friday - our last day

Well that´s it all over, the students have worked there last shift and have come away from their work placements quite emotional having made good friends with their colleagues. The students made a very good impression on the people here, and there are requests for the girls to return after their course to work here or even just stay now! Lots of photographs have been taken and gifts have been transferred and face book addresses swopped. There was a final session at the language school where the girls were asked how they had found the experience and were presented with their certaificates -Euro Mobility Passes admist lots of clapping.
At the moment the students are having their last dip in the pool and soaking up some rays before the last dinner and packing. Some are really sad to be leaving (Charley) Lauren and Louise say they would like to return home to get a cuddle from their mum then come straight back! Kimberley will be on her last lookout for the hyenas in the barranco (the goats in the water gully) and the beauty students will remember their visit for years to come - if they don´t return here to work before long.
Wendy and I have found the arrangements for this project very good and have built up a good relationship with the staff in the Spanish school, where we know that any changes or requests we make to future programmes will be accommodated willingly.
An enjoyable experience for all! Adios amigos, Noreen.

day 13 -thursday

Girls settling into their work now, the routine in the morning is the allocated pair hike ( and it is a hike) up to the spanish school for the lunch sandwiches and bring them to the hotel for everyone to take to work. Then they all go their separate ways till either mid-day siesta (no sleeping though) or the finish of their day. Today Jade had extensions attached to her hair and is delighted with them - 65 euros, and Kirsty finshed at 5pm and went to Charley´s salon for Charley to trim her hair. Katz has been zapping people with electric rays and loving it?? Louise, who finishes at 8 and is usually met, was fogotten about because the waiter put some british music on for the girls and they were having a wee disco to themselves in the dining room....poor Louise. Wendy and I handed out the evaluation forms to the salons today and then visited a Moroccan leather shop for me to buy a wallet for him at home. By the time the purchase was made we had been offered congac and a chat by the owner and his young chicito. I would have been happy with the congac, and Wendy.....well, you know.... anyway we refused the kind offer and returned to the hotel. The pm was spent with Deborah finalising the Euro Passes.
Adios chicita´s. N.

wednesday day 12

Just had lunch on the terrace, 32 degrees, but not complaining. A lovely canarian stew, mm. Lauren and Louise meet us here at lunch time as their salons are close by, the other have their sandwiches provided and eat in the town centre or back at the hotel. Lauren is acting as assistant and is much appreciated, although she is itching to get stuck in with some clients. I have suggested to Susana, a member of staff here at the school to have Lauren trim her hair,so hopefully that will come off. Louise is be treated as a stylist in the salon with little supervision of her cuts and colours, so she is pushing ahead and gaining confidence. In fact she has been offered a three month summer job which she would love to do - if she could bring a friend!!
Wendy was approached in the hotel this morning, by a lively German man who invited her for a drink and a meal, she was sorely tempted until I pointed out he was 80 plus years old! Off to do the salon visits in town now, hasta luego.

tues day11

Hello all, in case you're wondering the tan's coming along nicely. All students are happy to be returning to their salons today, some hoping to get busier as the week progresses, others preparing for another full day of clients. Today Lauren's salon was closed, so we set her up with a research project task to visits salons in the town centre and gather information on price variations. She had a lucky escape from one guy who wanted to cut her hair and I had visions of her arriving at the arranged meeting place with short, spikey hair of several colours resulting from the language barrier!
Then we hopped on the bus to visit Katz's spa and get feedback on her. They are delighted with her - fantastico!- and want her to stay next week also. She is working very hard with a lot of responsibility, and has now see it all...You beauty people will know what i mean...
Charley´s salon owner is from Hungry and competes regularly in Europe, so she is quite in awe. In fact when he met her for the first time yesterday he commented that she did'nt speak much - that's how much in awe she is of him! Aimee came home with a beautiful up do from her supervisor and Kirsty and Jade had been working on each other in their salon.
The evening ended with a meeting about the evaluation form the supervisors will complete and how much money everyone has left.
Adiaos amiga´s N.

Mon day 10

Today we escorted all the students to their salons, it was like first day at school! They were very nervous, just the same as the first day at the Spanish College. At lunch time we met up with Charley and Lauren who came back with glowing reports of their first morning. Charley had been cutting and has made her first 1.50 tip and Lauren has been blowdrying. We are looking forward to hearing about the others over dinner. Wendy and I have been here at the Spanish School today doing paperwork for the students Euro mobility pass and updating the blog.
More tomorrow.

day 9 sun

Today we visited Mount Teide. Noreen handed out her travel sickness pills and we set off in a big coach -far too big for the little winding roads thousands of feet up the side of a volcanic mountain. We had our eyes closed..Anyway we were able to see the huge expanse of the volcano and drive through the surrounding original crater which is 48 miles in circumferance. This is where Planet of the Apes was filmed as well as some Spaghetti Westerns! Everyone got a little burnt today as we were well above the clouds. A visit to the historic old town of L·Ortava, its church and old houses on the way down the mountatin, finished our visit. In the evening we went for .... a Chinese meal - some were having withdrawal symptoms!

day 8 sat

We had bit of a rest this morning, then N & W escorted Kasha to her spa hotel so she could familiarise herself with the route. She has to travel on a bus- 10 min journey. She was delighted, we returned to spend our free day at the water park with ther others. No sooner had Wendy and I bared our bikini clad bodies (ha ha) the rain came down, so it was back to the hotel and bed with a book. A nice way to spend a rainy day, with the odd request for nail clippers or somebody to look at a funny spot and what time´s dinner.

