by Kylie O'Brien | Sep 24, 2014 | Interior Crew Interviews |
An Interview with Super Yacht Chief Stewardess Angela Orecchio
Just outside of Seattle, Washington in a suburb called Bellevue. Not the hospital, Bellevue rather, the place where Bill Gates lives J
- What do you do in your spare time?
Write and develop my blog, ride my road bike, run, travel, hike, explore, hoop dance. I love being in the waves on a surfboard when I can and I want to start diving more.
Movies from the early 90’s like Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Wayne’s World, Big Business, Home Alone, Ace Ventura…. and my boyfriend- he does a pretty great impression of Jim Carrey
- What would you like to be doing five years from now?
Working full time at my travel, yachting and health blog, The Yachtie Glow
- Where would be your favourite holiday destination and why?
Hawaii and Costa Rica. I am happiest and most inspired in a tropical location where the water is warm, the waves are good and the tropical fruit is plentiful. Thailand is coming up soon, so I’ll let you know if it makes the cut!
Lulu Lemon, Surf shops, Pottery Barn and Farmers Markets
Traveling inspires me to think beyond my limitations, immediate reality and be grateful for everything I have. Being in a new location also inspires me to write and create in ways that sometimes don’t flow when I’m sitting in one place for too long.
- How long have you worked in the super yacht industry?
Just over four years
- What are your biggest accomplishments?
Taking what I’ve learned from challenges I’ve faced and turning them into my greatest source of strength.
- Can you work under pressure?
I don’t feel very healthy when I feel stressed but it sharpens my focus and I get the job done.
- What is the most difficult situation you have faced?
Having a long bout with anxiety and depression many years ago. One that I have faced and overcome with changes to my diet and lifestyle.
Hate is definitely a strong word but I would say I hate when people don’t own up to their mistakes (because everyone makes them), people who hurt animals and dirty restrooms!
- Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job?
Dealing with a series of crew who disrespected the Captain and took advantage of the owner every chance they could.
- What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy organizing long-term projects as well as planning and organizing events for the crew and guests. I absolutely love impressing the guests with a planned event, a new table decoration or a perfectly made bed. I get a lot of joy from seeing their happy faces.
- Can you recommend a service or a product that may be helpful to Super yacht Stewardesses?
Yes. Two things come to mind. One is your module on housekeeping. There are a lot of useful tips in there that I will be using to train my stews. Another one is my blog because I give a lot of advice on how to be successful and stay healthy in this industry.
- If there is just one piece of advice that you could give to our fellow stewardesses, what would it be?
Show your enthusiasm for this job and for life every day.
Introducing: The Yachtie Glow:
- Can you please tell us about The Yachtie Glow?
The Yachtie Glow is a resource for new and existing yacht crew who want to be successful and healthy in the industry. It is also a travel blog. I’m very excited that I have a new site being built now that will be a lot more user friendly so that the posts will be more organized and easier to find.
- When did you develop a passion for health and wellness?
In 2001 when I found out I had an intolerance to dairy. I was taken by a friend to a Coop where I was introduced to dairy and meat alternatives as well as organic foods. I experimented with many diets after that before I found what worked for me but that was the beginning of my awareness and passion for health and wellness.
- What type of reading do you do on a daily basis?
I read travel and health blogs on a daily basis
- If you could go back and change something related to your education (or your life as a student), what would you change?; or what would you do differently?
I would have studied theatre and dance rather than business. I’ve learned more about real business in my professional life than I ever did in college.
by Kylie O'Brien | Jul 31, 2013 | Interior Crew Interviews |
Katie Wilter 2nd Stewardess M/Y Solaia (40m)
Location: Currently in Halifax, Nova Scotia heading back down the USA east coast on Sat.
Where are you working at the moment:M/Y Solaia in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
What is your star sign: Taurus
Where do you come from: Cape Town, South Africa
How long have you worked on yachts: 1 year, 3 months (relatively green)
What did you like/dislike about your last job: Loved the crew, great parties but disliked the complete mismanagement and horrific HR treatment of the crew.
How did you get into the industry: I have a few friends who have done it and needed a break from 9-5 office job
What are your biggest accomplishments: My degrees: Bachelor of Journalism (Hons.), awarded an MTN scholarship to complete a post-graduate Diploma in Media Management with Distinction (both Rhodes University); completing 5 half marathons, proudly exploring many countries (still lots more to see), completing the Inca trail, and still having the same best friends from high school (love and miss you guys)
Can you work under pressure: Yes of course, I’m a stew and a graphic designer which is all about meeting deadlines 😉
What is the most difficult situation you have faced: As a yachtie – being stuck in horrid storms with extremely rough seas. In the life – death of friends and family and of course, everyone has their own personal struggles
What are your pet hates: People constantly sniffing (tissue?), narrow-mined perspectives, cynical people
Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job: I guess it would have been fueled by lack of sleep. On my current yacht, I haven’t really felt anger. On my last yacht, I got really angry at the mismanagement and ill treatment of crew – we were known as the red-haired step child.
What do you do in your spare time: Blog, yoga, run, explore the place I’m in (with my camera, of course), party with friends, visit art galleries, wine and dine, try do something different, read magazine, books and blogs
What would you like to be doing five years from now: I would love to have a successful travel blog/ website running which offers me the flexibility to have a family life, to continue to do some freelance graphic design and writing. I would also like to have more time to paint and travel I hope to be inspired by everyday beauty I discover in various places, people and creative creations.
