Music: Heavy Cross by The Gossip
Saturday 4th of July was the big day for me and all my training for the Culinary Comps was soon to be put to the test against some of the other schools around Auckland. It wasnt a pretty day I will admit that, but then it never really is this time of the year for as long as I can remember....I decided to head into the city early so that I didnt get stuck in traffic, and if needed be try to find parking and also so I was there and I still had a few things I needed to put together and put into my box which was in the Linen Cupboard to the restaurants at Uni!
I drove around trying to find parking, I had already guessed that the carpark at Uni would be closed to the Judges and organisers of the comps, I wanted to park as close as possible to Uni as i had to carry all my table clothes and chair covers in, and didnt want to get caught in the rain or lugging them through the campus. Lucky after going around the block a couple of times I got a park outside Uni...$2 per hour maximum of 2 hours...just a process of getting a new ticket every two hours it was.
The foyer to WH Block was packed with people from different schools and I was starting to feel a bit down in myself thinking I was stupid and who was I kidding there was no way I could get anywhere competing against these people...! I found my lecturers and was able to put my cloths into my box along with a few other things I had to get. I got my Apron from the linen cupboard and took it down to Laundry to iron it...and then went to the bathroom and did my hair...my nerves were kicking in big time after being there for a couple of hours as I had to keep going to the bathroom and I had a sore stomach.
My lecturer from MIT spotted me and asked me how I was doing and wished me luck - I thought to myself just what I big lost I must be to them and a big gain I am to AUT. I then saw the Head of CHATS:MIT - who was my former principal while I was studying at MIT, and he asked me why I was there, I stated that they wouldnt take me back, he was shocked at that and took note of my name and what I was applying for and when, and said he would look into it..not that I am overly bothered by it now - Im actaully somewhat happy being at AUT.
I was due to go into the arena at 1pm but it wasnt until almost 2pm that we were in, there were major changes and I was getting semi pissed off with the whole organisation of the comps...it was one thing that it was crammed all into one day due to Auckland Chef School pulling out from Swine Flu, but they were changing the rooms for my class.
Before I knew it, it was time to go in and get underway....I was wished goodluck by my lecturer who had spent so much time training me for this day...I went off and got my box and wheeled it into the arena. I was shown to my bench and we gathered for a briefing. And we were released for our 5 mins to unpack out boxes. Once that 5 mins was up we had an hour to set out table up in. A photographer was brought in and I was loving it as he focused so much on me and my table setting...I felt like a star as the only one representing my University...I HAD to win this. I said a little pray to my Angel up in Heavan to guide me through.
The judges were floating around like hawks, asking questions which I was completely prepared for as I had been trained to with what I had to answer and why I had done things the way I was and what things were. My favourite parts were explaining my menu choice and where I got my inspiration from for my theme. I had brilliant feedback from the judges who loved my colour and patterns and how everything tied in, the photographer loved it and so did everyone watching...I had so much feedback from not just my competitors but everyone that came in and saw it.
Once I had finished and time was up we were allowed to pack up - it was over just like that - I hate packing up after spending an hour pulling it all out and putting it together it takes twice as long putting it all back away! I wanted to show it off people were taking photos and commenting on my table and I didnt want to put it away - but it was while I was doing so that I had a judge come in and tell me congrats that I had gotten a gold....I laughed and said sure yea right!! I didnt take him seriously...I had to go out and look at the results on the board where I had more people congradulating me on my gold and my table...people I didnt know.
And there it was - #121 - 90/100 - GOLD
I went back in to the restaurant and found my lecturer who was sitting doing marking and judging on another class and she looked at me and asked me if I was ok...I said very quietly to her - I got Gold...she looked at me and said what?? I said I got GOLD! She lept up and screamed OMG YOU GOT GOLD!!! Embraced me into a hug and yelled WE ARE GOING TO THE NATIONALS!!!!
It was after that I just wanted to cry and puke my guts out - it all came crashing down on me finally all the stress and stuff I had kept in all semester....it was finally over! But in reality it is...no rest for the wicked as I have to go back to training for the Nationals next month now!! Ahhhh!!!
Prizegiving was pretty gay though - I got called up and I struggled to get through the crowd who wouldnt let me through. I couldnt believe it - I swear my smile was so big it hurt - I had my medal put on and was congradulated again on my achievement and it was off for more photos - that photographer just couldnt get enough of me!! Hopefully I can get copies of all his photos of me and my table. It was off for one last hug with my lecturer and a big congradulations from every lecturer I walked past from my Uni including the head of my school.
I cant believe it - my first year competing and I got a GOLD MEDAL!!
Now I am off to the Nationals to kick butt!! Though my competitions is going to be much bigger - as I have the WHOLE of NZ to compete again not just training insitutes but secondary schools and work places also will be competing there!! I hope to walk away with Gold again...Gold with Distinction would be better but Gold would be great....even better is that my Boss will be at the Nationals....and though he is proud of me and I am one of their best workers, even in the short time I have been with them...I really want to show him just what I am made of....and to shove it in my pervious boss' face and show that I am not as shit as he thinks I am...!!!
BECAUSE IM NOT!!!
Here are all my photos from training through to the actualy Junior Comps and the finished tables of my competitors...
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