TIME - Travel Industry Mentor Experience
TIME - Travel Industry Mentor Experience
Journeying from the Stage to the Quiet Corners of Self-Discovery
Have you ever faced the daunting task of reinventing yourself in the professional world? Jenna Rank, Marketing Director at Saltwater Hotel and Resorts, joins us to recount her transformative journey from extrovert to introvert, navigating the new terrain of networking and personal growth post-COVID. She reminisces about the rush of her graduation night, sharing the podium with nerves and excitement, and credits the TIME program for shaping her into the speaker she is today. Her story is a masterclass in adaptability, as she finds her voice in a changing industry and solidifies connections that reach far beyond the superficial.
As our conversation drifts from personal evolution to the sensory delights of coffee and pastries, you're invited to a mouth-watering rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney's culinary scenes. Jenna and us debate over the cities' coffee cultures and the quest for the elusive perfect croissant, all while revealing bits of our personal histories – including her own unexpected detour through the world of archaeology. This episode is a blend of laughter, earnest insights, and the occasional culinary letdown, promising a rich tapestry of stories that interweave the professional with the profoundly personal. Join us for an episode where genuine connections are brewed, and life's unexpected flavors are savored.
Hello and welcome back to a new episode of the Time Podcast today with our routine-loving French person, our one and only rainbow superstar and unicorn, arnaud Hi Tim. How are you Very good, thank you. Did you like my new spontaneous introduction of yourself?
Speaker 2:I love being a unicorn. You know, I do have a few outfits in my wardrobe that would fit that description. So yes, you know, it was a good intro.
Speaker 1:I think the only unicorn outfits I've seen about you were actually a bit more Scottish oriented, but anyhow, that's a different story. Who did you meet today?
Speaker 2:So today we have Jenna Rank. She's the marketing director, not the managing director, the marketing director at Saltwater Hotel and Resorts.
Speaker 3:Welcome to the podcast, Jenna how are you Thank you for having me guys. Yes, I'm very well.
Speaker 1:Welcome on the show, Jenna. Great to have you here.
Speaker 3:Thank you, I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 1:And I've actually seen in the preparation for the show that you were one of the very amazing people who also did a LinkedIn post about your time, about time, and you wrote a very lovely long text with that, which I really appreciated. So let's go straight into your graduation night. Tell us about all the emotional part of the graduation night, because you, your graduation night was a bit in, uh in, in the process to to happen, right.
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, it did. So obviously I'm based in Melbourne and the program, through, you know, post-covid, a lot of it was set in Sydney. So I had to do some travel, but that was fine. But due to a few different situations, I had to extend my graduation date A few times. They were very, very accommodating, very patient with me I probably wouldn't have been quite so patient with me, but they were great. So I, you know, had to delay it a few times so I didn't get to graduate with the people that I started with. So they were all. Most of them were present at the graduation anyway, as it's a networking event.
Speaker 3:But yeah, and then I did the pre-seminar, which was fantastic on that night. So that loosened me up a bit, but I was feeling quite nervous and then I knew I would be the first one up. I had a feeling in my bones and I was, which was difficult because the lady who spoke prior was so funny and so engaging and I just thought, oh, how on earth am I going to follow that act? But hopefully I did. Okay, I did get lots of lovely comments. Whether they were genuine or or in pity of my speech, I'm not sure, but I'll take it. So it was really good, it was really fun. I was glad to kind of get out of the way and enjoy the rest of the night.
Speaker 2:Well, congratulations. Why did you feel stressed? Or because you know, I see, that you work in marketing and I was glad to kind of get it out of the way and enjoy the rest of the night. Well, congratulations. Why did you feel stressed? Because you know, I see, that you work in marketing and so you know you would assume that the personality of people working in marketing and correct me if I'm wrong is, you know, sometimes a little bit more outgoing, Like what was stressing about that graduation speech.
Speaker 3:I think, probably like post COVID, I definitely was very outgoing pre-COVID and I find, since COVID and I work from home full time and you know I don't have that, uh, obviously, like a lot of events didn't happen for quite some time, so it's almost like I forgot how and it was just something I hadn't done for ages.
