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Interviews: Carola Struik
1. You may introduce yourself.
I'm Carola Struik. I'm 23 years old, married, do not have children and live in
Tiel in the Betuwe. I didn't go to high school and now I study sport massage. I
hope to finish that study next year.
2. Do you sport?
Yes I do. If the weather is fine, I'm going to windsurf. I just do that for my
pleasure and recreation. A long time I used to participate in matches, but I
don't do that anymore.
3. What are your hobbies?
Except windsurfing, I love to play guitar. Classic guitar to be exact. I have
had lessons for years, but I quit with that because I got too busy, also with my
job. My favorite guitarist is Harry Sacksioni. He's from the Betuwe just like
me, so that is a bit chauvinistic!
4. Did you went on holiday this
summer, if yes, where to?
No. This year I didn't went to what you call a holiday. Therefore it was much
too busy at my work. I didn't have any problems with that. That's because my
work is my hobby and vice versa. As a matter of fact, I'm not crazy about
holidays. I enjoy taking a long weekend or midweek a lot more!
5. How many game counselors are
there at this moment?
At this moment we are with 14 people. At this time it is unbelievably busy, but
in the vacation period we had some time for each caller, because many of our
members were taking a holiday. That's fun too at some moments!
6. Do you like this job?? Why??
I'm already doing this work for a half year now and I really enjoy doing it. In
my other jobs I never hold out very long, that tells enough. Why I enjoy this
work? Well, the variation of course and the excellent work sphere. And the fact,
that you learn something every day. Between 11.00 and 12.00 we are being
coached, basically we get lessons. That's nice too.
7. What have you done before that?
I have delivered portfolios of periodicals. I have been mailman and I have
almost worked two years at the Music school.
8. How do you get in this job?
(aren't we allowed to call it this way)
Basically, very normal, via an advertisement in the paper. I have had a NES and
a Game Boy for some time. That did help! I have to say this: My favorite game is
and will be Solstice.
9. How many hours a day are you
sitting at the telephone for average?
Not less than 6 1/2 hours a day. I don't answer questions all the time then, but
I also search for answers between or I practice other video games. That last one
is probably the reason that I can answer the answer nine out of ten times.
10. There are many callers, aren't
there? Don't the callers have to wait long before it's their turn to ask a
question?
There used to be pretty long waiting times but now a caller almost never having
to wait longer than 3 minutes. Usually a caller will get a counselor immediately
when he doesn't call during the peak hours.
11. Which three NES games are
"in" at the moment and what are your three personal favorites?
The NES hit parade is as follow: 1. FAXANADU, 2. SOLSTICE, 3. BATTLE OF OLYMPUS.
My personal favorites are: 1. SOLSTICE (of course!), 2. SUPER MARIO BROS III, 3.
FAXANADU. I have beaten the last three games a couple of times but I always
start again at the beginning, trying to beat my personal records.
*** This interview was taken from Club Nintendo #5 1992 and was translated from Dutch to English by Ruudos.***
Interviews
Game counselors:
Barbara Beckman
Robert de Boer
Sigfrid van Driel
Gertjan Fortuin
Erik Hol
Petrick Jongkind
Eva Snijders
Laurens Stolker
Carola Struik