Where would be your favourite holiday destination and why: I am currently daydreaming of a yoga / surfing holiday in Costa Rica. I would love to be outdoors in the sea and sun, meditating and working on my body in yoga while chilling out, meeting new people and experiencing a new culture. A little slice of heaven that would be!
Where do like to shop? In Europe – H&M, Pimkie, Zara, USA – Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Apple Store, ROSS and little boutique stores that I discover in tiny towns along my travels 🙂
Can you recommend a service or a product that may be helpful to other Stewardesses: I am a fond user of Seventh Generation cleaning products as they are environmentally friendly, gentle on the skin and scent-free. The washing liquid and dish washing liquid are great! I also like using wet Swiffer cloths for the crew mess floor which are quick, easy and smell great. Domestic goddess much!
Have you met any famous people and what were your thoughts: No-one really famous, just wealthy and well-known in their field. I admire such successful people and enjoy chatting to them about their success. However, I did serve a famous model who was a complete ditz. You win some, you lose some!
What do you enjoy most about your job: The travel and the salary which is easy to save!
Any advice for “newbies” in the industry: Stay positive, stick it out as it takes a while to get into the industry and, most of all, follow your instinct!
Finally can you tell me about your blog, what inspires you, how do you find the time to write etc..
I write whenever I have something great to share – be it my favourite song of the week, some recent photographs of what I have experienced or just my thoughts in words. I love all things travel, art, and beauty so those are my main categories of inspiration. I start thinking up phrases that I have to write down ASAP and then flesh it out from there. My blog content is quite varied from wake-boarding to cooking lobsters!
The name Eyehearttravel just popped into my mind one day during my hour break on a charter. Despite my zombie tiredness and the growing pile of laundry that I still had to iron, I sneaked my mini laptop and created a WordPress blog. It is relatively new but I am thoroughly enjoying my little project despite my crew teasing me and not seeing what the point of it is (What?You don’t get paid to do it?). My yacht owner enjoys reading my blogs and it’s also a great way to share what I’m up to with my family and friends back home. It is frustrating not having time to properly promote my blogs on Twitter and other online platforms which require constant attention but do what I can in between charters. Blogging is all about small wins – when I get over 100 hits a day I do a victory jiggle. It may be a tiny pip-squeak now but one day it may blossom into something grand (with over 30 000 viewers thus generating advertising income) so watch this space 🙂 Please visit my blog www.eyehearttravelblog.com
by Kylie O'Brien | Jan 3, 2012 | Interior Crew Interviews |
Tell us about yourself?
Not sure what to write, but I am confident (not cocky) 23 old who loves to have as much fun as possible and experience as many new things as possible, as life without risk is a life not worth living.
Where do you come from?
I am a bit of a mix as I am originally a South African but have lived in the UK for the past 11 years.
What is your star sign?
Leo.
What is your favourite book?
Bill Byrson, Notes from a small Island… It’s hilarious and an easy read, especially after a long day of work..
How long have you worked in the Yachting Industry?
I’m a newbie only 3 months
How did you get into yachting?
Followed a friend.
Is it a hard industry to get into? It depends on your attitude. If are positive and active about getting a job it will be easy, but if you think that you should have a job that earns you millions, on the best yacht in port without having to work that hard, it will be hard.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the variety, both in what you do and where you do it. From brass polishing in the Med to detailing rooms in the Caribbean.
What do you hate about being a Stewardess?
That sometimes hours of work don’t get noticed, i.e polishing the brass runners of doors.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
I am quite lucky in that I don’t stress easily and when I am pressured I like to make a list of what needs to get done and then to work through them on by on but as a newbie I haven’t yet had to put this into practice.
What motivates you?
I want to be good at what ever I do.
How do you evaluate success?
I’m not sure, normally by the feedback that I receive from those that I work with and my own judgment.
What has been the greatest disappointment in your life?
I try and not look at things as disappointments as it can lead you to be pretty unhappy, but if there is one, it’s only finding out about yachting once I had finished university.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your life?
I don’t think I have achieved my greatest accomplishment yet, but in the meantime, I ran a half marathon.
What are you passionate about?
Living life to the most.
What are your pet peeves?
Bad eating habits and people not having respect for another’s work.
Do you get homesick?
Yes, but Skype makes such a difference.
How do you handle sea sickness?
I always take it steady and never try to be a hero as it always makes you feel worse and everyone has been through the same at some point. I also advise others to never have bananas and try to keep your head above your shoulders. However, each person is different so you just need to find what works for you.
How do you handle conflict, especially in a confined space?
Luckily I haven’t had any conflict on board, but generally, I go for a run and work the issue out in my head, as sometimes you need distance to get perspective on the conflict. Once back on board I try and talk things through calmly.
Presentation is everything on a yacht. What is your beauty regime? And how do you keep fit?
I make sure I get enough sleep, moisturise every day… I especially like the Aloe range at Body shop and I like to run and try to run as much as possible.
Where would you like to be in 5 years?
I would like to have completed my few years in yachting and then returned to the UK to be a teacher.
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