time. I might or might not entertain people with my unintended jokes/mistakes/clumsiness.
See, it’s not that easy to explain it in one word!
2) How did you get this job?!?
Long story short: I studied law (I graduated), I didn’t want/wasn’t bothered enough to become a Lawyer or a judge, I moved to Ireland to learn English cause in life you never know what can be useful.
After a month I got a job interview with Topdeck (it’s still a mystery to me how I was able to do a job interview back then. I don’t remember what I said..probably I unconsciously hypnotized them with my Italian gestures and smiling)
After 5 months of working-studying-more working-more working-Training-almost dying of Plague in Munich…I got hired.
I never studied history or art before, but after more than 5 years of Law in Catania you realize that there are no such thing as “not enough time” or “too many informations”.
It wasn’t easy, but nothing is really easy in this world apart things that no one wants to do or things that don’t require a lot of effort (like reading this blog. What are you still doing here?! Go study, work, prepare a cake, do something good!. Kidding, keep reading)
3) Ok, so where do you live?
I technically still live at my home, in Italy, Sicily, Nicolosi.
But the summer season is quite long (since April/may to October) and the winter one can be consistent as well..so there is not much time left really. Last year I spent 3 months in total home, almost 2 months travelling in South America on my own, and the rest working.
I live out of my suitcase, I can stay in hostels or at friends’ place in between trips.
4) Do you do the same tour over and over again?
No (fortunately). I can run lots of different tours and get to explore new places. (It can happen that I do the same tour twice, but it’s just random).
Trips are all around Europe generally, but I’ve also done “explorer trips” (trips that goes in specific countries, like France, Spain or Italy). I’ve been sent in Spain and Italy in the last 2 years, probably cause I can speak the local language, probably cause better trip leaders were busy.
5) What do you do in your free time?
Actually I do what most people do in their free time: rest, catch up with work to do if necessary. A bit of sport..Paragliding, canyoning..stuff like that. Nothing too exciting
The cool thing is that most of the time I can explore the cities we visit and do the same activities my passenger do..things that I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. *perks of the job*
6) Are we your best group?
There are ups and downs, but (AND I’M HONEST) people ARE funny, friendly, and eager to explore a new continent, and rarely I’ve been bored on a trip. I Love you. I remember all my people, and from each of them I get (or try to get) something good for my life, or simply funny.
Anyway, the list of the favorites is always open, so “work hard” until the last day of the trip and then I’ll tell you your position. But I’ll probably lie.
7) Do shops sell selfie stick in Switzerland?
No, it’s forbidden by law
8)Does anyone sell souvenirs of the leaning tower in Pisa?
No, not anyone. Just everyone.
9)Vinny (that’s me), we can’t find the hot tubel! Help us (at 2 am)
……………………………………………………………………………… I Should ask for a pay-rise.
9+1) WHAT’S THE WIFI PASSWORD?!?
I don’t knoooooow!!!!!!! It’s an information that my brain refuse to retain. I can tell you all about the number of stones in the Roman forum but I always forget about wifi. Sorry.
(also, passwords change all the time! And people don’t send an e-mail to me updating about the change, which is quite disappointing).
Alright, that’s pretty much all for now, I hope this post helps you to satisfy some curiosity about my weird life, keep asking questions in the future so I can keep updating this list!
P.S. [DISCLAIMER] When I write in Italian I’m sarcastic and I’m sure everyone can tell. Writing (and speaking) in English, I’m not entirely sure that my intentions are so crystal clear.. So if at any point in this post you felt like I was writing something weird, or offensive, or making fun of someone, I wasn’t.
After all, if I wanted to be serious I would be a lawyer.
Elsapio