Go raibh maith agat!

 Jenni Hakala-Deiro from Hyria came to visit and evaluate my progression. I achieved the highest grade in the evaluation of my study parts: Accomodation services and Informal learning in an international community. It was a pleasant surprise to have visitors from back home and I finally got to speak some Finnish.

Finnish reunion with head of division in Hyria, Jenni Hakala-Deiro.

Was that it? No, not in the slightest! I'm pleased to inform you that while my training here is coming to an end, I will be coming back. I got a full-time position in the reception here in the Four Courts Hostel. 
Ireland, I'm coming back and I this time I will be staying. 

This has been the most fruitful and enjoyable working experience in my whole life. If you are on the fence about going abroad, don't hesitate. Take the leap of faith and explore your limits. I've learnt so much in a small time window. 

I'm forever grateful for the guidance and skills I learnt in Hyria. You helped me to start achieving my dreams and be bold.

The Four Courts Hostel, thank you for molding me in to professional and making me a better person in professional and private life.

Thank you Ireland for making me feel welcome and opening up your country to me.
You lovely, lively and talkative storytellers.

Thank you Mom! You know how much you helped me along the way in my life.

The feeling you get after acing the evaluation.

My future workplace! I'm beyond excited to come back and start my work here.

Long weekend with Shamrocker Adventures

 I spent the most amazing weekend with Shamrocker Adventures. Our guide Emma was on top of her game and the tour was organised with impressive care. I recommend their tours strongly.
I took part in the Southern Rocker tour which included stops at the following: Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Galway and Dingle. You got the countryside, cliffs and the ocean, city bustle and small town feeling all in one package. All of the accommodations, transports and guidance was provided by the company. On top of that, they will pick you up from the Four Courts Hostel. 

Blarney Castle

The gardens near Blarney Castle have lot of nice features

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The following pictures are mostly from Cliffs of Moher. For keen eyed readers there is a small
Star Wars easter egg in the second picture.
With the relaxing weekend behind me, I'm anxiously waiting for my PPS card to secure my offered job.

Excel tasks and an escape to the countryside.

 I was given yet again a new administration task :) I've been asking for more of them, to improve my overall professional toolkit. I went through the working hours of all of our staffers. I compared this years hours to last years. Checked everything and marked the differences on the spreadsheet. 
I also checked, did comparisons and did some excel magic with staff salaries from this and the previous year. These tasks were in no form needed to be taught to me. This was all extra and the amounts of useful skills and information I acquired was really useful for me to grow as a worker. I really am getting quite a full picture of all of steps required to run a hostel. If you want to learn as much as possible, I strongly recommend applying for internship here at the Four Courts Hostel.

Management also showed me the steps on how price our beds and gave me the chance to participate. I can't go in to the details on the pricing, but again a learned a lot.

Catching the sunrise in the Irish country side is definitely worth the effort. The island is as green as it's depicted in popular culture. The picture doesn't make a justice for the bliss and calmness the landscape instills in you.

About the job seeking. I'm at the point that I have a meeting to get the PPS card to be able to work in Ireland. By the way this requires a job offer in Ireland, so I'm getting close. Fingers crossed everyone!

Routines and sustainability

 I had a meeting with the management about sustainability in our hostel.
We went through the differences with Finland and Ireland and what steps we can take here in Ireland to be more sustainable and eco-friendly. I'm glad to inform you that we are changing to wind energy in the future. Laws and regulation differ quite a lot from Finland and there is less government support for sustainability. Our building is also historically significant and it's a protected premise. Structural changes to the building are really hard to get approved and there is a lot of limitations. 
Our cleaning products have been changed to be more environmentally friendly.
I'm also happy to inform that my idea to change to fair trade coffee was approved by our management.
I'm also pleasantly surprised that management agreed to this meeting and told me in great detail how everything works and they were open to many of my ideas. It truly makes me feel like a valued help and not just a number or a ''worker ant''.

