Ophélie has just completed her BTS Tourism, and Louise is a student in political science. Both work as seasonal workers at the Chartres Tourist Office. They are responsible for welcoming and advising tourists visiting the city.
For Ophélie, originally from Chartres, “it was obvious for me to apply here. I had already done an internship at the Office this winter, then I was offered to do the season from May to the end of October. J I would like to stay here, I feel good in Chartres and I feel very good at the Office”. As for Louise, who is back from a year on Erasmus in Romania, it’s more of a summer job: “As I was away for a year and I didn’t have an apartment in France, coming back to the region and being able to stay with my parents is very advantageous. In addition to that, I can continue to speak languages with tourists from all over the world”.
A cultural and peaceful summer offered at the Château de Maintenon: discover the program
With the summer period and the influx of new tourists, the two seasonal workers see their workload increase. According to Ophélie, “since the beginning of June, we have seen many foreign tourists arrive. In general, it comes in waves, we feel that the summer season has started well”.
“There are also a lot of Parisian tourists. It’s easy to get to Chartres from Paris, and it’s a city that has a lot to offer. Sometimes people come down from Paris for the day before leaving.”
Louise (empty)
Yet the two agree: “Even if we see more people, the working conditions are really pleasant”.
“I got to know the city again”
With a guilty smile, Ophélie admits: “I left Chartres after the baccalaureate, and I had kept the image of a city that did not move much, where there was not much to do. And by working here, I got to know the city again. There are events, exhibitions, festivals, this work gave me a new perspective on my own region”. A judgment shared by Louise, “We rediscovered the territory, even beyond Chartres”.
A lively summer for teenagers at the Maison des jeunes
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Working in this sector has changed Ophélie’s habits: “Now when I go somewhere, I go to see the Uffizi, because there is so much information on the internet that you can get lost.
Louise concludes: “Human contact, whether on one side or the other of the counter, is really essential”.
Corentin Renoult
#Portrait #Seasonal #workers #Chartres #Tourist #Office #rediscovered #territory
