Betsy sez, "Starting in April … in Lapland … there's now a one-year vocational course for people who want jobs as elves.
Lapland (think reindeer) has a huge, short tourist season just before Christmas–so the tourism industry needs many, many good 'elves.' No word on if Orlando Bloom is one of the teachers…"
"Various safari and other programme services firms have already established a two-week crash course for those wishing to be employed as seasonal workers in tourism. The elf academy will suit those aiming for a permanent career in the field", explains project manager Kari Rekilä from the Lapland Vocational College.
The elf training will be based on the wilderness guide programme. The focus is on good customer service. For many of the Christmas tourists, the elf guide is often more or less their only human contact during the short visit to Lapland.
"Today a good knowledge of animals and plants is not necessarily required any more", Rekilä states. After the Christmas season a professional elf could act as a regular tour guide or in a number of other tasks in safari firms.
(Thanks, Betsy!)