Yes, Ireland has some sandy beaches. They are just relatively rare and sometimes well hidden.
Water was just as cold as you would expect it to be in winter.
As a Finn I just had to take a dip in the sea, needs more sauna.

It's getting harder to describe my work days, since the routines are ingrained at this point. My efficiency and knowledge is getting to level where I feel at ease while working. 
My skills are at the point that I can finally try to apply to work in Ireland, but more on that later.

Did some shifts with housekeeping and breakfast service. The skills and work speed is on another level with the housekeeping staff. I learned a lot of useful skills and tips from the pros.

Getting more fluent with varying regional accents and the spelling of Irish names. Being on the phone is no longer getting me closer to a heart attack. About the spelling, for example: the name Eoghan is pronounced like Owen. I hope you understand why i dreaded reservations over the phone with Irish names. My Finnish accent is still quite strong so people tend to understand my occasional struggles with the names.

Concert euphoria and administration tasks

A dream came true in the form Tenacious D concert at 3Arena in Dublin. The band was on fire and the Irish people sure know how to have a good time, Sláinte  ;) My motivational battery was full again after the enjoyable evening. Note to everyone: You won't leave a public event in Ireland without sharing life stories with ever so lively local folk. Trading stories is one of my favorite things in life and I would recommend the readers to enjoy that part of life too.


Back at work I was tasked to go through all reservations of a reservation channel from last month.
Main point is to check from the system actual spent nights at our premises and make sure everything is on point and we don't actually pay extra commission. After comparing I updated everything on a spreadsheet.

I also did a 5 week comparison to surrounding hostels and their room prices. Can't go too much in to the details on the steps we take, but it includes spreadsheets again :)
I'm glad that management trusts me more and more with administration tasks and I get to learn a broader skill set for my future. 

Some of the Irish pubs have have been around for longer than you would imagine.
Title for the oldest pub in Ireland is contested, but the Brazen Head is at least the oldest pub in Dublin.
Close to our hostel, the Brazen Head is a nice place for a lunch with traditional Irish cuisine. Fried fish with mashed potatoes is a must to anyone visiting Ireland.

As we are approaching the summer, we can see the increase of tourists at our hostel. I truly love our little melting pot of cultures and stories.

Did a lot of preauthorizations and allocations. Increasing number of groups leads to interesting little puzzles with allocation of the beds. I'm getting more administration task by the day and I'm trying to prove I am worthy of the trust and responsibility.

Full house and big groups = Learning and shifts passing by in a moment

Lot of big groups and guests in general forced me to be a busy bee. Fulfilling tasks all around the days. 
Being in the middle of this so called ''controlled chaos'' helped me to improve in many areas. It felt like I had only worked a few hours, while in reality my shift was already completed.

Did many changes to reservations of our guests and got experience on what steps I need to take in changes. Refund policy and extending the reservations are practically in my veins now.

Lot of customer service with a big group. I was tasked to query on possible day trips for the group. I felt like I was a man on a mission, while organizing the trips. Truly exciting and fun in every way. 
I booked a day trip to Cliffs of Moher and a private walking tour around Dublin.

More repetition with long term bookings and steps needed. Getting close to the level of managing long term bookings by myself.

Have you ever tried being a live GPS through a phone in broken Russian? Well I have now, and oh boy was it nerve wracking. I have to add that my Russian skills are more of a one way system. I can understand it quite well, but talking Russian is a different animal altogether. 
When the guest arrived we had a blast recollecting the trip. The joy and the laughter, good times. 
Events like this are one of the more satisfying aspects of my future profession. 

The O'Connell Monument on the O'Connell street.
Monument celebrates Daniel O'Connell and his campaigning for Catholic emancipation in the beginning of 19th century.

I was tasked to do the reservations and invoicing of incoming long term students. I'm thankful for the trust of bosses on allowing to expand my set of skills. I was quite nervous and triple and quadruple checked everything. 

Did co-operation with the housekeeping staff on room situations and tasks ahead. Keeping the information going forward is crucial for guest enjoyment in our premises.

