Saturday
22:47 hours
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
I have officially lost track of time and forgotten that today is a Saturday.
Pretty much has happened here in the Maldives and let's just roll with it.
My team of four including myself made a presentation to the board, which consists of over 30 managers, with regards to service issues that we were facing and during the course of this project I would say that I have learnt a lot.
Firstly, to have been granted a project of such a scale, and not something like data entry, I was already feeling very thankful. To be included in the monthly Board of Ops meeting which is only meant for managers and above, was a huge bonus, but the BIGGEST bonus was that our Director of Rooms, wanted US, to present to people at that level.
Don't you just feel special? :p
When we had lunch with M about three weeks ago, the task seemed so unclear, it was pretty generic and was petty much a sketch. The following week I remember Sarah and Jean printed out all the service issues we faced for the month of October and we started sorting them out, for easier reference and to pin-point some trends and recurring issues, before providing some solutions.
It seemed like an easy task until a week before we were about to meet up with M for a quick preview so that he could provide some feedback before the BIG day.
We were all frantically reading through service issues one after another, after or before our 10-hour shifts, six days a week. Finally got around setting some dates to meet up despite our busy working schedules and before long we had something concrete in place, a presentation and the flow of things.
Morale booster.
Come Friday, which was yesterday, we met with him again in the morning and before we knew it, we were in front of our Director presenting. And I stuttered, I honestly cannot believe myself but quickly composed myself. We got some feedback from him about our content and essentially we did good and he was looking forward to the meeting later.
Went back to work and after my lunch we met again for a quick run through before making our way to the meeting venue, Baarabaru restaurant.
To be honest, a meeting venue like this is a distraction in itself. >.< The entire horizon of blue waters in cascading shades, perfect sun and a beautiful resort restaurant of such a calibre, I was really quite taken into the entire view, I just stood at the edge of the restaurant just before the waters and took in all of the view.
There were wonderful cookies, piping hot coffee and tea.. Slurps.
The meeting started quite promptly and the content for the day just makes an intern go WHOA.
The information made available to us during that short afternoon, it was just like opening Pandora's box. I cannot reveal what we learnt but it was definitely not within a intern's concern but you really get a feel of what it's like to work at management level in a hotel, the responsibilities to ensure everyone's happy, the owner, your staff, and guests.
I opened the presentation and in my opinion I think I did myself and the audience justice. Jean was really entertaining though. Have you ever seen an intern that presents in front of top management and her mannerism was pretty much like Queen Latifah, I honestly don't know how else to put it.
I hoped we impressed them 'cause definitely I wouldn't think it was a wow, but definitely it was something fresh as compared to their normaly monthly meetings. :) A few of them came up to us to compliment that we did well and the dive manager was too kind to approach us for more details of our findings.
We'd be presenting again come end December and I believe we will do a lot better.
In the midst of my cyclical work cleaning resort bungalows, the presentation was certainly the highlight of the trip.
I'm starting to become a lil more independent when it comes to rooms cleaning, trying desperately to work at speed and not compromise quality so that I can have sufficient break time for gym and to rest before coming back in the evenings to do the evening service.
Today was good, my trainer and I did our work in good time and it was a lil rushed but I was able to walk out the gym leaving a trail of sweat.
Speaking basic Japanese really does come in handy and I intend to enroll myself in Japanese and Spanish courses when i return. I have been able to converse with my Japanese guests using my limited vocabulary from a semester of school and years of watching anime which uses pretty crude language.
I remember one off day I went out surfing and a guest was also onboard with his wife, both Japanese. Shortly after entering the waters I got a pretty good coral cut and I got back on the boat. It was then that I had a good 20 min conversation with the Japanese lady, with minimal English and mostly Japanese.
Just makes me more and more hungry to learn and devour more languages. A handful's the target.
I have two more weeks in housekeeping before I see the light again, in Front Office, GUEST INTERACTION!
Working in housekeeping is tough, but it certainly taught me many lessons, helped me build friendships with the entire Maldivian housekeeping team and it really teaches you to respect the profession.
For me I could go on like this, or I could essentially do what I love most, interacting with people and leaving them with lasting impressions.
It has been a good internship so far. A month has passed just like that and I think before long I'd be feeling Maldives-sick and not wanting to go home.
I HAVEN'T LOGGED A SINGLE DIVE YET! ARGH!
23:24
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Continued
Tuesday
15:35
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
I'm back again as I just finished my morning service, will hit the gym soon if people I wanna speak to do not come online.
I think I put housekeeping in a pretty bad light and I'm here to change that.
Housekeeping's a profession like any other. It may not sound as glamourous as surgery and it does not make you think tons of money but it is a job, it has its own set of specialised knowledge and rules and for sure it does not require a degree from a prominent institution but not everyone can do it well and it may be years before it becomes natural to you like walking or talking.
I think coming from Singapore and the fact that we have so much foreign labour to do most of the cleaning in our estates and in our city, it has created a certain mindset in Singaporeans, that we do not need to do this and sure as hell won't be.
But here in the Maldives, where foreign labour and locals stand together, housekeeping or public cleaning is like any other job and sure, no one likes cleaning toilets but they do it anyway if it's required of them, and mind you they do it so well. I'm not so sure many of you in Singapore would.
Housekeeping's tough work here in the Maldives, it's not meant for the ladies in this scorching weather where you have to walk from bungalow to bungalow and carry your chemicals, rags and brooms. But I guess despite this tough work, these guys that I see hard at work everyday despite the usual complains of long hours, as they are all in this together and I guess the brotherhood keeps them together.
And whoa I just woke up. >.< Like literally fell asleep while typing this.
So many thoughts on my mind but of late they're so jumbled up and appear only randomly for only a split second in my head before I doze off, stone away or simply just forget.
Did I tell you guys that I am absent-minded?
Til the next time.
15:53 hours
15:35
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
I'm back again as I just finished my morning service, will hit the gym soon if people I wanna speak to do not come online.
I think I put housekeeping in a pretty bad light and I'm here to change that.
