Six students from Mangere are on a trip of a lifetime, refining their culinary skills and learning the tricks of the hospitality trade at one of Hong Kong’s most elegant hotels. VAIMOANA TAPALEAO reports
Delicious Hong Kong experience for Mangere students
From the outskirts of South Auckland to the bustling city of Hong Kong, six students from Southern Cross Campus are enjoying a once in a life time experience; working as intern staff and chefs at one of Hong Kong’s finest establishments, The Kowloon Hotel.
David Galuvao (18 years old), Touvai Poloniati (16), Allen Truong (17), Nolan Murray (17), Lorna Masoe (17) and Faitasia Samuelu (17) arrived in Hong Kong on December 7 with teacher Katherine Wong. Wong, the school’s Head of department of food and hospitality, says the attitude of her students has led to their success.
“My students are all coping well with the work and they are all learning a lot. I really feel proud of them because of their positive attitude and determination,” she says.
The students are taking part in an internship programme at The Kowloon Hotel Harbour Plaza Metropolis for a month. Their trip will then see them take part in a pastry course at Cest Bon Cake School in Kowloon, before heading to Beijing to get a look at the preparations for next year’s World Olympics, which China will host.
Wong, who won this year’s Best Teacher of Hospitality in New Zealand award, says taking her students to Hong Kong will put them above the rest, saying: “This is a life experience for them. With this experience, they will have some special reference in their CVs that I believe not many students in New Zealand will have.”
Having fundraised hard all year, the students worked part time and took up catering jobs to fund for their trip. Wong acknowledges the hardships of Pacific Island students, but says opportunities will only come from putting in the hard work.
“It’s not easy for Pacific Island students to be at this level. Even though I work hard for them, if they don’t take the opportunities, not challenge themselves or don’t make some sacrifices, then I don’t think they’d be offered an internship opportunity in a five star hotel,” she says.
The group returns next month.
Wong and Southern Cross College’s fantastic hospitality student populace were featured in the 2005 Issue 9 – July/August edition of SPASIFIK Magazine.