Planning and scheduling with our maintenance staff. A new crucial part of keeping the rooms as full as possible on every given situation. When to do an what? How does affect the availability of the rooms and how much is needed for tasks to keep the hostel in top notch condition.

We also update social media accounts of our hostel.
We don't have to participate ourselves in the posts, but it's appreciated.
Good example of having fun and throwing yourself in to the mix by our superstar maintenance staff.

Sporting events and additional sales

Rugby's six nations cup was in town and we had the pleasure to have wonderful fans as guests. The colors and ingenuity with attires and face paintings were off the charts! The atmosphere and the joy of the fans was quite contagious. Great stories and chants along the way. What a pleasant and eventful day to be working. Interactions like these give you a distinct spark to carry on throughout the week.

The Spire in it's ridiculous glory. Hated by many, useful to some.
Although the Spire is an eye sore to some of the locals, it's a quite useful landmark to pinpoint your location.

I'm getting more and more additional sales and don't forget previous stuff after learning new ones. I still find myself all over the place at brief moments, but they're getting more rare on each passing day.

Note to self: remember to add all purchases to the system, so I don't end up spending personal time after work in panic trying to figure out what's wrong. Got everything fixed and gained a valuable lesson to focus on every moment. 

We got a good amount of group bookings and I got much needed repetition on frequently asked questions. I think I have to most common ones under control. 

We went through long term student accommodations extensively. What needs to be done and who makes the decisions on long terms. Some extra work with allocations and it must be done with extreme precision and care. Got the gist of it, but need more repetition to be able to manage them by myself.

I have gained a lot more confidence in my skills and English and my bubbly personality is getting through more and more. I just love working here in every possible way. 

My personal roadside ''Titanic'' moment on the west coast.
Though the weather tends to look gloomy, there's a lots of light during the days unlike back home in Finland. And it's relatively warm during the winter here. Just get a windproof jacket and you'll be fine.

Fortress of good times and learning

Still not a single Finnish speaking guests during my shifts. Got to use a bit of Swedish and Russian though, close enough. I think I have to learn more languages, the multilingual atmosphere that we have here is a joy to listen. I wish I could participate and help people in their own language. I'm taking my first steps in this industry, so I'll have time to learn until I'm a reception wizard.

Got more experience with contacting third parties and handling big groups. I still feel a bit of pressure when groups come in, but I'm getting better. I just don't want to have people waiting extra time because of me.
Maintenance guys and their repairs inadvertently taught me to use fire alarm system quite efficiently.
I'm finally settling in to daily routines and don't have to ask a million questions from colleagues.
Everyday tasks are ingrained in my brain, though I still forget some minor things.

For all you foodies out there, Dublin has an incredible food scene. The pure amount of good places to eat ranging in all prices is astonishing. By walking a few blocks you can visit all the continents and their variants in cuisine. I've heard that the food scene is still rising and evolving, so it's gonna be even more impressive in future. Come and join my food path of hedonism.

Overcooked pork cheek is worth a try

Italian food is a safe bet in general wherever you travel in the world. In Dublin the quality and  authenticity varies a lot, so do some research before hand. If you hear the staff speaking Italian it will be the spot to eat. One of my new favorites is the overcooked cheek of a pig. Smells a bit gamey, but the taste is divine.

There is a good selection of Korean restaurants around the city. Be mindful about the portion sizes, you can get quite full on a relatively cheap price. As a fan of gluttony, I really enjoy ordering portions that have a little bit of everything and enough food to last me a few days. With mixed portions it's easier to find the dishes you really enjoy, so you'll know what to get the next time. I probably have to visit South Korea in the future, it's that good.

Variety of tastes and big portions draw me to Korean places.

Integration step by step

It never crossed my mind that Finland would be somehow exotic to people all over the world. Got a lot of questions about Finland during my work week from co-workers and guests. I tried to paint a colorful picture about my Nordic paradise and felt like a salesman for the nation.