Speaker 3:I can go between quite outgoing and quite introverted, depends on the day, and also I just think you know a crowd of people anytime, if you know, maybe if you do it every day, you don't feel nervous, but I think most people would feel a little bit fluttery, at least before jumping on stage and addressing, particularly in a professional setting, because you really want to make sure you don't sound stupid or you want to be taken seriously, but still be, you know, enjoyable. So it's, it's creating that fine line. So, uh, but I, yeah, I think, I think it went well and it is a very supportive network, so I wasn't feeling overly, you know, in the spotlight, but um, yeah, I think the nerves wore off quite quickly and then we just enjoyed it all.
Speaker 1:So it was good and usually the feedback you do receive in a time environment is genuine. Like no one would just say like oh you've done fantastic and actually think maybe not.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it is a very genuine group of people I've found. You know, people are very quick to reach out, they're very generous with their time not just your mentor specifically, but everyone surrounding is really helpful. And even before I went up to do my speech, the lady sitting next to me. We were chatting about marketing and also about maths, but it was related so, and we've, you know, been connecting ever since. That was a very quick interaction, but it was related so, and we've, you know, been connecting ever since. That was a very quick interaction, but it's, you know, it's a very great environment to place yourself if you do want to make those connections.
Speaker 1:So, in contrast to, obviously, graduation night, how was your very first experience with time Did you? How did you actually hear about time? Like, how did you actually get into the program? Let's start there.
Speaker 3:So I'm friends with Tennille Hunt, who I think everyone in the industry knows. She's fantastic and I know she's involved in so many things. I don't know where she gets the energy because she's just like the energizer bunny she just goes and goes. But I did see she was involved in it and I was interested in kind of expanding mainly my network. I felt my previous roles had been quite singular and you know, I didn't have as much industry experience not experience I didn't have as much industry, you know, connections as I would have liked. So that's where I really was interested in pursuing that. And I think she invited me to an event and then I looked at the program and I signed up and here we are. So yeah, it was really fantastic.
Speaker 3:But my first session I flew to Sydney for the session and yeah, it was really great. It was super great because I'd actually won a competition through Globus previously. So I not only got to, I guess, receive my prize, but the first time session was actually held at the Globus office. So I was kind of had champagne and then I had this great experience with the program. So I was double lucky that day.
Speaker 3:But everyone was really welcoming and really, you know, all the new recruits were kind of in the same boat, so we all kind of connected on that day. But everyone was really welcoming and really, you know, all the new recruits were kind of in the same boat, so we all kind of connected on that level and you know what are we doing. I don't know and I can't remember what the seminar was prior to that, but it was very good and I remember that kind of relaxed us all and was really engaging as well. So it was just a really good day from start to finish and a little bit of a holiday for me, because I'm from Melbourne and I don't know if I should put this on record, but every time I go to Sydney I like it more and I think I like Melbourne a little bit less, and I don't know if it's purely the weather, but it's definitely got to be part of it.
Speaker 1:I think that is totally understandable and most people have that experience, absolutely.
Speaker 2:We get it. It is by your description. I kind of had the feeling that you came on the day of my graduation.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think I did. I do believe that. Yes, I do. I remember hearing your speech and it was really interesting to hear about your kind of journey with time, but also with you know your career as well and I've kind of kept watching it evolve, so it's been really interesting.
Speaker 1:Did you wear your silver shoes for your graduation? I know I can't recall.
Speaker 3:What Did I? What Wear silver shoes? No, no, no, no. You, I know, I know how to say it.
Speaker 1:I, I don't know, silver, silver, dark, dark, they're cold, they're gold.
Speaker 2:Gold shoes Gold Gold glitter shoes. Yes, I do have a pair of gold glitter shoes that I only take out on special occasions because Did you wear those humble shoes for your graduation?
Speaker 1:I did, certainly did. There you go. Okay, interesting, interesting. Then I'm back to you. First of all, what's your private shoe? No, so when you started or decided to sign up for Time, what was the motivation as in, was there a particular goal you wanted to get out of that, a learning or just a general development? Or what were your thoughts why this would be beneficial for you?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think for me it was really the industry connections and kind of. You know, there's certain people in the industry that just everybody knows and everyone knows that, you know, and it really paves the way for them to to have a bit of a presence and have some say in the industry and how things go, and that's kind of where I really wanted to get to. So I I wasn't super worried about what kind of industry professional I was paired with. I wasn't worried about it being focused, you know, purely on marketing, because I also do a lot of content and I was, you know, thinking about maybe should I start writing for some travel magazines, I don't know. So I was very open to that.