Housekeeping's a profession like any other. It may not sound as glamourous as surgery and it does not make you think tons of money but it is a job, it has its own set of specialised knowledge and rules and for sure it does not require a degree from a prominent institution but not everyone can do it well and it may be years before it becomes natural to you like walking or talking.
I think coming from Singapore and the fact that we have so much foreign labour to do most of the cleaning in our estates and in our city, it has created a certain mindset in Singaporeans, that we do not need to do this and sure as hell won't be.
But here in the Maldives, where foreign labour and locals stand together, housekeeping or public cleaning is like any other job and sure, no one likes cleaning toilets but they do it anyway if it's required of them, and mind you they do it so well. I'm not so sure many of you in Singapore would.
Housekeeping's tough work here in the Maldives, it's not meant for the ladies in this scorching weather where you have to walk from bungalow to bungalow and carry your chemicals, rags and brooms. But I guess despite this tough work, these guys that I see hard at work everyday despite the usual complains of long hours, as they are all in this together and I guess the brotherhood keeps them together.
And whoa I just woke up. >.< Like literally fell asleep while typing this.
So many thoughts on my mind but of late they're so jumbled up and appear only randomly for only a split second in my head before I doze off, stone away or simply just forget.
Did I tell you guys that I am absent-minded?
Til the next time.
15:53 hours
My Days in Housekeeping
Tuesday
13:43 hours
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
I think over the past week, I've kinda lost my zest for life and it really reminds you how important it is to do something that you love and are passionate about.
I haven't been blogging much simply because my life has become clock work and even though sometimes there are events and things that are worth sharing with everyone, like for instance:
We celebrated Vanessa's birthday with a bottle of Spumante, cake and lotsa snacks and invited a few of our colleagues to join us. It really makes you appreciate a simple get-together when you're away from home and that these little things are simply luxury that money can't buy.
To those of you who think that life in the Maldives is perfect and beautiful, you should honestly try living here and you would probably be glad your internship here's only 3 months long.
No doubt, we live around pristine blue waters of varying shades, beautiful sunsets, white sand beaches, there are also many restrictions imposed, especially on the fairer sex.
Even though I like to keep things spick and span, which is what I have been doing for the past week or so, I have been DEPRIVED of my basic need, the need for human interaction.
I realised I embrace change and that stagnation just drains me, I will not settle for a job that requires me to wake up everyday at the same time, to do the same things. It suddenly hits me that this will be my life for the next two weeks.
The good part about cleaning rooms is that it's a split shift and I do get to visit the gym and people, I'm quite proud to say that I'm in the best shape ever as I get to hit the gym almost everyday pretty conveniently.
It's just pretty draining when the kind of job I love's the one that really makes me feel satisfaction within even though there are no visible or tangible results, and housekeeping's just the direct opposite, it's all about the tangibles, making sure there's no dust or sand, no watermarks, amenities replenished.
One instance that really holds a lot of memories for me was when I was approached by a guest at about 7-ish in Singapore when I was training as a concierge. He told me it was his anniversary, his wife was in the restaurant enjoying a drink and he wanted some ideas for the evening.
The conclusion was, I arranged for dinner at Au Jardin, got a bouquet of flowers delivered to the restaurant by 9.30 p.m. which was the time reserved, and I took the initiative to look up the wife's name and had the florist prepare a card that said Happy 4th Anniversary, XXXXX. How I knew it was the fourth was also through daily interaction with the guest.
As it turns out, the guest never made it for dinner as his wife was unwell, but the flowers got sent to the hotel room and still, it would have definitely wowed them and at the end of the stay, $50 was put into my palms in a discreet handshake.
I never got to see what happened, but I knew that what I did would definitely be unforgettable for them and the emotions they would have experienced from my actions would only have been good ones.
This is the kinda thing that juices me and makes me want to go to work everyday. When you never know what's about to happen, but you have to come up with something no matter what and it has to be a WOW.
Right now all I can do is to wake up everyday, go to the gym during my break, go back to work for evening service, and just think of what to do at night besides staying online. And yes, I forgot, I have off days and I get to dive and surf, those days count the most.
It's been a month here and I haven't even logged a single dive. Depressing huh? I know it is, quite unlikely that I'd be getting an advanced certification here, just wanna enjoy the waters and marine life.
I'm not depressed people, I just know things can be better. Things are just a lot different here.
13:43 hours
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
I think over the past week, I've kinda lost my zest for life and it really reminds you how important it is to do something that you love and are passionate about.
I haven't been blogging much simply because my life has become clock work and even though sometimes there are events and things that are worth sharing with everyone, like for instance:
We celebrated Vanessa's birthday with a bottle of Spumante, cake and lotsa snacks and invited a few of our colleagues to join us. It really makes you appreciate a simple get-together when you're away from home and that these little things are simply luxury that money can't buy.
To those of you who think that life in the Maldives is perfect and beautiful, you should honestly try living here and you would probably be glad your internship here's only 3 months long.
No doubt, we live around pristine blue waters of varying shades, beautiful sunsets, white sand beaches, there are also many restrictions imposed, especially on the fairer sex.
Even though I like to keep things spick and span, which is what I have been doing for the past week or so, I have been DEPRIVED of my basic need, the need for human interaction.
I realised I embrace change and that stagnation just drains me, I will not settle for a job that requires me to wake up everyday at the same time, to do the same things. It suddenly hits me that this will be my life for the next two weeks.
The good part about cleaning rooms is that it's a split shift and I do get to visit the gym and people, I'm quite proud to say that I'm in the best shape ever as I get to hit the gym almost everyday pretty conveniently.
It's just pretty draining when the kind of job I love's the one that really makes me feel satisfaction within even though there are no visible or tangible results, and housekeeping's just the direct opposite, it's all about the tangibles, making sure there's no dust or sand, no watermarks, amenities replenished.
One instance that really holds a lot of memories for me was when I was approached by a guest at about 7-ish in Singapore when I was training as a concierge. He told me it was his anniversary, his wife was in the restaurant enjoying a drink and he wanted some ideas for the evening.
