Lapland's Elfing classes

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.

Link (Thanks, Betsy!)

[#1 posted by JIMWICh , November 6, 2007 12:26 PM]

I've recently acquired some, um, passing familiarity with reindeer.

Through eating them.

[#2 posted by Vlad the Inhaler , November 6, 2007 12:30 PM]

What I really want to be is a dentist

[#3 posted by rooooo , November 6, 2007 12:49 PM]

Perhaps David Sedaris, having completed Macy's Santa's Elf training, could test out of the introductory levels.

[#4 posted by knitmeapony , November 6, 2007 12:55 PM]

I have to wonder, is it 'elfing' or 'elving'? Is there some kind of grammatical rule for this?

[#5 posted by Nelson.C , November 6, 2007 1:01 PM]

Knitme @4: Isn't elving something to do with eels, possibly catching them?

[#6 posted by Ryan , November 6, 2007 4:59 PM]

#4: I'd just chalk it up as free variation. At least, I can't tell which is better. By analogy though, maybe elving? Look at 'life' and 'living'. I feel though like 'elving' could be doing things that elves do, while 'elfing' could be 'the state of being an elf'.

[#7 posted by CJ , November 7, 2007 3:02 AM]

I was in Lapland on holiday last Christmas :-)

Must say, I don't think I'd have the patience to be trained as an elf. Too many clueless tourists and excited kiddies!

[#8 posted by Halloween Jack , November 7, 2007 7:20 AM]

I'd start writing a screenplay about a depressed Finn who tries to make it big in the elf biz, but you know, the writer's strike and all.

[#9 posted by Good Elf , June 7, 2008 1:48 PM]

Has anyone done the Elf job in Lapland with Esprit? Can you recommend it?

[#10 posted by Takuan , June 7, 2008 2:02 PM]

@1 they're fine,just pick out the bells.