Speaker 3:It was more the industry connections and the networking events and I know a lot of really amazing you know people in the industry do attend these events and they're quite heavily involved in time. So that was really my motivation and it's it's definitely worked. I know a lot of people you know recognize me at events now or they approach me or they go oh yeah, I saw you on here or there and so that's really been amazing.
Speaker 2:So yeah, that was my main goal, which has been accomplished yeah. To expose a profile in the industry. I think, Right, it's a great platform. Obviously, you need to do the work in order to get to that point, but it is a good platform. And going back to what you and Timo were discussing originally, because it's a very supportive community around the time community, it makes that networking part a lot more. You know easily. Yeah, it's great.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it really paves the way. I think, and particularly coming out of COVID, you know, so many companies changed their structure or so many companies you know had to cut budgets or they had to reshuffle people, and I just think having a really good community behind you can make the difference between you know, I did, through COVID, almost leave travel completely and it was really lucky I found the role that I did. But, yeah, just having that support and people looking out for you and people going, oh, I think you'd be great for this role. Or I think, you know, I know that this company is going to be hiring in a month, so maybe, you know, throw your hat in the ring and you know, I just think that's really, really important and I think it's important to keep good people in the industry where possible, and that's where that support is really amazing as well.
Speaker 1:So your mentor was a Christian, christian Schweitzer. Yes, how was the first meeting? Did you know him before?
Speaker 3:No, I didn't. I had to Google him, but once I did, it was, you know, it was crazy because he has been involved in, I feel like, every travel company. He knows everybody. Uh, he has so many different hats that he wears, so that was really interesting for me to kind of I guess, you know meet him as someone who he hasn't been in contact with before, which obviously he's Sydney based as well.
Speaker 3:So, uh, there was a little bit of a I a geographical gap there in terms of me not knowing him prior to that. I'm sure if I was in Sydney I would have already met him because he is everywhere. So yeah, so that was really cool and the more research I did, I almost felt a bit not overwhelmed, but I was a little bit in awe of, you know, this man is very well connected. He's done so many things, so yeah, so it was really amazing. I was shocked that he, you know, was part of the program, just thinking how does he have time to do everything? And now he's going to mentor as well. So, yeah, I felt really lucky to be paired with someone such a, I guess, a heavy hitter in the industry fun fact about christian is actually um, he also organized or was involved in the organization of a tennis tournament.
Speaker 1:You know this is well. I had some stage talk with him about a few things. Um, he actually does everything.
Speaker 3:You're totally right yeah, really like he works like with new south wales police and he correct, that was the tennis yeah, every company I mentioned you know, um, for example, like intrepid, I think they do some really beautiful things and they're really paving the way for a really a lovely future in travel with their sustainability and their you know other kind of you know humanitarian concepts.
Speaker 3:And he's like, oh yeah, you know I worked with so and you know humanitarian concepts. And he's like, oh yeah, you know I worked with so-and-so and I've worked with this person and that, oh yeah, I spearheaded that, you know. And even Globus, you know, that was where we had our first meeting. He said, oh yeah, I used to work with her and I actually mentored this person and I hired and I was just like, wow, okay, like you know, this is crazy that you know the people that he knew and had worked with previously and it was, yeah, really exciting did you have like one of the one of the outcome, like the learning, the headline, that you can put over that and say, okay, that's the one learning?
Speaker 3:christian gave me that I will always carry on in my life yeah, so surprisingly for me, I thought it would be some you know amazing marketing hack or something that I could use to just win all my campaigns, and you know, uh, something like that I will yeah, that's what I was expecting going into it, but I think for me, um, the biggest thing was, I guess, confidence and confidence in myself and my decisions and being able to make decisions, you know, for myself within the industry and just having the confidence to put myself out there to speak up if I need to, and also, you know just, yeah, how to manage, I guess, industry relations really well.
