Fore word: During January 12, 2011, after we have done network for some time, we finally got the opportunity to Yuanshan for interview and exploration~~

In the Wednesday afternoon of January 12, we had the chance to go to Yuanshan Hotel to interview the manager of the training department and the butler of foreign guests for a web page contest. So it is with anticipation and excitement that our group members and I embarked together.

This is the first time I have been in the Yuanshan hotel, so everything about this place attracted me deeply. First, we interviewed the head foreman, Mr. Chen. His job is very interesting, because he is a butler, and his guests are all foreign visitors. Thus, his services must be adequate, and never careless. From speaking with him, we found that being a butler is really hard work, and must be on call 24 hours a day. Sometimes, after I attend only 4 classes, I’m already tired to the point of sleepiness, not to mention 24 hours! During his service, he must respect the guest, must be courteous, and when met with a problem, must have the ability to react fast. When something has already happened, or a mistake has been made, then he must think of a way to deal with it. This is what everyone must do. After interviewing the butler, I had a much better understanding of being a “butler”.

Next, we interviewed the manager of the human resource department, Mr. Wong. Usually the success of a company, and its life blood, is in “personnel train,” because if service attitude and quality is not good, then the chances of keeping a customer will become less and less. So personnel training cannot be careless, and personnel training all must have a certain procedure. We can also see the future of a company from this aspect. I guess that every company have one requirement which is the same, and that is personnel must be dedicated, and use a proactive attitude at work! After the interview, we can see that this five star hotel’s managing principles lets every customer have the “home away from home” enjoyment!

This interview lets me….hard to describe with words! Because this interview was the first interview in my life, the day before the interview I had this inexplicable anticipation, no pressure, not nervous, just looking forward to going up the mountain and doing the interview.

After finished eating, we met at the school administration office. Some people rested, some chatted, and then we set off to intercept the little yellow cab. Although we only spent 30NT in cab fees, but we walked half the way. Whether this is good or bad is still to be seen…

Arriving at the hotel, the head foreman lead us to the Presidential suite that Eisenhower stayed in and helped us understand the history of the hotel. After the introduction, the foreman accepted an interview from us. Although the foreman was not very eloquent, but his care and enthusiasm in helping people lead even passerby to be attracted by his charisma. Then it was the personnel training manager.

The start of the interview was a bit unfamiliar because it was a bit unnatural reading from a script, especially when the wording on the script does not match my tone. However, after we became familiar, the script was tossed aside. After the interview we went to tour the Yuanshan underground, which was an escape facility, and normally, personnel were not allowed to go in and out. We also received the welcome of the Yuanshan hotel and stayed there looking at the flowers and drinking tea. After a few minutes of idle time, we went home.

Perhaps there is a next time, perhaps there isn’t, but this interview really allowed me to learn many things that we cannot learn from a book. If there is a next time, I must ask them until they run out of answers, and let my brain add some new knowledge.

In order to make the Internet exposition's report on a special topic, we came to the Yuanshan Hotel to interview Manager Wong and Foreman Chen. First, we interview Foreman Chen who was really enthusiastic and a great person. Facing our group of eight elementary school students and the questions we asked, he was always earnest in introducing and explaining to us, which left us with a great impression of the Yuanshan Hotel foreman.

Then, we interviewed Manager Wang, who left the greatest impression on me. This is because every time we asked him a question, he always answered in a manner like a mother would talk to a child, very kindly. He enlightened me in many areas and let me see life in a different perspective. “Do not make the same mistake twice” is Manager Wong’s motto. I like this saying because I often make the same mistakes. I should learn from Manager Wong and remind myself often not to make the same mistakes. After interviewing Foreman Chen and Manager Wong I know no matter if it’s a hotel or a restaurant, it’s not solely dependent on one person, but by the hard work of all the staff.

When I first heard we were going to interview at the Yuanshan hotel I was very nervous because I never had any interview experience. Good thing my classmates cheered me on, combined with the tutelage of my teacher, which allowing me to learn many things during this special topic interview. It also made me feel that interviews are not as scary as I imagined, and can be fun, when usually I’m not that out going.

