Orientation

Orientation was today.  It was good... but long.

Jason had to be Mr Mom. He dropped me off so he could have the truck. We really need to figure out how to get another vehicle.  I think tax return will be invested in another car and a laptop for school.

I arrived, signed in. Didn't wait long in the lobby. They ushered us into a red room.  I forgot the name of it. (you should realize now the I am horrible with names) It wasn't ready for us, so they took us into the Restaurant. Where they had drinks and cookies. I headed straight for the coffee.

They are building a REAL Restaurant in the school. From what I heard, Its going to be a full functioning restaurant. The neighborhood doesn't have a nice restaurant and its also where we get to do our internship if we wish.

Once they were ready they brought us back into the red room, took our seats and waited. They played some really great music. Nina's Feeling Good came on, I cracked a smile. I LOVE THAT SONG SO MUCH. A lot of French music. All that was missing was La Vie en Rose.

They handed out folders with forms. Then they take half of the  64 that were there to pick up their uniforms. The rest of us were hit with a timed pop quiz. BAM!  It wasn't a grade quiz, but an assessment quiz. We had 12 min to answer as many as we could. Trust me, I did bad. 1st, the text was so damn small I was having a hard time seeing the damn words. Yes, I'm old. A font size bigger then an 6 would be helpful.

After our quiz, we went to pick up our uniforms. 2 chef jackets, 2 chef hats, aprons, rags, a flexible cutting board with the school logo and neck scarves in red white and blue,  that represent the 3 levels of baking lab your in. We're also supposed to get a baking tool kit,but they didn't give that to us.

Coffee & Cookie Refill...

We went back to the red room and went over handbook, forms, do's & don'ts. Signed stuff. Then all that was left was to get our ID badges and the rest of our uniforms for those like me that are getting a Degree. We also get 4 polo shits with the school logo. We have to take basics like English, Math, Hospitality Safety classes and French.


Oh, and they put my 1st name on my badge. BOO!!!!!

Feeling Good

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

and if you don't celebrate.. have an awesome Saturday.

Happy Dance

I was trying to make Christmas happen for the kids, when I got a call from the school. They asked me to come in and finish up enrollment.
I was so happy I did a little happy dance in the middle of the Little People section.

I finished shopping and headed over. I signed stuff, talked so several people. Everyone is super friendly.
Orientation is next Thursday.

I have until Feb the 3 to turn in the scholarship applications. That means 2 essays.  I'll  need a grammar Nazi to proof  them for me, to make sure I answer their questions. I'm reminded to show passion.

I also need at least 4 letters of recommendation  seeing that I don't actually work for anyone in the culinary world, they asked that I get at least 4 letters from previous customers who know me and my love for baking.

So far, I have 3 people I've made cakes for that will write one.

Happy Dance!

The Culinary Institute LeNôtre

I had an appointment at the school yesterday. I brought all my paperwork they requested. Walking in there was a dry erase board with my name on it.  It was welcoming me and a couple of other people who must have also been there to enroll.   I wanted to take a picture of my name, but didn't want to seem like a big dork. They really make you feel like you are in. They offer me  something to drink. Brian, who does a little of everything took me in to meet the Chef that goes to schools to talk to kids about becoming a Chef.  He was really nice, looked over my application and we talked about how the lady on the right was a cake decorator and later decided to enter LeNôtre.  There are 2 cakes at the school on display  that she's won competitions with.

Later I went upstairs to a financial aid lady.  Her name escapes me but she was very nice.  She tells me my estimated  amount .... only 16k of the tuition would be covered and that I would have to come up with several hundred dollars for 9 months to cover my part. I was like, there is no way I can do that.

I spoke to a gentleman with a French accent ( there are A LOT of people there with French accents, its really presh.) I explained how I assumed taking the shorter program would be more affordable.  He told me most people think that. With a longer program you're still borrowing a larger amount, but your financial aid covers more of your tuition. The out of pocket cost is less.

So I went back down stairs to talk to some admissions dude ( Why did I call the French man a gentlemen and the American man a dude?) who went over the program and how it would benefit me seeing that I want to own my own business. He said during Term 3 I would be part  of a group working on a business plan for a pretend business that includes scoping out locations, checking out demographics and doing every step I would have to do as if  we were opening up a real business. I later mentioned to him how that's the program I really wanted but went with the Diploma. I changed items, initialed changes and went back upstairs.

The FA lady reworked my estimated tuition with the change to Associate in Applied Science Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and finished up FAFSA. I'm now responsible to pay a more realistic tuition payment for the next 19 months. FAFSA and a couple of scholarships that I qualify for should cover the rest. She said I should call by Thursday to finish up enrollment. The amount I'm borrowing is freaking me out a little.

Josselyn , the girl that showed me the school on Saturday took me to the school store to look at the baking kit they give you. I also tried on a Chefs jacket,  pants, hat.(The pants feel like pj's.) and stood next to the giant logo so she can take my picture for my ID.

I should be starting on Jan 3, 2011 and graduate on August 2, 2012 as a Chef.
I'm excited.. and a little scared.