The conclusion was, I arranged for dinner at Au Jardin, got a bouquet of flowers delivered to the restaurant by 9.30 p.m. which was the time reserved, and I took the initiative to look up the wife's name and had the florist prepare a card that said Happy 4th Anniversary, XXXXX. How I knew it was the fourth was also through daily interaction with the guest.
As it turns out, the guest never made it for dinner as his wife was unwell, but the flowers got sent to the hotel room and still, it would have definitely wowed them and at the end of the stay, $50 was put into my palms in a discreet handshake.
I never got to see what happened, but I knew that what I did would definitely be unforgettable for them and the emotions they would have experienced from my actions would only have been good ones.
This is the kinda thing that juices me and makes me want to go to work everyday. When you never know what's about to happen, but you have to come up with something no matter what and it has to be a WOW.
Right now all I can do is to wake up everyday, go to the gym during my break, go back to work for evening service, and just think of what to do at night besides staying online. And yes, I forgot, I have off days and I get to dive and surf, those days count the most.
It's been a month here and I haven't even logged a single dive. Depressing huh? I know it is, quite unlikely that I'd be getting an advanced certification here, just wanna enjoy the waters and marine life.
I'm not depressed people, I just know things can be better. Things are just a lot different here.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Kinship
Wednesday
13:17 hours
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
I was informed last night by my mum that my granny passed on and that she missed her by minutes.
I haven't had the experience of literally losing someone close to heart before and it felt pretty unreal that I am here in the Maldives when my mum msged me like any other daily occurrence. I was having dinner with my pals in the resort and was planning to head to the gym later on.
I rushed to my room with an unsettling feeling that my fit and able grandmother would taken by nature just like that. My phone was charging and to my annoyance, my value's too low to make calls and I had to rush to get some top-up cards.
I called my grandma's place, my mum's phone, my sister's phone and I finally got an answer on my bro's phone and it was my sister.
In my anxiety even though I knew what happened, I had to ask, "What happened?"
My sister explained that after my aunt-in-law gave birth, she has been feeling unwell, and she has been having diarrhoea and the likes of it. Everyone was there, she said, and my beloved aunts were crying. I was wondering what she meant by that as my beloved aunts were Jane and Serene, she couldn't possibly be referring to them as they weren't close to my grandmother.
And I enquired if Uncle Nelson was there as well, and she had her head twisted, "Why would he be here?" I said isn't it grandmother's relative and then we realised, it was my GREAT-grand mother.
To be quite honest, at that point of time, the tragedy turned into a comedy, and unsettling became relieved. It all made sense now, my grandma was in perfect state of health for her age and my great grandma was supposed to be celebrating her 91st birthday this Saturday.
My condolences to my family.
It's quite amazing actually, that my family has a span of four generations until last night, my great grandma, my grand parents, my parents and my generation, and that I am quite lucky I have seen all my great grand parents. Even though I'm not sure if I should feel privileged as I can hardly communicate with them with my minimal Hokkien capabilities.
There was a lot of crying at the scene last night, even though my great grandma was quite the difficult woman, but then again, as I recall one of our family portraits, it's quite a feat for one lady to have started an entire family that spanned generations.
I always talked about how much history and heritage lies in these elderly folks, the things they could tell us about their time are probably what we take for granted in this lifetime.
The barrier to communication, the hectic lifestyles we lead despite the government attempts at forging family ties in its citizens, and the changing times where Google and Apple rule the planet, I think it's only a matter of time that kinship is eroded and limited to your immediate families. And in my generation I've come to realised that those ties are a lot tougher to keep than they seem in previous years.
The many expectations we each have of our family members, the ones we do not meet, wouldn't it be a lot easier if we just appreciated the existence of our flesh and blood.
May you rest in peace.
13:17 hours
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
I was informed last night by my mum that my granny passed on and that she missed her by minutes.
I haven't had the experience of literally losing someone close to heart before and it felt pretty unreal that I am here in the Maldives when my mum msged me like any other daily occurrence. I was having dinner with my pals in the resort and was planning to head to the gym later on.
I rushed to my room with an unsettling feeling that my fit and able grandmother would taken by nature just like that. My phone was charging and to my annoyance, my value's too low to make calls and I had to rush to get some top-up cards.
I called my grandma's place, my mum's phone, my sister's phone and I finally got an answer on my bro's phone and it was my sister.
In my anxiety even though I knew what happened, I had to ask, "What happened?"
My sister explained that after my aunt-in-law gave birth, she has been feeling unwell, and she has been having diarrhoea and the likes of it. Everyone was there, she said, and my beloved aunts were crying. I was wondering what she meant by that as my beloved aunts were Jane and Serene, she couldn't possibly be referring to them as they weren't close to my grandmother.
And I enquired if Uncle Nelson was there as well, and she had her head twisted, "Why would he be here?" I said isn't it grandmother's relative and then we realised, it was my GREAT-grand mother.
To be quite honest, at that point of time, the tragedy turned into a comedy, and unsettling became relieved. It all made sense now, my grandma was in perfect state of health for her age and my great grandma was supposed to be celebrating her 91st birthday this Saturday.
My condolences to my family.
It's quite amazing actually, that my family has a span of four generations until last night, my great grandma, my grand parents, my parents and my generation, and that I am quite lucky I have seen all my great grand parents. Even though I'm not sure if I should feel privileged as I can hardly communicate with them with my minimal Hokkien capabilities.
There was a lot of crying at the scene last night, even though my great grandma was quite the difficult woman, but then again, as I recall one of our family portraits, it's quite a feat for one lady to have started an entire family that spanned generations.
I always talked about how much history and heritage lies in these elderly folks, the things they could tell us about their time are probably what we take for granted in this lifetime.
The barrier to communication, the hectic lifestyles we lead despite the government attempts at forging family ties in its citizens, and the changing times where Google and Apple rule the planet, I think it's only a matter of time that kinship is eroded and limited to your immediate families. And in my generation I've come to realised that those ties are a lot tougher to keep than they seem in previous years.
