What position do you hold at Unique NZ? What has been your career path so far?
Alistair: My position at unique is that of Student Services Manager which basically means I aid students and staff in outside the classroom activities, excursions, travel planning, and day-to-day advice on what to do after class & weekends. I also run and manage the afternoon component of the English+Activities course, which is offered to younger (under 18 years) students throughout the year.
I have a rotating group of bus coordinators that I use to lead various groups around Auckland. Many of these come from the teaching staff so that the students get to know them better and thus become more confident in speaking up in class and using English.
I started out as a teacher at Unique and then moved into administration after aiding the previous activities coordinator and impressing the director with my time management and planning skill.
What country have you always wanted to visit?
Alistair: Even after visiting about 20 countries over the years there are so many more I wish to see or see in more depth. Kenya and Tanzania are high on the list for a safari (my degree is in biology so I love watching animal behaviors). But the countries I find most interesting are the ones that have tried to remain closed off to the world and are just starting to open up.
I’d love to visit Bhutan, Myanmar and to a lesser extent North Korea (I have been to the DMZ and was fascinated by this secretive nation). I think countries like this (especially Bhutan) will have a unique view on the world, which would be fascinating to a traveller willing to take it in and learn.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Alistair: I have become better at dealing with a whole host of things working at Unique. I have learnt how to be flexible in times of crisis, to see things from other points of view on a daily basis, and make myself more approachable to students.
Patience is something I have always had and the nature of many “problems” that get dealt with in the average working day means that this is improved constantly. Working here allows me to learn more about the entire world as we meet so many different cultures and if you open your eyes there is a whole lot to experience and take in.
What was your favorite traveling experience?
Alistair: I always enjoy visiting multiple countries during a single trip so that I can see similarities and differences in cultures. My favorite trip of this type was when I visited Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. I had already been to Vietnam a few years prior and was looking forward to going back and showing my dad a few sights. So I booked a trip for him and myself (after making sure our wives were happy with a boys only holiday).
It was great spending time with my dad and experiencing new foods, adventures, and activities. We visited jungle waterfalls, cruised the Mekong, ate ‘interesting food’, and immersed ourselves in three very different cultures.
From the vibrancy of Thailand, to the laid back easygoing nature of Laos, and then into the chaos of noise, smells, color, and energy of Vietnam, it was a great experience.
What language have you always wanted to learn and why?
Alistair: Mandarin would be my first choice because I’d like to learn something with a completely different script and grammar to the European languages which I am familiar with from being a native English speaker and learning French.
When I was very young my dad worked on ships that had a lot of Hong Kong Chinese crew so I grew up listening to Mandarin when he was in port, so the culture has left a lasting impression on me. Also China is a huge market in our tourism industry so I think it would be incredibly useful for the future.