Kylemore Abbey

The interior of Kylemore Abbey

One of my favorite parts about working in hostel is trading travel knowledge and tips with seasoned travelers. My bucket list is expanding by alarming rate.



Made a small mistake with reference numbers and caused unnatural aging to my co-workers, but I learned the importance of making notes to the system. I'm gonna remember it better from now-on.
You live, you learn. It's important to learn from your mistakes, but not to dwell in them in this line of work. There is so much to learn and remember that you just have to plow through.

I phoned Expedia to figure some things about reservations, I have to admit that it was a bit frightening at the start. Luckily my previous experience from hotels helped me quite a bit.

I was tasked to buy a new pool cue and 3.5mm audio splitter to the hostel. It brights up a work day, when you have some unusual tasks to do. I also learned a bit more about the city and can find my bearings easier.

Calming view in Connemara.

I booked a day trip from Galway Tour Company for Saturday. Tour included stops at Connemara, Cong Village and Kylemore Abbey and it's gardens. Trip was well organised and I got glimpse of what skills you need to posses to be an astounding tour guide. I have to visit Connemara again and spend more time in the village. I can't explain the magical feeling I got while being there. The beauty of the park is amazing and as a Finnish person, I'm of course mesmerized by water features. It felt like time stopped in the village and it's going to stay like this forever.
Dear Ireland, I will leave a piece of my heart to your incredible island.

Time flies

I have never enjoyed my workdays as much as I have here at the Four Courts Hostel. 
Every day feels like it's cut short. My future profession is bang on the right choice for me. I'm also learning a lot about leadership here. The way our managers handle situations and people is something to marvel at. Coworkers also excel with guiding and supporting me. If I ever climb the corporate ladder to leadership positions, this would be the atmosphere to strive for. I'm going to ask a million questions and try to learn how this was achieved. And yes, I will blatantly copy all the good things to my tool belt.

Best way to explore Dublin is to start from Temple Bar area and get lost wherever.
You will always find something interesting.

I leveled up my reception character once more. Got the laundry service down. Car park, fobs and payments are etched to my mind. Worked together with the housekeeping staff and checked that people are in correct beds and how to change in the system, if something is off.

I drew my Russian skills and made a phone call to Russia. Got the information to future guest about some minor changes in the reservation. Never been so nervous about a simple phone call. I got the info to guest, but you should've seen how much I was flailing my arms trying talk with hands via phone. Not the most graceful interaction, but I think the next time will be easier.

Groups don't make me lose my hair anymore from the stress. Getting more comfortable and efficient in my actions. I also noticed that I'm starting to loosen up with the customers and get a more pleasant customer experience. This is absolutely the correct place improve social and verbal skills with talkative and multicultural guests.

Made a lot of enquiries about prices with providers to our premises. I gained more insight on how to handle business side of things. Got good support and guidance to this task from the Manager.

I learned how to manage long term guests reservations and how to allocate rooms, so they don't have to change beds. With groups blocking a lot of spots, it can get quite demanding.

Giving guidance to guests for sightseeing and places to eat is getting easier. Still a lot to work on for myself. I'm going to wander a bit around the city after work to know my bearings better.

Big brother

Starting to notice some changes in my habits. Being away from my usual distractions and having to 2-3 hours a day on commute has made more punctual and healthier. Getting enough sleep and arriving early every day to work. My overall energy levels and mood is through the roof. Maybe I'm growing up...finally.

Statue of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in Cong village
What is the film?

Learned to use the surveillance system at the hostel. Compared to Finland the restrictions on viewing and checking things from surveillance cams are looser. If needed the quick availability and easy to use software could be very useful. I wonder what Orwell would think about the way things are going in the world. 

Sold my first trips to guests. The excitement, nerves and joyful bliss. I hope the feeling of joy doesn't fade away for small steps towards becoming a professional. 

Got to check in my first group. Clearly I wasn't efficient enough to handle groups, but luckily my coworker was there to show me how the top dogs handle situations. 

