Why so few internationals in Rides?

Why do they all seem to work in Foods or Environmental Services? Is there a reason so few of them are working in Ride Operations?

I would assume it's only because you have to be pretty precise about communicating rules, and that would be perhaps not as easy with foreign students. Even still, I have in the last year heard the internationals spiel on Chaos, Wave Swinger, Giant Wheel, Ocean Motion and others.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Luau II Cam 7/19
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

My six year old daughter was laughing so hard during the spiel on Ocean Motion yesterday because the young man's English was so poor. What's the point of saying the rules if you can't understand them??

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'Welcome to Alaska!'

"Alaska?? Nobody said we were going to Alaska!!"

Yes there are alot of international people working on rides. I always see them and when they say the rules you can tell they aren't from anywhere around here.

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adriane ;)

I for one enjoy the internationals. And yes it seems like most of them work with "food".
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Erie: The only great lake you can walk from end to end and only get oil on your shoes!

Why so few internationals on rides? I do suggest you take a second look, as MANY of the rides, including coasters, have internationals on them. Heck, over HALF of my crew are internationals, including my TL! It's not a communication problem, or rather I haven't had ANY problems communicating with them or any other internationals on rides or any other department for that matter. A lot of internationals processed in to rides in late June and early July. And they ARE awesome people to work with, they make the job so much more fun!

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2003 - Antiques Triangle

It's not just "Big Parks" with international students working rides. I was at Enchanted Village in Seattle last week; I had a few hours to kill between a meeting at Microsoft and my red-eye flight home, so figured Timberhawk was as good a way to spend the time as any.

If you haven't been there, it's a teeny-tiny park, and there were a few international students sprinkled among the staff. My guess is that Six Flags must have some sort of umbrella recruiting at the corporate level, as I can't see a park that size investing in overseas recruiting by itself.

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It's not war, famine, or pestilence; it's only downtime.

.. anyone who was around for the Gemini 100 or even most of the 2001 season on Gemini will burst into laughter once I mention a name..

Oscar.. he was the king of Columbian Spielers...

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services 2002-2003
Fright Zone Screamster 2002-2003

I just visited from So. Cal. on June 9 & 10th. TTD was not open grrrrrr! I don't know if you have a 95% Spanish kitchen population backstage like we do; but half of the ride operators appeared to have English as a second language. I have never seen so many tall white blond people stumbling over basic words. They may have been French Canadians. Most of them also commented that a 60 hour or less week, was a great week. Also, how can they sleep in those dorms without AC.

Plenty of internationals work on rides. it is pretty rare though to have internationals on roller coasters, but there are those exceptions. My crew(PT) this year had 6 internationals. It's great when we are up in the control room, and they were teaching us to speak polish.

"They may have been French Canadians ..." You know, I believe, strange as it may seem, that Canadians cannot work at the Point because of immigration/work visa restrictions. In other words, recruiting in Poland will pay off, but not two hours away.

Just as well. Those damn Canadians, with their superior beer, universal health care, gay marriages, and legalized pot would just corrupt everyone else anyways ...

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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

I worked in rides this year, and got to spiel on Mantis. I loved rides. I'm from Scotland, so I wasn't classed as an international by many. Some others though refused to spiel.

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Louise
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2002 - Guest Services
2003 - Rides Kiddy Kingdom. Matterhorn, Mantis
*** This post was edited by ScottishLou 9/10/2003 7:48:50 PM ***

i know alot of internationals who worked rides and they are just as capable as any americans who work rides every ride i worked on we have 2 or more internationals. i loved working with them. so yes lots of people from different countries work the rides and they were awesome!

jodi

Red Garter Rob,

Oscar was amazing, I worked on paddlewheel that summer. He was a blast. Thanks for bringing back some great memories I'd forgotten about!

BTW Lou, (ScouttishLou) Julianne and I were at the park on Labor day (yeah a crappy day to go to the park) with my boyfriend who is also from the uk. We ran all over the park trying to find you... by the time we tracked you down at Mantis they said they'd sent you home.... :( we were sad. I hope I get to see you again soon... Any chance you'll be back this way or in London anytime soon?

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ONE freeway stamp a day... ONE