Speaker 3:But also, yeah, personal confidence was a big thing that I didn't realize that's what I went in for. It wasn't when I first decided to join the program, but it's probably my key takeaway and it's had so many, you know, it's like a really core foundation and it's had so many benefits, not just across my professional life, which have been very large, like in terms of what I've now achieved, but also, yeah, my personal life and showing up and being able to have boundaries and being able to, I guess, back myself up when I make a decision. It's been, yeah, I would say it's been life changing. So really grateful for that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah wow, we really hear us. I mean, we do hear people that say that the program has had a a big impact on their, on their life. But life-changing, this is a good yeah, it's, it's definitely been.
Speaker 3:it was more than I expected, for sure, and it didn't, I guess, manifest in the way I guess I expected it to, which it turned out being even better than I expected, so yeah.
Speaker 2:How did the two of you meet? Was it virtual? Was it face-to-face? Was there a mix of both?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so, obviously, based in Melbourne, christian was really great. He made a lot of time for me, so we often would use Microsoft Teams or you know whatever platform. So it was usually and obviously we communicate, you know, via email and things like that as well. But whenever I was in Sydney for a time event, we would obviously meet up and, you know, have a quick chat and do some networking and he would often, you know, introduce me to this person or that person and yeah, so it worked really well.
Speaker 3:But, yeah, he was very good. He made himself very available despite his crazy schedule. So I was very, yeah, very, grateful for that. And he was also flexible. Like there was a time or two when I was unwell or I had something crop up and we just managed it that way, which I guess is the benefit to doing it online rather than in person. In person is great and you can connect in a different way, but having online rather than in person in person is great and you can connect in a different way, but having that online flexibility was really really good for me, um, personally.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, it works really well, and did the online environment help you to make time for time? Because you mentioned before I was already like from a mentor perspective, it's sometimes hard to schedule the two hours in, but the same from a mentee perspective because everyone is, especially in the travel industry since COVID, fairly busy, absolutely. Yeah, still suffer obviously short skills, skill shortage, short skills, great Skill shortages and obviously still staff is missing. Did that help you to make time for time?
Speaker 3:Yeah, it really did and it allowed us. You know, if we didn't have time for a set two hours, you know we would do, you know, maybe a shorter session this week and then next time we'll do a longer session, or or we could break it down um kind of as we needed, because obviously, yeah, we both had quite, quite busy schedules. And I also think, you know, when you do meet in person, it's like I said, it is great when you can manage it, but it also adds a bit of extra time. You know you have to get there and you have to. You know, for me personally, working from home, you don't have to get outside ready, which is different. Usually, um, you have to brush my hair, so that's a whole nother um aspect to it. So, yeah, and it's really great to be able to to do the mix and match. You know it just makes it so much more flexible and, and I guess, easy to manage.
Speaker 3:Um, I guess, if anyone is worried about that kind of regular, that chunk of time to commit, it's like I found all the mentors have been really flexible and you know they're really happy to work with you on what kind of schedule works best. You know you can change the time. You can change the amount of hours, like in terms of what you're doing each week, and just make it work for you guys. Or you can change the time, you can change the amount of hours, like in terms of what you're doing each week, and just make it work for you guys. You could meet twice a week with little sessions, you know, whatever works for you. So that was that was really beneficial to me as well, because I was worried about fitting it in, you know, when I first kind of saw the rundown of of that. But uh, it worked out. It was really easy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, wasn't wasn't overly difficult to fit in once we were flexible, yeah this one, many objections that we hear, you know people saying like I don't, I can't subscribe, I can't join the program because I don't have time, um, so I'm glad you're actually giving like very practical examples of you know, your experience, because that you know that will probably address or answer a lot of questions for this time that you know claim that they're time poor and they can't join the program because of that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, absolutely no. I found the flexibility, yeah, was amazing, and even the flexibility, like I said earlier, with my graduation. You know I didn't have to, like, you know, carve out time, you know, if you're not in the same state as as where your graduation needs to be, which I know. I know they're really expanding, which is really exciting. Um, you know Perth and Melbourne are both really kicking off, and Brisbane as well, so but, for example, you know, if you're in Adelaide and you know you need to fly to graduate, you know there is flexibility around that too. There, you know, there was never like you have to be here for this one or you don't get to graduate. It's like, no, we'll make them. You know, amendments for you, and I just found everyone really flexible. I think everyone understands you know we're busy people and, um, you know they're willing to kind of really help you out. You know around that. So I found that really really good as well. Otherwise, yeah, I'd probably still be waiting for my graduation.