Day 7 friday

last day at the college and a fond farewell to all the students and staff with promises to meet again. The beauty students attended an English class where they were used as practice for language skills, we find all the students very interested in us and very enthusiastic about their work. Its a two year course for both hairdressing and beauty also, but a 5 day week. Today Louise cut a lecturers hair - very nice-just a little bit out...Noreen is working hard, checking cuts and styles and Wendy is still sporting her lilac nails and yet another style of make up.
This evening we had a traditional Canarian meal in the town square where one of the Spanish hairdressing students met us with her friends arranged by Kimberley. Nice to see them and photos were taken. The meal was very nice but we were all absolutely exhausted and bedded early.

Day6-Thursday(catching up)

At last, got over the technichal blip which was my password had run out and I was.nt there to renew it...sorry for the delay, back on track and lots of news.
The students attended the college with Deborah today and Wendy and I were escorted around the chosen salons, very nice they were too. Katz is in a 5* spa hotel and the others in lovely salons where the staff are very friendly and keen to have the girls.
The eveningwas spent salsa dancing where Wendy, as usual, attracteda lot of attention. The very young Turkish boys commented on what a good dancer she was and now speak to her every time we see them. Lots of fun was had by all. (Noreens son got married today in N.Z. Aww!)

Day 5 - Wednesday
Another good day at the college with an informal invasion of a ´cosmetologia´ class by the hairdressers which resulted in an invitation to go clubbing on Friday!! After break, was a busy salon session where Kim got her own client to blowdry and the others assisted. All are learning more techniques and different approaches to their work every day. The beauty students undertook higher level practice in face and body electrical and manual treatments and make-up artistry. Wendy was a client in these two classes and woke up at 1.15pm in time to return to the school for lunch.
Unfortunately no time to get to the beach volley ball games for Louise, but its hot today, so Wendy and I bought them pool toys for their return to the hotel this evening.
Tomorrow its expected that the students attend the college on their own and Wendy and I do the salon vivsits.

Tues Day 4
Bit more challenging for the hairdressers today, in with a 2nd year group who colour everything bright red and purple and copper!! Not colouring our students though! the beauty students were waxing and trying new techniques with hot wax. Also observed application of fantasy face painting which was very artistic. Several other nationalities of students now in our accommodation which has become very noisy... Noreen has been evicted from her room as new tenants were over running the place.. cockroachs. Waiting on the girls to finish their Spanish lessons then we're off to the Botanical gardens.
Hasta manana. Noreen and Wendy

Mon - day 3

College today started with orientation and a lovely breakfast prepared and served by the hospitality students. Then the beauty students participated in a manicure lesson with the Spanish students, Wendy got one too. And very lilac it was too. The hairdressers were straight on the floor, teamed up with their peers doing blow drys, straightening and Lauren was landed with a cut and blow dry. All very friendly and welcoming. Spanish lessons went well too. Now off to rest.

sun -day 2

Escorted to Loro Parque today. Travelled on little yellow road train, just like the one in Arbroath! The park is like a small Sea World Florida, all had a great day. All tanned/sun burned. Our favourite thing was the performing dolphins and killer whales, although Charley had a soft spot for the gorillas. Aimee was the true animal lover and the hairdressers enjoyed the little roller coaster in the kindergarden And we all had our photos taken with the parrots.

sat- day 1

Arrived without mishap to nice hotel and friendly staff and beautiful weather. Met with Deborah who suggested a lunch meeting and the lunch was lovely too. We recieved all instructions and itenarary for the first week, exciting stuff - college, spanish lessons, beach volley ball, salsa dancing, water park etc, and we'll find something for the students to do too. Joke! Then explored before dinner.

Tenerife hair and beauty

Hello all, Welcome to our Tenerife blog.
By adding to, or following the blog you can keep up with our progress through our two week work experience project, in the lovely Spanish town of Puerto De La Cruz.
The work experience will involve one week attending college to continue with current studies alongside Spanish students with Spanish language lessons each day, and the second week working in local salons and spa's in hotels.
Alongside this they will also learn about Tenerifes history and culture and have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of activities.
Hablar pronto, Noreen