The many expectations we each have of our family members, the ones we do not meet, wouldn't it be a lot easier if we just appreciated the existence of our flesh and blood.
May you rest in peace.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Bah
Monday
09:07 hours
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
Listening to... Black Machine
The most ironic thing that could possibly happen in SIP happened today, I am a trainer to my fellow Singaporean intern. >.<
The trainer injured his back and since I've been trained in public areas for the past few days I've been asked to cover him which I gladly took up. To my surprise, Melanie came to housekeeping this morning at 06:30 hours when I was supposed to be the only one working.
Mel: "Where's everyone?"
Me: "There's only me working this morning? (Duh!?)"
Mel: "Huh but I'm supposed to be doing public area today lei."
Me: "I'm your trainer!? :s"
The day went quite smoothly though, had a good workout in the gym after my shift at 16:30, back in the gym often again and it's addictive. Just want more and more of it but you gotta cut yourself some slack else you'd be limping and won't make it for the next session.
And people, LONG-DISTANCE running is BAD FOR HEALTH. It sounds unbelievable but if you're interested and disturbed by what I said, feel free to email me at shawn.tk.lim@gmail.com and I will gladly provide you the science journals and articles that support my statement. Actually, I'm just spreading the word, so rather I'm supporting what they say. Ha.
I need to stop thinking about some stuff that's been bothering me and just focus on work but somehow the work that I'm doing is just so stagnant and predictable, yes really, all I do is keep my fingers crossed that no one unlearned the art of pooping and vomiting and do it everywhere. Hence, tons of thinking go on in my head it feels like it's going to explode sometimes. Argh.
Hence the title.. Bah.
I'm becoming quite the astrologist, referring to readings daily. I'm still unsure if it's just me thinking about it or the fact that it has been true for the past week.
Quote of the Day
"It is possible that your relationships with your beloved one be perturbed, but you can overcome this ordeal if you show good will."
Goodwill isn't helping much in that department.
09:07 hours
Cafe Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
Listening to... Black Machine
The most ironic thing that could possibly happen in SIP happened today, I am a trainer to my fellow Singaporean intern. >.<
The trainer injured his back and since I've been trained in public areas for the past few days I've been asked to cover him which I gladly took up. To my surprise, Melanie came to housekeeping this morning at 06:30 hours when I was supposed to be the only one working.
Mel: "Where's everyone?"
Me: "There's only me working this morning? (Duh!?)"
Mel: "Huh but I'm supposed to be doing public area today lei."
Me: "I'm your trainer!? :s"
The day went quite smoothly though, had a good workout in the gym after my shift at 16:30, back in the gym often again and it's addictive. Just want more and more of it but you gotta cut yourself some slack else you'd be limping and won't make it for the next session.
And people, LONG-DISTANCE running is BAD FOR HEALTH. It sounds unbelievable but if you're interested and disturbed by what I said, feel free to email me at shawn.tk.lim@gmail.com and I will gladly provide you the science journals and articles that support my statement. Actually, I'm just spreading the word, so rather I'm supporting what they say. Ha.
I need to stop thinking about some stuff that's been bothering me and just focus on work but somehow the work that I'm doing is just so stagnant and predictable, yes really, all I do is keep my fingers crossed that no one unlearned the art of pooping and vomiting and do it everywhere. Hence, tons of thinking go on in my head it feels like it's going to explode sometimes. Argh.
Hence the title.. Bah.
I'm becoming quite the astrologist, referring to readings daily. I'm still unsure if it's just me thinking about it or the fact that it has been true for the past week.
Quote of the Day
"It is possible that your relationships with your beloved one be perturbed, but you can overcome this ordeal if you show good will."
Goodwill isn't helping much in that department.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Back in Action
Saturday
22:06 hours
Café Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
Listening to… DJ Khaled – We Taking Over
Public Cleaning and Good Governance
It has been a long and dreadful week at public area cleaning. From what started out as a seemingly humbling and good learning experience, it became quite the labourer’s nightmare.
During work as a public attendant, I also realised I really liked talking and need to talk. I think it’s an inborn trait, I remember my primary and secondary school report books always had comments like chatty, talkative. Ha! And I think most of you people reading this would know how much I like to talk too. Not talking on the job kinda made me pretty reclusive and I started avoiding people a bit.
I know it’s kinda unbelievable but it felt like I lost the fire but thank you Krystle, it is me and will never change. ☺ I realised if I were to become mute, I might just kill myself, but then again I thought maybe I will become Mr. Muscle with my hands trashing all around trying to communicate with sign language! Ha! Touchwood though, my fingers are crossed that that day never comes. ☺
Back to work, as a Singaporean, it would be quite unimaginable for you to be clearing your trash in your HDB estate, washing the toilets for your neighbours, sweeping their flats, cleaning their windows, polishing their mirrors and basically touching up their houses.
But this is exactly what I did, or the above is a very appropriate equivalence of what I did. Not to mention the UNBELIEVABLE FOURTEEN-HOUR (I’m typing it out in words to illustrate the magnitude) SHIFT I DID!
FYI: Labour laws and unions are inexistent in the Maldives and are virtually alien.
It seems along with the affluence that tourism has brought it, the native Maldivians, have come to realise that perhaps it is time they ought to do something about their working hours before these hospitality giants take their hardiness and conscientiousness for granted and exploit this significant gap that the backward government somehow managed to conveniently overlook.
Government offices work 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Sundays to Thursdays, and their fellow countrymen are worked easily twelve hours a day, for six days a week. Unbelievable.
In the coming election in January 2008, I believe there will be some political transformation and a labour law will be imposed. Many of the staff I speak to in Housekeeping are looking forward to the political reform.
From a business standpoint, yes it is indeed convenient to cut down on manpower and work these hardy natives a little harder (they get paid about US$220 a month) since most of the companies can easily afford to provide full board lodging for them.