To complete the information on the Yuanshan hotel, the teacher specially arranged for us to go to Yuanshan hotel for interview. On the way there, our group had to walk to the Yuanshan hotel to meet up with the other groups because our taxi broke down. The moment we walked in we saw the words “long live the Republic of China” on the glass front door. This is so unusual. After that the head foreman took us to tour the hundred year old gold dragon and the Eisenhower presidential suite, which was really luxurious. After we finished the tour, the most important interview followed.

First, we interviewed the foreman, Mr. Chen Peng Jo. When we started asking, I can feel from our dialog that he was a passionate person, and he even told us many things that happened to him on Yuanshan. One of them, which really surprised me, was that he actually broke the insulin of a foreign President. Good thing he admitted it right away, and the opposite party was agreeable, or else the results cannot be imagined. Also, the foreman said that when President Eisenhower was little, he fought a dog with a broom, which was so brave.

And when we interviewed Manager Wong, he spoke continuously about his life experience when we first asked him, starting from when he was desk service personnel. He also came back to the Yuansan hotel to become the personnel training manager after leaving the job once. His experiences are so extensive, and I admire him for it. After the interview, a service personnel took us to visit the secrete passages, which was magnificent.

This interview allowed me to understand Yuanshan hotel at a higher level and opened my eyes. It was truly beneficial.

On Wednesday afternoon, we came to the Yuanshan Grand Hotel and interviewed Foreman Chen and Personnel Training Manager Wong. They found the best answers for some questions we had in our hearts.

Not long after arriving at the Yuanshan Hotel, Forman Chen came to greet us with smiling faces. He took us on a tour of the Yuanshan hotel and the room that former American President Eisenhower stayed in when he visited Taiwan. After the tour it was our turn to ask Forman Chen some questions!

During the interview, Foreman Chen used a humorous tone to answer our questions, and also generously told us about his experiences. For example, what kind of people he has serviced and from which country, what kind of interesting things that has happened during his service, what kind of international etiquette should be watched out for, etc. For us kids that have not experienced much, it was fun to hear, and answered all kinds of questions that we had with good results. After the interview, I felt a heavy load come off of my shoulders. I must admit, I was very nervous, mostly because it was my first interview, and I was the first one to ask questions.

When speaking and saying words I had to be careful, not discourteous or forceful, etc. All these etiquette made my body all tense, and to prevent awkwardness, I had to look everyplace and listen everywhere. Because if we finished asking all the questions and Foreman Chen was still waiting for questions, then everyone would just look at each other. Wouldn’t this be very awkward? So when the interview was finished, I not only let out a breath and thought that things are hard to predict, but at least we safely passed.

Next, the person we interviewed was Manager Wong of the personnel training department. Manager Wong was a kind aunt, and maybe because we all looked nervous, but she kept telling us to relax, and used examples and experience to let us understand the meaning and answering our questions. Humor, a kind smile, and paying attention to our questions and answering them let my nervous mood gradually calm down. Perhaps personnel training require seriousness, but kindness and listening is also an important part.

For various trades and occupations there are different types of bottlenecks. But those that work diligently, never complaining, and ultimately successful is truly a good learning example. Their experiences are beneficial to our future growth, and their attitude in facing setbacks can help us in our future struggles. Wednesday afternoon we came to the Yuanshan hotel, and saw hard working people in their profession, and the rewards they received after all the hard work.

This time we came to visit the Yuanshan hotel; I saw a brand new side of the hotel. Not only did we witnessed the hundred year old gold dragon, but we got to tour the Eisenhower Presidential suite, which was really worth a visit. What I like the best was the view outside the Yuanshan hotel, which used a Chinese style building that showed off our traditional culture. Now a days, Taiwan have less and less Chinese style hotels, so I like the Yuanshan hotel a lot.

Not only does the Yuanshan Hotel have an unusual exterior, but inside the Yuanshan hotel there is the hundred year old gold dragon, which is something that many come to the Yuanshan hotel to see. Foreman Chen explained all of this for us. After touring the Yuanshan hotel’s hundred year old gold dragon, Foreman Chen took us to tour the Eisenhower Presidential suite. Foreman Chen explained that this was the room American President Eisenhower stayed in, and is one of the most famous rooms at the hotel. He also told us of the many famous people from all over the world that had lived in that suite.

