Mumbai, New Delhi, Tuesday, Friday, August May 03, 2010 2013
htcity
Students learn dining etiquette
lifestyle 17
A session on ball room dancing
PHOTOS: ZABEEH AFAQUE
FIRST N PERSO
WHEN I CAME BACK FINISHED
What is a finishing school?
Finishing schools focus on honing social graces and communication skills to help a person achieve personal and career goals. Some of the oldest and world-famous finishing schools were in Switzerland, such as the Château Mont-Choisi, founded in 1885, which closed in mid nineties.
What do you learn? Finishing schools cover modules such as personality development, dining etiquette, business etiquette, grooming, power dressing, and language skills. One can either choose one of these modules or opt for a combination of a few, depending on the requirements, profession and career goals.
What do you pay? While the cost of courses vary from one finishing school to another, a three months finishing course costs between R30,000-R50,000, and a one month course costs around R10,000-R20,000.
Our picks Pria Warrick Finishing School, B-495, New Friends Colony Call: 98 10 737774 Meyhar Bhasin Academy, E 186, Part 1, Greater Kailash, Call:011 41062201 ISOE Finishing Academy, 28/12 East Punjabi Bagh Call: 9958183765
Our special correspondent Abhijosh Pillai took admission in a posh finishing school in Delhi to find out what the fuss with etiquette learning is all about...
A quick quiz to begin with... You meet a new business client. How do you present your business card to him? A) With both hands B) With right hand C) You offer your card holder
1
2
You have invited your colleagues for a formal dinner. Where do you put the glasses on the table? A) On the right side of the plate B) On the left side C) All the glasses can be stacked in the centre
3
If you have to excuse yourself during a meal, where will you place your napkin? A) On the chair B) On the table C) On your dining plate to cover your food
C
onfused and grappling for answers? So was I, almost a month ago. Finding myself clueless in social gatherings and page 3 parties and getting seriously worried about my conduct in these high society dos, I realised it was time to make amends. Deliberations, discussions, hours on Google, six parties and 17 mugs of coffee later, I had found the right place to seek answers.
Warrick Finishing School, considered one of the finest in the city. To those like me, who’ve been newly initiated into the world of English and formalities, a finishing school may sound like an institution that finishes you. But contrary to what the words mean individually, it’s a magical place where your ‘flaws’ are finished, your personality is given some ‘finishing’ touches, and voila... there is a new YOU. Ms Warrick, in her formal dress, matching accessories and impeccable etiquette turned out to be a classic advert for a finishing school. Describing the institute, she said, “A finishing academy prepares individuals to become leaders, people of substance. The intention is to polish students who need physical and behavioural grooming to develop their inner confidence and face challenges of life.”
A WORLD OF CHECKLIST Pretty confident that this is definitely not my cup of high tea, but not wanting to miss learning how to relish the good things in life, I took the plunge. After an intense psychological analysis, I was told that there is nothing wrong with me and all I needed was a little ‘touch up’ here and there. May be that’s what they say to everyone who walks in. Or perhaps, they found my case so hopeless that they didn’t know what else to do with me. Or, worse of the worst... there was actually nothing wrong with me. In any case, armed with the confidence that I belong to the world of nouveau rich (I Googled that word, just to sound intellectual), I walked into my first session, and found myself sitting beside two college-goers, a corporate beginner, a to-be bride and a young businessman who
I’m here to brush up my skills and become more confident. I love to come here as it’s homely
OFF TO SCHOOL
Saumya Sharma, fashion merchandising professional
Clad in a pair of denims, a kurta and a backpack (the perfect journalist’s attire!), I found my way into Pria
wanted to impress international clients. The batches are kept small, comprising just six-seven people so as to focus on the shortcomings of each. With about three sessions a day, and each lasting 45 minutes, the courses catered to diverse social and professional groups. And thus, I entered a world of checklists, where there is a rulebook for every action and a ‘how’ for every ‘what’, where I unlearned what I had practised in the last two decades of my life and where I was trained to fit myself into the accepted norms of social and professional etiquettes. The sessions were a revelation of sorts, introducing me to mannerisms I did not know even existed. I was taught about customs, protocols, postures, behaviour and the right social conduct. I was taught the proper way of interacting with colleagues, bosses, peers
I want to become a perfect lady. I want to feel more beautiful and live life to its fullest. Lessons in ball room dancing are a bonus Riddhima Jain, BBA student
e r o bef HOW ABOUT SOME CHANGE? Our photo coordinator Zabeeh Afaque who went to click the pictures, attended one of the grooming classes, and was advised a ‘peppy and fun’ makeover. Here are his before and after looks.
Pria Warrick, finishing school instructor and strangers. The sessions were like Santa’s bag of goodies... Every time you put your hand in, you will be pleasantly surprised with what comes out. These sessions, ranging from corporate know-hows to dining and dancing, are great for those who are finding their foot in the world, trying to adjust to their new professional demands or are settling down in foreign shores. The course, starting from about R29,000 to R 1.5 lakh, depending on the module one opts for, turn out to be eyeopeners, and yet a delightful help for those who want to rub shoulders with the elite and the who’s who of the society.
