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About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2006)
2006 7 Features Holiday travel provides escape from winter weather u S ache H opkins ________________ Staff Reporter Wintertime in Oregon: rain falls, wind blows and the sun doesn't show its face for at least three months. The holiday season is the largest travel season with people seeking sunny beaches, snowy ski slopes and a cultural experiences. During the winter vacation travel period, long distance travel increases by 23%. Here is a guide to the top holiday travel destinations: Local, domestic and international. For those seeking the sea: Local destination: Cannon Beach, Ore. Cannon Beach is a mere hour and a half drive from Portland and offers the best scenery and small town life on the Oregon Coast. There are nine miles of easy to walk beach, as well as tide pools, wildlife and the famous 235 foot tall Haystack rock. The town of Cannon Beach offers many art galleries, small bookstores, restaurants and coffee shops. Domestic destination: Oahu, Hawaii Oahu offers some of the best beaches in the United States. Snorkeling, surfing, sea kayaking and just relaxing are a few of the many activities offered. Although it may be very crowded, Waikiki Beach is Oahu's most famous beach and is worth sharing. International destination: Costa Rica Costa Rica offers over 750 miles of beach on both the Pacific and Caribbean. Whether you are interested in a quiet, isolated beach or a beach with a party, your needs will be met. Black or dark sand beaches are also abundant, contrasting with the crystal blue water. Another feature Costa Rica offers is the diverse wildlife, such as sea turtles and tropical fish, as well as coral reefs. For those seeking the slopes: Local destinations: Mt. Hood & Mt. Bachelor, Ore. Nestled in Central Oregon, Mt. Bachelor offers an escape from the Portland area within driving range. Very family friendly, there is a snow park, as well as skiing and snowboarding. Just minutes from Sisters, Sunriver and Bend, Mt. Bachelor is in an ideal location. Mt. Hood is an hour and a half drive from Portland and hosts multiple recreation areas including Ski Bowl, Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline Ski Area. Historic Timberline Lodge is another attraction, offering rooms ranging from bunk rooms, so you can take your friends, to luxurious suites. Domestic destination: Aspen, Colo. Aspen provides some of the best slopes in the country as well as some of the most expensive. With four separate mountains, as well as excellent slopes for both intermediate and advanced skiers, Aspen is the place to be. International destination: Whistler and Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada Some of the best skiing in world is featured here, with very advanced routes. The quaint village also offers cafes, restaurants and many international stores. For those seeking something The glow of the Eiffel Tower lights up the Paris night sky. A unique international holiday destination with its cozy cafes, Paris offers numerous museums and interesting architecture. Photo by Malia Chong little different: Domestic destination: New Orleans, La. Most would assume that since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans would be off limits, it's quite the opposite in fact. There was an incredible amount of water damage, and over 80% of the city was flooded, but now it is recovering and locals are eager to please tourists once again. New Orleans is home to endless parties, great music and food. Crowds are smaller and local businesses want to cater to your needs. International destination: Paris, France Paris is an international icon and a popular holiday destination. Featuring such landmarks as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and many historical churches, Paris offers more sights than you can see in a year. If quiet and secluded is your style, then there are plenty of cafes and bookstores to cater to your interests. Career Center offers help to teenage job seekers u CHRIS GARFIELD__________________ S t a f f R e p o rte r There are many steps to take when applying for a job, but most teenagers are not aware of the protocol that they must follow. You may not get hired at the first establishment you apply to but these steps will hopefully guide you toward getting the job you desire. 1. Visit the desired company that you would like to work for and ask to speak to the manager and ask for an application. When you pick up an application, introduce yourself, shake their hand and look them in the eye. When you turn in your application, shake their hand again. Shaking their hand will impress them and make you seem more mature. Proper etiquette is to shake a hand firmly but don't squeeze for too long. 2. Your resume is one of the most important elements of getting hired. The resume tells the employer your school, previous employment and overall life history. Attach your resume to the application and also bring it along to the interview. If you're not sure how to make a resume, see Anne Bums, Youth Transition Coordinator. She will take you through the steps of making a quality resume that you could also use for college applications. Youth Transition Coordinator, Anne Bums, works at her office which is located above the library. Bums helps students find job opportunities and also helps students revise their resumes. Photo by Chris Garfield 3. When you turn in your application with your resume attached, make sure to ask if they are hiring anytime soon. This will inform you of the chances on getting hired or not. Make sure that you bring your Social Security number, names, titles, addresses and phone numbers of at least three people that you are going to be using as references on the application. Sometimes the employer will not provide the application to take home but prefers you to fill out the application at their store or online. 4. Now that the employer has your application and resume, it is your job to contact them again. Call the establishment and ask for the manager. When you get hold of them the conversation should be something like, "Hi, my name is [ insert name ] and I turned in my application a couple days ago. I was wondering if you have reviewed my application and are hiring soon?" If they say 'yes,' this is a good sign. Ask if you can schedule an interview soon and it then will be their decision to give you an interview or not. Don't be discouraged if they say they are not hiring. Keep calling them so they get to know your name. By being persistent they will remember you when they are hiring. If you obtain an interview, there are steps that need to be taken before and during the interview. 1. Many people think that overdressing will turn off the interviewer but there is no such thing as looking too suave when it comes to an interview. The employer will like an employee that dresses maturely and has good hygiene. You are more likely to get hired if you're wearing a dress-up shirt and tie than if you are wearing your skate clothes. Also, make sure that you are not wearing a hat or chewing gum. 2. Make sure to have good eye contact throughout the interview. The employer will not be impressed if you are afraid to look them in the eye. Companies are looking for sociable employees and by having good eye contact will show that you get along with others and may be comfortable with strangers. 3. During the interview, answer all the questions truthfully. You do not want to be stuck in a pickle and tell the employer one thing you can do when you definitely can't follow through. Now that you have had the interview, stay in contact with the employer to find out if you have received a position or not. All you can do is wait for the employer to contact you. Don't expect to be contacted if they are not interested, but don't be discouraged. Keep trying, it will benefit you in the long run and remember to shake hands, be polite, have confidence and be yourself. For more information, visit www.olmis.org to help you find jobs, choose occupations and locate training resources. Also, you could visit the One Stop Resource Center where you can walk into their Youth Employment Lab which is open to all youth every Tuesday 4 - 5 p.m. It is located at 506 High St. in Oregon City.