Speaker 3:But, we'll be there in the end.
Speaker 1:yes, what's the future for you with time? Are you planning on continuing to go to networking meetings? Do you want to involve yourself, maybe on a state level, or even join a committee like an audit? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:What's your plan? I would be open to that. I really love Ingrid who manages the Melbourne one. She is just someone who I really look up to in the industry and she's so beautiful with her time and with her she's very generous, she does a lot of fantastic work. And just for my own selfish personal gain, you know, I would love to work more with her, just to you know again, for those kind of industry relationships.
Speaker 3:But, yeah, I did take photos at one of the events that I went to recently. I offered to be the little photo monkey. But, yeah, I'm more than willing to help out at events in future. So I probably will contact Ingrid and just let her know.
Speaker 3:I know Tennille is involved as well and she's, like I said, a friend of mine. So, yeah, I'd love to work with those guys more and I think it's's, you know, not only does it look great, you know that you're involved in such a great program, but it also shows people, you know that it's something that you really support and it's something that you know that it's great to be involved in. So, yeah, and there's always new people at events and I've met so many interesting people, you know, and I haven't attended as many as others, because obviously, you know, being based in Melbourne and you know the events have just started back up, so yeah, but I find every time I go I meet someone really interesting, like not just like, oh yeah, ticket whatever, like, which is still really cool, but you know I've met so many, you know really unique people in the industry that it's yeah, it's well worth being involved in, so yeah, so.
Speaker 3:I will build up. We're going to take on Sydney and we're going to build up Melbourne to be the hub. So you guys will have to come down to us now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I will bring you on.
Speaker 1:I was thinking when you said you want to be involved in Melbourne, because you know Ingrid well, and I was thinking straight away.
Speaker 3:I'm not sure how much she likes to comment about liking Sydney more and more than I know I'm gonna be in trouble with, I'm gonna be shunned when I leave the house. But uh, I mean I do. I do love Melbourne, but Sydney. Sydney is beautiful and the weather's so nice and I think that's the biggest thing for me. But I would struggle to leave. Like our coffee is it is the best, like I just have to leave. Like our coffee is it is the best, like I just have to. You know, acknowledge that. So if I could bring the coffee, maybe we could set up a city halfway with the coffee and the weather. I don't know, but you know, maybe we'll try.
Speaker 1:Good point, good point. This is a fantastic opportunity, I know, to bring some croissants comments into the conversation, which we didn't have today yet.
Speaker 2:But bring on the coffee, because I love coffee too, you know. But you can find like the major you know like melbourne roasters and you know, like the yeah, this is right. Yeah, they're in sydney too and we have our own roasters too. So I highly recommend you try to sample them next time you, you're done here, go to maricville. Yeah, I'm sure you know I like you that are pretty gonna be yeah, yes yes, what we love to know though jenna is um.
Speaker 1:Where is your favorite croissant place in melbourne? Oh, please be careful oh, this is a good one I know it was very judgmental about that. Just letting you know.
Speaker 2:Don't use the arrow.
Speaker 3:We actually have a crazy bakery that has just opened not too far from me oh gosh, what's its name? But it does the most insane a lot of French pastries, but with a bit of a twist and they're just obscene like they're gorgeous and they have all these fillings and all these beautiful things. So I've really enjoyed going there lately. Uh, we do have quite a few nice patisseries. Uh, in in Melbourne, I like going down to Ackland Street, though it's quite a journey for me.
Speaker 3:It's on the other side of the city and they've got all the French, you know, the boulangeries and the patisseries, which is really nice, um, but yeah, just any croissant for me, as long as it's, you know, crispy but still fluffy, like that's my favorite kind of. Uh. You know french food. Well, not not my favorite. Overall, french cooking is amazing, but uh, yeah, it's probably my favorite bakery item, uh, and it's always my go-to when I do go to fr, straight to the bakery or the pastry and just slowly eat more. Just, you know, getting heavier and heavier as I travel. So it's good fun. But, yes, do you have any recommendations? I'm sure you're all across them.
