Interns head home to Jamaica after year at WHC
After years of planning, then recruiting, interviewing and wading through red tape, it seemed the idea of bringing international interns to Western Home Communities might never become reality.
And now the program’s first year is already in the rearview mirror. Some interns returned to Jamaica in late July and the rest will be departing Iowa this month.
“Woohoo! Yes, mon – I’ll be back home in a few days,” an excited Christine Stewart said as she worked one of her last assignments at Gilmore’s Pub in late July. She has a job in customer service lined up at a resort in Montego Bay and is excited at the prospect of seeing her family again after a year apart. “It was worth it. I learned a lot and met some really great people,” she explained.
That’s what makes leaving bittersweet for many interns, and their co-workers.
“I’m going to cry!” exclaimed assistant dining manager Nichole Wollmuth. “It’s been fun and really chaotic as everyone rotated through assignments and that meant we retrained a lot. I got trainers’ fatigue! But a year later I’m really sad. We became really good friends.”
23-year-old Akelia Bryan says her year at Western Home Communities taught her to find the good in everything. “It was a challenge,” she reflected, “but fun. Most of the people are happy and friendly. I would do it all again. It was a good experience.”
Kayciha Stennet pointed to losing her granddad and not being able to get back for the funeral as a difficult time; seeing her grandma is what she looks forward to most when she returns. She says she learned a lot from working with residents. “You must have patience to do customer service and they’ve taught me that,” she explains. “Gilmore’s Pub and Diamond Event Center have prepared me for whatever I take on when I get home.” Kayciha enjoyed shopping at the Mall of America and eating Dutch letters in Pella; Christine marveled at how the seasons change – and change again – in Iowa. “It was weird, new, but ok,” she laughed. “Like how in the winter, today it snows, tomorrow it doesn’t!”
Cook Jonoyah Taylor found similarities between his island home and Iowa. He studied tourism at a community college in his rural hometown of Portland, on the country’s northeast coast, known for its fertile, rich soil – which he appreciated here. “I love to see the corn!” Jonoyah enthused, explaining how he was pairing a jerk chicken menu feature with local sweet corn. Jonoyah hopes to work at a resort in a front-of-house role upon his return. He can’t wait to reunite with family, especially the wife he left behind for a year.
CEO Kris Hansen lauds this first group of interns. “It can't be overstated how much I appreciate their willingness to be flexible as we learned together how the program works and the modifications that we have needed to make,” he says. “They’ve had a far-reaching impact on everyone at Western Home Communities, and across the state and country through the recognition and awards received.”
Hansen says the organization had hoped to offer health care training alongside the hospitality roles, but then learned the sponsor organization wouldn’t allow that. The pivot meant that some interns asked for reassignments.
“This group has certainly shown us it's not the quantity, it's the quality, and they have not only helped our game they have definitely been an integral part of upping our game,” Hansen says, adding that the program will continue. “It truly is a win-win as we learn from each other, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the outcomes with this first group of very talented individuals.”
To our new friends who are departing: The welcome mat is always out for you in Cedar Falls. Godspeed.
Christine Stewart shows off the bar at Gilmore's Pub that became a familiar work assignment for her.
In the Jorgensen Plaza kitchen, Jonoyah Taylor prepares food for lunches at Gilmore's Pub.
Akelia Bryan returned to her hometown of Kingston on July 23.
Kayciha Stennett says _peace out_ (goodbye) to everyone in Cedar Falls.