I’m becoming quite the activist but honestly, to work these guys 72 hours a week, expect them to get enough rest, have enough family time, which is also the basis of Maldivian culture, and also have time to enjoy the activities that the staff are entitled to, it is not humane.
My fourteen-hour shift was dreadful and it was just one Thursday night.
My Episode with the Nose
On Wednesday I had my ‘period’, my nose bled out of the blue during my break just as I was about to end my conversation online. The bleeding was pretty bad this time and I suppose it’s due to the weather here, really hot in the day and you don’t get much time for water. Anyway the doctor came, ordered I get rest and stay in, no talking and he will evaluate if I am well for work the next day.
If you’re thinking, “OH LUCKY SHAWN!” You’re dead wrong.
Having a hereditary nose episode that hasn’t happened in months and the doctor making a big hoo-ha out of it also means no diving, no surfing, no whatever, so you better get on your two-feet fast and get back to work so your off day’s not wasted!
It was both pleasure and penance to go back to work, pleasure as Friday was the off day so I’d be surfing again and penance because I started at 4.30 p.m. and didn’t finish until 6.00 a.m. the next day. And can you imagine these poor guys who train me so well that I can do what they do have to put up with this almost every other night?!
During the night’s work, I inquired a lot about the situation and basically, it wasn’t right and I knew I had to do something and I did email my Director of Rooms whom I have been talking to quite a bit during breaks and by chance.
To my relief, as I was getting pretty worried that an intern has no place to say things like that, he actually thanked me for making him aware of the situation and that he would discuss it with the management team and will involve me when necessary.
I think right now, there’s still a little bit of fear in me about how things will turn out. I’m not sure about most of you but I think all of us has had this experience, to see something that’s not right happening and not do anything about it and I think this time it will really bother me that I return to Singapore and wait for the really laidback and chillout government to do something about it.
Regardless of the outcome, my conscience is clear and I am glad I did it anyhow. ☺
This is going to be quite a long entry, have had some pointers laid out for a couple of days now but haven’t had the chance to really sit down by myself and just write.
Director’s Lunch
Oh yes! We had lunch on Thursday with Director of Rooms, Matthew, at the Café Hura restaurant! It was like winning a Survivor challenge in Vanuatu or something! I’m not kidding, when you have TUNA at EVERY MEAL, you really wonder if steak’s ever gonna be on the menu, not to mention the same salad bar EVERYDAY.
And yes I am VERY HAPPY to announce I had a good flank steak! It was probably the best meal I’ve had and will have in the Maldives, oh and I ended it with a really interesting coconut, lychee dessert that had generous layers of crème brulee of some sort.
Okay enough of my ravings, the purpose of the meal was more business than for pleasure but of course, it was definitely more pleasure! We were supposed to discuss our project that we had to do for the management because of school and Matthew responded very enthusiastically to it as he already had some ideas.
Basically our task is to look through all the service issues the resort has had in all departments on a monthly basis, figure out which are the most significant issues, offer solutions during a presentation at the end of the month. He was also giving us some tips and advice about how to go about it and I must say he really has it planned out in his head.
After all that talk about work we had a chance to just talk casually about our plans in the future, ask him questions about anything under the sun which I really enjoyed. It was a great lunch with good company and it made the day extremely bearable until the nose bleed. LoL.
The Dying Planet
I remember couple of days ago one of my dearest friend, Fen (yes you are and you know it!), was having an exchange on email and we were talking about the change in the environment.
Here in Maldives, couple of years back the El Nino effect caused an increase in the temperature of the seawater by just one degree Celsius and that killed tons of corals all over Maldives and also around the very island I live on. And may I remind you that corals take hundred and thousands of years to form and wonders like the Great Barrier Reef may have taken millions of years to form. And the corals at the Great Barrier Reef are dying as well.
In the Maldives coral reefs are more than just ecosystems under water that provides for an amazing biodiversity, they surround the 1190 islands scattered all over Maldivian waters and protect them from the waves and tsunamis. It is incredibly hardy and strong like the Maldivian people but it is equally fragile. You just have to apply so much as a pinch of pressure, they snap! And that’s it, the coral is dead, which probably took more than a hundred years to form.
Can you imagine the number of people learning diving and not know how to control their buoyancy and kick the reefs with their fins by accidents?! Millions of years of life which took forever to grow just going down the drain.
Anyway, Rory, resident marine biologist, said that even though there are conservation efforts and protected sites in place, there really is no way to stop the corals bleaching due to human activity and its effect on the ozone. All he said was that all we can do is to learn diving, put those wetsuits and fins on, and travel to see the world beneath before its all gone.
Marine animals are extremely hardy to nature conditions and will adapt and evolve and it is very likely that there will be behavioural changes like migrating towards the North and South in search for colder waters.
In an estimated 50 years, Maldives might cease to exist as its highest ‘mountain’ is only 1.8 metres above sea level and judging from the melting of the ice caps in the North and South, it becomes quite clear that preventive measures has to be planned starting now.
The one hour talk we had with Rory during orientation to be honest was quite depressing for me and he did say that he did not mean to depress any of us but instead wants us to have an awareness of the situation, make an active effort to conserve marine life and also see what we have while we still can. I guess this just about rounds up the talk about the environment and I hope for those of you around me who likes the waters, get your dive license and start diving, the clock’s ticking.
And last of all, to all the beautiful people that email me:
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy city/school/work/SIP schedule to email/Facebook me every once in a while. You guys are the only reason (aside food :p) why I miss Singapore and the only reason my heartstrings tug at me when I think about Singapore.
Your emails and msgs brings with it warmth and comfort when I’m feeling kinda burnt (To you Claire!) and when I do not get to have a quality conversation with anyone here, replying your emails already feels like someone’s listening to me and that I really appreciate.
Most importantly, you guys remind me of home and that I’m very much still a Singaporean and that there is really no place like home as much as I’d like to think I’m a global citizen.