After we finished touring the Eisenhower Presidential suite, we went to the training room to interview Foreman Chen. He told us of some of the bottlenecks he encountered in this profession, and the stories of when he lead some important guests, which made me feel deeply that being a foreman is not an easy task.

After we interviewed Foreman Chen, we went to interview Manager Wong. Manager Wong told us some of how he trained their new staff, why he created the staff training department, and why he came to this position. In the beginning he was just a new staff, and through hard work, he finally succeeded. After we finished the tour we all went home, but this interview was so hard for me to describe with words and pen!

This day is the day of our interview at Yuanshan hotel. Although it was “raining like cats and dogs”, but “rain or shine”, we still prepared to go up the mountain for the interview. We called three taxis and arrived at Yuansan hotel separately. The luxurious front door, the kind service personnel…it is truly a five star hotel! Entering the main hall, detailed carvings and furnishing fills the eye, and the exhibiting lantern festival made everyone gasp in awe. Wide view, and soft carpets made me feel like I’m entering a great castle.

After a bit of time passed, the third taxi still has not arrived. Just when we were wondering why, the teacher said “Their car broke down when they passed a ditch filled with water!” When everyone heard this, we don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I thought, this can’t be a good start?! Finally, they arrived, and we can start today’s exciting interview.

First, Foreman Chen led us to tour the “Eisenhower Presidential suite”, which filled everyone looking with acclamations. The suite not only had a classical style hotel and a double bedroom, but it also has a “super large bathroom” which left me with envy. Then we went to see the historical gold dragon.

Although it was a bit faded, but its history is like looking at a miracle - it is older than the Yuanshan, but it was kept in such good condition. After hearing the story of the gold dragon, we came to the conference room to formally start interviewing. The nervous mood is hard to describe with words. Heart pumping, cold sweat, and when I looked around I discovered everyone’s expression was a bit tight. I can tell that everyone was nervous.

The questions started with Yu Ru, and the atmosphere in the beginning was a bit awkward. But as we went along, we chatted more and more and asked many more questions, getting familiar with each other.

Finally, when the interview with Foremen Chen was done, we went on to interview Manager Wong. Manager Wong was lively and talkative and not only did she answer our questions, but added to them.

Later, she said “Come, don’t be nervous. If you have a question, just ask.” This made the atmosphere relaxed and happy, and everyone talked and laughed. The process went smoothly, and I can finally breathe easier! After the interview we went to tour the fun and mysterious secret passage, the second level “little floral exhibit”, looked at Taipei, and at last concluded this fruitful visit.

After this visit, I not only know more about the Yuanshan hotel, its history and unique characters, but also added more to my experience. I learned how to interview politely, not nervous like before. Hope in the future I will have the chance to enjoy the beautiful palatial hall, the flavor of the Yuanshan hotel, and the decadent joy. I also hope that everyone can deeply understand the story and evolution of the Yuanshan hotel.

After listening to Foreman Chen explain, not only did we understand better the theme and examples of the Chinese style architecture such as the hundred year old gold dragon, nine dragon wall, plum flower caisson well, upturned eaves, floor to ceiling glass door, North South stone lion, Sword lake victory trace, and the mysterious escape tunnel, which are all famous hotel structures. Through the years, Yuanshan not only had received many famous guests and received many honors, but it has increase the renown of Taipei as one of the benefits!!

Our interview also carries on smoothly, even also surpasses the predetermined time. The benefits of this interview were great! Not only did it test our one on one response, but increased the ability to talk to other. It was really killing two birds with one stone!

The Yuanshan Hotel's hanging garden not only has a classical music atmosphere, but added with delicious drinks, was impeccable. After a bit of idleness comes the “little floral expo” designed by CEO Huang Da Jo, which presented hundreds of flowers vying with each other, filling the eyes with vermillion petals, which was beautiful. Looking into the distant mountain and land, it’s a bird’s eye view that turned everything ant like, which was loveable.

After this activity, we not only independently accomplished our own missions, but also the result of everyone’s hard work.