FINISHED INDIVIDUALITY Explaining the reasons for popularity of finishing schools, Warrick said, “We’re selling class, confidence, etiquette, grooming and most importantly, self worth and self esteem. This is what people come here to get.” Right from minute details
such as the ‘right’ way to exchange visiting cards to chivalrous extravaganzas such as ballroom dancing, to knowing the right pronunciation of the tongue-twister names of French Champagnes, the sessions in a finishing school tell you the correct way of conducting oneself in public, thus boosting the confidence of the individual. And that, perhaps, is the biggest irony. In a way, finishing schools are like factories, churning out perfect individuals, batch after batch. Not a hair out of place, not a meaningless word uttered and not an action that was not meant to be. The perfect individual... with his ‘finished’ individuality. For the moment though, coming back to the quiz, if your answers were mostly: As - You can think of starting your own finishing academy! Bs - You need to brush up your skills! Cs - Dude!!! You need help …. Rush to your nearest finishing school right now!!!
The Queen of Britain is looking for a chef with passion. See if you make the cut
Hero worship Shweta Mehta ■
shweta.mehta@hindustantimes.com
T
hree young entrepreneurs, Karan Rai, Sumit Shah and Ayushi Singh, have started an online store, that’s dedicated
BAT M MEN AN LOG HOO 'S CHAR O COA DIE L PRIC ` E
2,00 0
I
-MAN SPIDER FACE T N IA D A R T T-SHIR PRICE
`599
to superhero and comic book-related merchandise. Log on to www.planetsuperheroes.com to check out Batman and Superman hoodies and T-shirts at prices that won’t make you cringe. Soon to be added to the website are pyjamas, boxer shorts, accessories like phone covers and special ranges for women and children. “I have a tech background, while Sumit is from the retail industry. We share a passion for superheroes, and we had a strong match of skill sets, so we set out to do this. We’ve seen fancy superhero stores abroad and there’s a strong need for them here too,” says Rai. Although they’ve only had word of mouth publicity so far, the response has been tremendous. Several items are sold out and the orders keep coming in. “We’re trying to keep it low profile for now because scaling is still a concern, but we have several plans that should be executed within the year,” adds Rai. Among them are offline stores within six months and a superhero community that includes events and get-togethers.
On other days, breakfast may entail a boiled egg, toast and marmalade and a cup of Darjeeling tea. Other meals in her menu repertoire include grilled sole over wilted spinach for lunch, roasted game meats like pheasant for dinner, and afternoon tea sandwiches of cucumber and smoked salmon or egg and mayo. Check out royal.gov.uk for more details. The deadline to apply is May 10. Meanwhile, YouTube pop sensation Psy has also launched a global talent search recently for a “personal chef” in partnership with Korean food manufacturer Bibigo. To apply for the chance to hang out with the celebrity for a month during his worldwide tour and pocket $40,000 (R21.4 lakh), candidates are invited to submit creative videos depicting their ‘mixing abilities’ kitchen and otherwise. RELAXNEWS
Royal Demi Chef De Partie, Shaun Mason, while laying out trays of sweets at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011
er t f a
A finishing school prepares individuals to become leaders, and people of substance. We polish students to develop their inner confidence and face challenges of life
Here’s what it takes to be the Queen’s chef
f you’re an experienced chef who has worked in five-star establishments, aren’t daunted by having to prepare luncheons for the most powerful heads of state in the world, or thousands of canapés for parties of 800, Buckingham Palace wants you. The British Royal Family has posted a job vacancy for a sous chef, a salaried position that pays around £23,000 (about R19.2 lakh) a year for 45-hour work weeks. The minimum job qualifications include a City and Guilds catering qualification; “substantial experience” within a five-star establishment at the sous-chef level; fine dining experience, and proficiency in all four sections of the kitchen — larder, sauce vegetables, and pastries. However, according to Darren McGrady, a former chef to the Royal Family, the Queen is a woman of simple tastes who will start the day off with a bowl of Cornflakes.
PHOTOS: WASEEM GASHROO
A class in progress
A BRAND NEW LOOK! Instead of his safe grey-blue jeans, a rather shocked Zabeeh was asked to wear cherry red bottoms, with a white tee and blue shirt. His hair was cut and styled in random spikes, his heavy eyeglasses were replaced with rimless ones, his goatee was removed (much to his chagrin), and he was given a closely cropped beard style. We feel he rocks the new look, what say? SHIRT, PANTS: CALVIN KLEIN JEANS; SHOES: WOODLAND; WATCH: DIOR; HAIR AND BEARD STYLING: AASHMEEN MUNJAAL’S STAR SALON & ACADEMY
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II looks at homemade scones