And for the record, I am not homesick. :p
22:06 hours
Café Faru
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
Listening to… DJ Khaled – We Taking Over
Public Cleaning and Good Governance
It has been a long and dreadful week at public area cleaning. From what started out as a seemingly humbling and good learning experience, it became quite the labourer’s nightmare.
During work as a public attendant, I also realised I really liked talking and need to talk. I think it’s an inborn trait, I remember my primary and secondary school report books always had comments like chatty, talkative. Ha! And I think most of you people reading this would know how much I like to talk too. Not talking on the job kinda made me pretty reclusive and I started avoiding people a bit.
I know it’s kinda unbelievable but it felt like I lost the fire but thank you Krystle, it is me and will never change. ☺ I realised if I were to become mute, I might just kill myself, but then again I thought maybe I will become Mr. Muscle with my hands trashing all around trying to communicate with sign language! Ha! Touchwood though, my fingers are crossed that that day never comes. ☺
Back to work, as a Singaporean, it would be quite unimaginable for you to be clearing your trash in your HDB estate, washing the toilets for your neighbours, sweeping their flats, cleaning their windows, polishing their mirrors and basically touching up their houses.
But this is exactly what I did, or the above is a very appropriate equivalence of what I did. Not to mention the UNBELIEVABLE FOURTEEN-HOUR (I’m typing it out in words to illustrate the magnitude) SHIFT I DID!
FYI: Labour laws and unions are inexistent in the Maldives and are virtually alien.
It seems along with the affluence that tourism has brought it, the native Maldivians, have come to realise that perhaps it is time they ought to do something about their working hours before these hospitality giants take their hardiness and conscientiousness for granted and exploit this significant gap that the backward government somehow managed to conveniently overlook.
Government offices work 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Sundays to Thursdays, and their fellow countrymen are worked easily twelve hours a day, for six days a week. Unbelievable.
In the coming election in January 2008, I believe there will be some political transformation and a labour law will be imposed. Many of the staff I speak to in Housekeeping are looking forward to the political reform.
From a business standpoint, yes it is indeed convenient to cut down on manpower and work these hardy natives a little harder (they get paid about US$220 a month) since most of the companies can easily afford to provide full board lodging for them.
I’m becoming quite the activist but honestly, to work these guys 72 hours a week, expect them to get enough rest, have enough family time, which is also the basis of Maldivian culture, and also have time to enjoy the activities that the staff are entitled to, it is not humane.
My fourteen-hour shift was dreadful and it was just one Thursday night.
My Episode with the Nose
On Wednesday I had my ‘period’, my nose bled out of the blue during my break just as I was about to end my conversation online. The bleeding was pretty bad this time and I suppose it’s due to the weather here, really hot in the day and you don’t get much time for water. Anyway the doctor came, ordered I get rest and stay in, no talking and he will evaluate if I am well for work the next day.
If you’re thinking, “OH LUCKY SHAWN!” You’re dead wrong.
Having a hereditary nose episode that hasn’t happened in months and the doctor making a big hoo-ha out of it also means no diving, no surfing, no whatever, so you better get on your two-feet fast and get back to work so your off day’s not wasted!
It was both pleasure and penance to go back to work, pleasure as Friday was the off day so I’d be surfing again and penance because I started at 4.30 p.m. and didn’t finish until 6.00 a.m. the next day. And can you imagine these poor guys who train me so well that I can do what they do have to put up with this almost every other night?!
During the night’s work, I inquired a lot about the situation and basically, it wasn’t right and I knew I had to do something and I did email my Director of Rooms whom I have been talking to quite a bit during breaks and by chance.
To my relief, as I was getting pretty worried that an intern has no place to say things like that, he actually thanked me for making him aware of the situation and that he would discuss it with the management team and will involve me when necessary.
I think right now, there’s still a little bit of fear in me about how things will turn out. I’m not sure about most of you but I think all of us has had this experience, to see something that’s not right happening and not do anything about it and I think this time it will really bother me that I return to Singapore and wait for the really laidback and chillout government to do something about it.
Regardless of the outcome, my conscience is clear and I am glad I did it anyhow. ☺
This is going to be quite a long entry, have had some pointers laid out for a couple of days now but haven’t had the chance to really sit down by myself and just write.
Director’s Lunch
Oh yes! We had lunch on Thursday with Director of Rooms, Matthew, at the Café Hura restaurant! It was like winning a Survivor challenge in Vanuatu or something! I’m not kidding, when you have TUNA at EVERY MEAL, you really wonder if steak’s ever gonna be on the menu, not to mention the same salad bar EVERYDAY.
And yes I am VERY HAPPY to announce I had a good flank steak! It was probably the best meal I’ve had and will have in the Maldives, oh and I ended it with a really interesting coconut, lychee dessert that had generous layers of crème brulee of some sort.
Okay enough of my ravings, the purpose of the meal was more business than for pleasure but of course, it was definitely more pleasure! We were supposed to discuss our project that we had to do for the management because of school and Matthew responded very enthusiastically to it as he already had some ideas.
Basically our task is to look through all the service issues the resort has had in all departments on a monthly basis, figure out which are the most significant issues, offer solutions during a presentation at the end of the month. He was also giving us some tips and advice about how to go about it and I must say he really has it planned out in his head.
After all that talk about work we had a chance to just talk casually about our plans in the future, ask him questions about anything under the sun which I really enjoyed. It was a great lunch with good company and it made the day extremely bearable until the nose bleed. LoL.
The Dying Planet
I remember couple of days ago one of my dearest friend, Fen (yes you are and you know it!), was having an exchange on email and we were talking about the change in the environment.
Here in Maldives, couple of years back the El Nino effect caused an increase in the temperature of the seawater by just one degree Celsius and that killed tons of corals all over Maldives and also around the very island I live on. And may I remind you that corals take hundred and thousands of years to form and wonders like the Great Barrier Reef may have taken millions of years to form. And the corals at the Great Barrier Reef are dying as well.
