Now that I have been doing this job for four months, and the end of the summer season is finally in sight, a lot of my friends and family have asked whether I have enjoyed it and whether it has lived up to my expectations. My daughter regularly asks what exactly it is that I do as she obviously isn’t happy with my previous explanations!
I am not sure what my own expectations were when I began. I always saw what goes on in the Consulates from a tour operators perspective but I don’t think I really understood the kind of issues that the staff come across on a daily basis though. The majority of British tourists we deal with are in very upsetting situations – whether they are bereaved, have been assaulted, are in hospital – and they can display a whole range of emotions. The training I was given has helped me to develop the skills I need to offer support and assistance. It can be emotionally draining but there is a great sense of reward when you are able to help people through these difficult times
Another part of the role that I had not considered is the representational work we do. We are lucky enough to be invited to various events and ceremonies throughout the season but we unable to attend all of them due to the high volume of consular cases we deal with. I did manage to attend a recent unveiling ceremony of two statues of the brothers Lawrence and Gerald Durrell. Lawrence, the famous writer and Gerald, writer and British wildlife conservationist, lived for some years in Corfu and they were honoured for their work by the Greek authorities. It was a great opportunity for me to hear more about their work and I even met David Bellamy – a childhood hero of mine! There is still so much that I would like to achieve within this job and I can honestly say that I learn something new every day. But with the support and advice I receive from my colleagues across the Greek network I do feel that I am on the right track.
Posted at 06:35 24 September 2008 by Sarah Ticherou | Comments[0]
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