Speaker 1:Not me, but our official croissant tester, interstate croissant tester, Arnaud Michelin, would be more than delighted to share his French insights and testing experience.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think that's worthy of an article itself. I think people would love that.
Speaker 2:I'm still working on finding the perfect one in Melbourne. I haven't quite found anything really good.
Speaker 3:Okay, that's sad to hear. Perhaps when you come for your winery tour we'll do a. French bakery tour as well, and there are also some really good German restaurants, because my family is, my dad is German, but I'm still looking for that perfect Biedenstich, which is my favourite German cake. It's a regional thing. They all make it differently.
Speaker 1:True.
Speaker 3:So we'll find it.
Speaker 1:The good thing is the difference, though. If you go to test that, like if Arnaud doesn't like the croissant, he gets like a tantrum, like a little toddler, he gets very emotional about it. At some stage he was even throwing the croissant to the floor and was like eating this? And he walked out.
Speaker 3:Oh, it must have been a terrible croissant.
Speaker 1:No way. Actually if I don't like the food, I just you know, politely eat it and be quiet about it.
Speaker 3:Yes, we'll just hide it somewhere.
Speaker 2:I have to say I've been to that big famous croissant shop in melbourne. I know the one you don't name on this podcast? I will not. I know the one, the one that people line up for yes but the one people line up for. I've also tried the one, because they have several locations in melbourne, so I've tried pretty much all of them. I've also been to the one that they have in Brisbane.
Speaker 2:Ah yes, and every time that I have one of their croissants, I just sit down and I say like I should have known better and I've paid $7 for that thing and all I want to do is throw it at someone because it's not good, right I?
Speaker 3:understand, yeah. Especially when you're paying $7, it's a lot to be disappointed in.
Speaker 1:So now that we know about Arnaud's black personality and you know his dark side of the soul, jenna, is there any little secret about you that's not on your CV that people might be surprised to hear about you? That people probably just don't assume? I don't know.
Speaker 3:We had, obviously, I know, and being a croissant you should definitely put that on your CV, or not quite the title, but a lot of people might not know that I'm actually qualified. Well, I have a degree in archaeology Cool, which is yeah it's yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah Look, I haven't gotten too much work from that specifically, or any at all, and no paid work. I actually paid to work and do some archaeology digs overseas. Obviously, australia is, you know, has a really amazing history, but in terms of you know, roads and statues and things like that, it doesn't have quite so many. So archaeology is a little bit limited in Australia Particularly.
Speaker 3:I love you know slightly more modern history, so I have done a few digs overseas, but I was always planning to move over there and then, oh you know, I met my partner and got a dog and now I can't go, so it's uh, um, but it's still very interesting to me and I love uh, you know reading about it and learning about it and.
Speaker 3:I, you know, have a big interest in history, which does play into travel, um, so I, you know, I like approaching it from that aspect and anyone who's done, you know, an arts degree or a humanities. So I, you know, I like approaching it from that aspect. And anyone who's done, you know, an arts degree or a humanities degree knows, you know, the amount of essay writing that you do. You know I don't need to learn punctuation, I don't need to learn, you know, the writing side of marketing because it's just there, it's. You know it's being drilled into me from. You know six years of writing essays and thesis. I don't know what the plural is for that. Maybe I do need to work on my grammar. But yeah, writing, writing, writing and editing and all that. So that's a really good transferable skill. But you know my, you know knowledge of ancient Egypt or you know Mesopotamia or things like that don't really apply to my current role, but yeah, fun fact I suppose.
Speaker 1:That's actually a very good fun fact. I love it. It's actually super interesting oh thank you, that's kind.
Speaker 3:Yeah, definitely didn't love the Hex debt that came with it, but that's okay. We live and we learn.
Speaker 1:And we have one newer segment on this podcast which pretty much was only born in season four, which is you may ask one question to Arnaud. Yes, that's true.
Speaker 3:That is a good question.
Speaker 2:So obviously you cannot ask me what is my favourite croissant in Sydney.
Speaker 3:No, I will not.
Speaker 2:We've already exhausted that. You can ask me anything else.
