First day of transfers!

So I have just finished day two of my transfers. When you come up to work for Holland America as a bus driver, you first go on a bit of refresher course training, and then once they are comfortable putting you on the road by yourself- you are then allowed to do transfers. Transfers are just transporting people from the dock to whatever tour they have purchased. Although the driver is not actually the tour guide for the guests, we are still expected to give a bit of a tour of Ketchikan and point out interesting facts along the way, tell stories or jokes and keep them entertained until we arrive at the destination and they are dropped off. I'd done a few ride alongs with some other drivers previously and had a pretty good idea of what to say and how to conduct a "tour" however on my first actual day I was really nervous. I thought it was going to be a lot easier than it was- but once I started talking, I got a bit tongue-tied and stumbled over my words a bit. I was a little embarrassed, especially since the tourists didn't know that it was my first time driving with people on board- EVER. But as time went on things got a little better. I did two more transfers that day and three more today. I am much more comfortable and am excited to give an actual tour soon!!! That means that I need to be audited by a supervisor and learn a lot more about the totem pole stories and vegetation of the island so that I can answer any questions that come up. If all goes well I should be giving tours in about a week. And the one good thing about tours is that the tips are a lot better! :)

Oh and by the way. I am absolutley head over heels in love with Ketchikan!! It is a wonderful city with lots to do and I have a lot of really amazing co-workers that I've instantly become friends with! Life is really really good right now!