In the Maldives coral reefs are more than just ecosystems under water that provides for an amazing biodiversity, they surround the 1190 islands scattered all over Maldivian waters and protect them from the waves and tsunamis. It is incredibly hardy and strong like the Maldivian people but it is equally fragile. You just have to apply so much as a pinch of pressure, they snap! And that’s it, the coral is dead, which probably took more than a hundred years to form.
Can you imagine the number of people learning diving and not know how to control their buoyancy and kick the reefs with their fins by accidents?! Millions of years of life which took forever to grow just going down the drain.
Anyway, Rory, resident marine biologist, said that even though there are conservation efforts and protected sites in place, there really is no way to stop the corals bleaching due to human activity and its effect on the ozone. All he said was that all we can do is to learn diving, put those wetsuits and fins on, and travel to see the world beneath before its all gone.
Marine animals are extremely hardy to nature conditions and will adapt and evolve and it is very likely that there will be behavioural changes like migrating towards the North and South in search for colder waters.
In an estimated 50 years, Maldives might cease to exist as its highest ‘mountain’ is only 1.8 metres above sea level and judging from the melting of the ice caps in the North and South, it becomes quite clear that preventive measures has to be planned starting now.
The one hour talk we had with Rory during orientation to be honest was quite depressing for me and he did say that he did not mean to depress any of us but instead wants us to have an awareness of the situation, make an active effort to conserve marine life and also see what we have while we still can. I guess this just about rounds up the talk about the environment and I hope for those of you around me who likes the waters, get your dive license and start diving, the clock’s ticking.
And last of all, to all the beautiful people that email me:
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy city/school/work/SIP schedule to email/Facebook me every once in a while. You guys are the only reason (aside food :p) why I miss Singapore and the only reason my heartstrings tug at me when I think about Singapore.
Your emails and msgs brings with it warmth and comfort when I’m feeling kinda burnt (To you Claire!) and when I do not get to have a quality conversation with anyone here, replying your emails already feels like someone’s listening to me and that I really appreciate.
Most importantly, you guys remind me of home and that I’m very much still a Singaporean and that there is really no place like home as much as I’d like to think I’m a global citizen.
And for the record, I am not homesick. :p
Sunday, November 4, 2007
My First Surf!
Sunday
18:24 hours
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
Cafe Faru
Today's the second day off and my first time surfing, catching the waves!
And I have this to say to aspiring surfers:
1. Buy a freaking rashguard, I got a huge rash on my tummy.
2. If you see a big wave, GET OFF YOUR BOARD NOW! Go under and yes, go ahead and swallow some seawater before swimming up to the surface.
3. Get BACK ON using the leash to get your board.
4. Paddle FOR YOUR LIFE against the waves BEFORE THEY CRASH.
5. Muster up your courage for your next
It was a great Sunday, I woke up, missed breakfast and took out my remaining packet of Post's Blueberry Morning Cereal which my sister, Shern, forced me to pack, cheers Shern! I guess it does come in handy but well, it's all in the girls and my tummy now.
I was supposed to dive but it turns out my name wasn't put on the list by the staff that was fooling around in the shop all afternoon and it was full for both morning and afternoon, but luckily for me Melanie was nice enough to ask if I'd like to do some surfing and off I went.
Washed up, slabbed tons of sunblock and packed my bag for my day off, taking the boat out to a surf break to catch some waves, WITHOUT prior knowledge of how to surf, not a smart move, REALLY, not a smart move.
Normally, our instructor, Johny, would take you out to the lagoon, do some drills like paddling and getting on the board, before bringing you out to catch some small waves.
Today, it is HIS DAY OFF, so he told us, not too much teaching 'cause that's what he did all week, he needs to take a break and just SURF. Rory, the resident marine biologist, came along too, turns out he's a surfer himself.
We picked our boards, Melanie and I had to use the HUMONGOUS ones for stability and learning how to get on our feet first while the dudes got their really sleek, light and small ones and off we went on the boat, heading for the surf break named Sultans.
As we drew closer to the surf break, you start to see these waves you thought only exist on TV and they were just the beginning of the day. Did a quick crash course onboard before throwing our boards into the water and paddling out to catch waves.
It's pretty amazing sight to see Johny gliding through the waves and sometimes it seems he's ON the wave itself.
Wasn't long before I tried to catch my own wave on cheers of "Go for it, Shawn!" and I stood up, was surfing but before long, I was down into the waves and it felt like I was drowning! The pros said for us to go under the waves when they crash but they didn't tell me what to do AFTERWARDS.
So I just kept "drowning" and "drowning" until I got washed up onto shore which had tons of reef and rocks and I wasn't wearing booties, which are shoes that you wear for diving and other water sports. Thankfully, no cuts, no injuries, and Johny came to get me shortly after. Then he explained to GET ON YOUR BOARD FAST, paddle FOR YOUR LIFE out back into sea.
It kinda freaks you out a little but the feeling of almost standing up would just inevitably get you trying to get yourself killed again. Ha! But this time round though I didn't stand, I most certainly could paddle out to sea. The big boards are kinda bulky to manouvre but you just gotta get your balance before using the smaller ones which are a lot easier to control and get back on to.
I took a short break onboard the boat and Rory came along shortly, his leash snapped and he got cut up pretty bad when a big wave crashed him onto shore. It was then we slabbed on a second layer of sunblock and he gave me more tips before we hit the waters again.
Melanie made some good progress though while we were onboard, almost standing like what three times! Pint-sized girl like her's pretty cool against the waves, she was nearly washed to shore but was really cool about it and the guys went to get her. Cheers Mel!
Didn't take long to realise surfing's a tough sport, requires tons of stamina and muscles for paddling, really wipes you out, paddling. And before you know it, it was about half to one, we were told we'd be getting back on the resort by 13:00 hours but since it was the day off for all four of us we took it slow.
Tried to do some fishing but we didn't make any catch for dinner, was hoping to hand it to the cafe at nearby Bodu Huraa to cook up fresh dinner. Did some scurfing, at least Mel and I tried, Johny and Rory did it pretty well. Scurfing's surfing with a line to the boat, so it's somewhat like wakeboarding with nothing holding to your feet, just feet and board. You'd find some pictures on Facebook.