Speaker 3:Oh, interesting. I wish I had more time to prepare, I guess. I would want to know what. I guess, if you could bring one French thing, barring a proper croissant, from France to Australia, what would you bring?
Speaker 1:Good one I love that.
Speaker 2:Look, it's a very interesting question because the thing is I've learned that France is in France and Australia is in Australia and I try not to try to replicate. You know, like home here. Of course, of course I came with my cultural background and so you know like it will never leave me, but I've learned not to miss that part. But you know like sometimes when I walk in Sydney I'm like this place is actually pretty good. I wish that you know the Eiffel Tower was there right, just to top it all off yeah, and I didn't grow up in Paris.
Speaker 2:I grew up in in the south of France and as a child, going to Paris, you know, like seeing that big construction, there was always something very magical about it.
Speaker 2:And then I moved to Paris, um, in 2001, and that's after they installed, you remember, for, for the, the crossing to, in the year 2000, they had put, um, these lights on the Eiffel Tower that were kind of like sparkling, and, um, that made that a permanent feature because it was supposed to be temporary in the first place. And I remember when I worked in Paris, like being in a taxi along the river and then looking up the window and seeing these lights, and it's always been like the most magical thing ever. And every time I go to France and I go to Paris because I've got a lot of friends there I always make sure that I go there and see that because, like, I still see Paris with the, with the, the eyes of, of a kid, you know because and so that will be the one thing that I will bring here, because it's, you know, it's old People probably think it's really ugly, but there's something about the Eiffel tower Like it's I just can't describe it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, oh, that's really sweet.
Speaker 1:You also know where the motivation for the golden shoes came from the sparkle of the island.
Speaker 2:Yes, you know, like it's something really special, but you know, like for the first year or so, I think it was literally sparkling pretty much the whole night, and after, when they put it as a permanent feature, they could only do like for 10 minutes every hour. So, yeah, you know, so they've changed that a little bit, but it's like when it comes on it is so cool yeah it is very beautiful the last time I was in paris, we were on the in the.
Speaker 3:Uh, I'm gonna butcher saying this, but the Tuileries Garden, the Jardin des Tuileries and we were on the Ferris wheel and we didn't time it specifically, but then all of a sudden, the lights of the Eiffel Tower started going off. So we're up in the sky and it was this really yeah, unintentionally magic moment, but it is beautiful. I think the Eiffel Tower at night is much nicer than through the day for sure.
Speaker 3:Yes is much nicer than through the day, for sure, yes, but it's such an icon, isn't it? Yeah, she's beautiful. Oh, that's a really sweet turn didn't it?
Speaker 1:well, thank you both for for sharing that. Um and jenna, special thanks for you for sharing all your insights about your time with time. We appreciate that you've, you know, been quite personal. They're quite open about all the things that do happen throughout those six-month or six-month-plus journey. For you, yes, and we are looking forward to having you in the community, obviously in the future and hopefully very often in beautiful Sydney as well. Yes, hopefully, and we continue to discover beautiful Melbourne, of course, because both cities are beautifully beautiful.
Speaker 3:We're all great. Yes, we're all great, yes, we're all great. If I could bring something German, it would be the trains that run on time and are very fast, and then I could get from Sydney to Melbourne, you know, really nice and quickly, and it wouldn't be a problem In three hours. Yeah, that's something maybe we can ask Germany for at some point.
Speaker 3:We could probably do another podcast of 20 hours discussing if the trains in germany are actually on time, because I find they are, when I I'm very lucky, um, but I always find it very interesting when you're going from somewhere like italy across into germany and the change, uh, it's very different and it's it's. It always makes me laugh because you know, italians are very like ah the time, the time, who cares? And then Germany is like it is 30 seconds late, hurry up, which, yeah, it's always an interesting border change there.
Speaker 1:I think there's a patience span of two minutes. Everything over two minutes is not accepted.
Speaker 3:Oh yes, absolutely yeah.
Speaker 1:And people get really cranky about it.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Yes, no, that's definitely a highlight in germany, as things tend to run pretty well on time.
Speaker 1:So absolutely um, we're at the end of the podcast because we're over time oh, sorry um.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much, jenna, for being with us and hopefully I'll see you soon yes, yes, I hopefully will see you soon, um, I look forward to it. Thank you, bye, okay.