I'm getting quite comfy with our software and tasks. I'm starting to get actually useful around here, happy days.

Handling reservations, emails, check ins and outs, phones and everyday tasks is starting to actually be ingrained. Still a bit slow on the pre-authorizations though.
Fire alarm system is not as complicated as I feared. I better learn it quick and well.

Getting used to my new adopted land

The end of the first week

I'm starting to learn the ropes  in the reception. With the new acquired confidence I'm starting to actually enjoy working in Dublin. The mix of all wonderful accents and cultures gives a constant boost of energy. This is the place to be for an extrovert like me. Atmosphere compared to hotels is vastly different. People stay and chat at the reception and I feel more relaxed compared to a hotel environment. Got caught of guard and got to apply my rusty skills in Swedish. I plowed through, but had to loan some words from English, but at least I tried.

Enjoying life to the fullest at west coast

I learned a lot with guests, while trying to figure out work permits and necessary documents for people outside the EU. Felt like being on the banks of a deep end, but we finally figured everything out. I gained heaps of useful information for myself and the guests. Stroke of luck that it happened on the early part of my expat experience.

Posted some things via mail and for my relief It wasn't complicated at all. No culture shock in sight...yet.

Got my first additional sales! Oh the joy and elation for such a minute achievement. Taking baby steps while having a child like wonder for everything feels a bit odd, but at least I know I'm apparently on a joyful path to soak in this wonderful experience.

I finally amassed the courage to operate the phones. It became obvious that I need to improve my understanding on some of the thicker Irish accents. For the more timid colleagues in the same situation, fear not. Irish folk are understanding and friendly. On the third time asking for the name, we burst in a roaring belly laugh and found ourselves on the same page, after we recovered from a fleeting hysteria.

Still need some improvement on surroundings to actually be helpful with directions and sights. I'll get there, don't you all cool cats and kittens worry.

My supervisors and all the staff around me have been incredibly helpful and supportive. Either Ireland has the best work environments in the world or I'm just lucky. Maybe both.
The amount of jokes and stories I hear is almost overwhelming, wouldn't have it any other way.
There's something special in this place.

A fish out of water

Adapting to a new work environment and culture has been surprisingly painless.
More relaxed, social and humor based atmosphere at my new adopted land suits my personality quite well. From the beginning I was pushed towards being myself and to bring my own personal touch to customer service.

Learning the building and systems that we use might take a bit of time. The amount of new information can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. I have been guided by supportive and understanding colleagues, which makes the adaptation process much easier.

Customers are very talkative as well the staff personnel. I feel like I'm in the right place to improve my English skills. Sometimes I struggle with understanding the tone of people from different places. For example difference between people from U.K and Ireland is significant.

For a first few days I was doing the more simple tasks with updating credit card details on reservations, changing the security passes and answering the more basic questions in emails.

On the second day I got an interesting task.
I was tasked to query different suppliers over the phone about their pricing. Most of the calls went fine, but with one I had a difficult time understanding the accent. That company's office was in the more rural area up north :) My goal is to understand the Northern and Southern accents before my departure back to Finland.
I was really pleased with the responsibilities I was given.

About me and why I am in Dublin

I'm Tomas a 30 year old student from Rajamäki, Finland.
I study at Hyria Education in Hyvinkää, unit of Torikatu.
As part of Erasmus+ programme, I'm doing a work placement in Dublin, Ireland.
My title of qualification is Vocational Qualification in Tourism Industry.
My competence area is Accomodation services and my qualification title will be a Receptionist.

Photo from 3 day trip with Shamrocker Adventures

I am doing my work placement in The Four Courts Hostel, Dublin, Ireland.
The hostel is located in Merchant's Quay, a walking distance away from the famous Temple Bar area.
My main area of work will be in the reception.
My work placement will last 9 weeks in total.


As a person I am adventurous, very talkative and always interested in meeting other people. My strengths are in customer service and making people feel like they arrived in their second home.