So here I am in the cybercafe waiting for time to pass by online before dinner at Bodu Huraa with the boys, had cup noodles for lunch as the canteen was closed by the time we made it back.
So now if there's no diving, there's SURFING and boy am I enjoying the day off in Maldives!
18:24 hours
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
Cafe Faru
Today's the second day off and my first time surfing, catching the waves!
And I have this to say to aspiring surfers:
1. Buy a freaking rashguard, I got a huge rash on my tummy.
2. If you see a big wave, GET OFF YOUR BOARD NOW! Go under and yes, go ahead and swallow some seawater before swimming up to the surface.
3. Get BACK ON using the leash to get your board.
4. Paddle FOR YOUR LIFE against the waves BEFORE THEY CRASH.
5. Muster up your courage for your next
It was a great Sunday, I woke up, missed breakfast and took out my remaining packet of Post's Blueberry Morning Cereal which my sister, Shern, forced me to pack, cheers Shern! I guess it does come in handy but well, it's all in the girls and my tummy now.
I was supposed to dive but it turns out my name wasn't put on the list by the staff that was fooling around in the shop all afternoon and it was full for both morning and afternoon, but luckily for me Melanie was nice enough to ask if I'd like to do some surfing and off I went.
Washed up, slabbed tons of sunblock and packed my bag for my day off, taking the boat out to a surf break to catch some waves, WITHOUT prior knowledge of how to surf, not a smart move, REALLY, not a smart move.
Normally, our instructor, Johny, would take you out to the lagoon, do some drills like paddling and getting on the board, before bringing you out to catch some small waves.
Today, it is HIS DAY OFF, so he told us, not too much teaching 'cause that's what he did all week, he needs to take a break and just SURF. Rory, the resident marine biologist, came along too, turns out he's a surfer himself.
We picked our boards, Melanie and I had to use the HUMONGOUS ones for stability and learning how to get on our feet first while the dudes got their really sleek, light and small ones and off we went on the boat, heading for the surf break named Sultans.
As we drew closer to the surf break, you start to see these waves you thought only exist on TV and they were just the beginning of the day. Did a quick crash course onboard before throwing our boards into the water and paddling out to catch waves.
It's pretty amazing sight to see Johny gliding through the waves and sometimes it seems he's ON the wave itself.
Wasn't long before I tried to catch my own wave on cheers of "Go for it, Shawn!" and I stood up, was surfing but before long, I was down into the waves and it felt like I was drowning! The pros said for us to go under the waves when they crash but they didn't tell me what to do AFTERWARDS.
So I just kept "drowning" and "drowning" until I got washed up onto shore which had tons of reef and rocks and I wasn't wearing booties, which are shoes that you wear for diving and other water sports. Thankfully, no cuts, no injuries, and Johny came to get me shortly after. Then he explained to GET ON YOUR BOARD FAST, paddle FOR YOUR LIFE out back into sea.
It kinda freaks you out a little but the feeling of almost standing up would just inevitably get you trying to get yourself killed again. Ha! But this time round though I didn't stand, I most certainly could paddle out to sea. The big boards are kinda bulky to manouvre but you just gotta get your balance before using the smaller ones which are a lot easier to control and get back on to.
I took a short break onboard the boat and Rory came along shortly, his leash snapped and he got cut up pretty bad when a big wave crashed him onto shore. It was then we slabbed on a second layer of sunblock and he gave me more tips before we hit the waters again.
Melanie made some good progress though while we were onboard, almost standing like what three times! Pint-sized girl like her's pretty cool against the waves, she was nearly washed to shore but was really cool about it and the guys went to get her. Cheers Mel!
Didn't take long to realise surfing's a tough sport, requires tons of stamina and muscles for paddling, really wipes you out, paddling. And before you know it, it was about half to one, we were told we'd be getting back on the resort by 13:00 hours but since it was the day off for all four of us we took it slow.
Tried to do some fishing but we didn't make any catch for dinner, was hoping to hand it to the cafe at nearby Bodu Huraa to cook up fresh dinner. Did some scurfing, at least Mel and I tried, Johny and Rory did it pretty well. Scurfing's surfing with a line to the boat, so it's somewhat like wakeboarding with nothing holding to your feet, just feet and board. You'd find some pictures on Facebook.
So here I am in the cybercafe waiting for time to pass by online before dinner at Bodu Huraa with the boys, had cup noodles for lunch as the canteen was closed by the time we made it back.
So now if there's no diving, there's SURFING and boy am I enjoying the day off in Maldives!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The First Time I Woke Up Reluctantly for Work
Monday
21:42 hours
C-17 (Girls’ room)
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
Surprise, surprise! ☺ Yes, it is the first time that I was reluctant to work after nine days in Maldives. I am in the girls’ room now as I have no internet connection once again and I am supposed to be helping Ms. Candice with her work as a ‘sommelier’, like RIGHT, sommelier. Not someone who’s fresh and NOT out of school.
I slept late as I was up chatting past midnight, a habit that has not seen light since eons ago, because of dear friends from Singapore. It’s not like in Singapore when you chat ‘cause you just have nothing to do, being away you really wanna make full use of the time online to communicate with friends and family.
As my tonsillitis was still in full effect, it was 05:30 hours when my alarm rang and I let it snooze til 05:55 before I jumped out of bed, washed up and got myself honey water as breakfast was yet to be served but there was honey on the table. ☺
The housekeeping office was locked and vacant which was a bit of a shock, so I had to ask one of the boys at laundry to help call for someone in charge.
It was then I met Nassir, who was my trainer for the day. I was quickly led into the public areas and I started my job first in the washrooms. Never have I imagined that I will be cleaning toilets but I did and due to hygiene concerns, as much as some areas I clean are drop dead beautiful, I don’t think I want my hands any where near my Fuji camera (Yes old school).
It is shocking, the amount of work that one public attendant has to do in a short span of three hours; gym changing rooms, lobby area, library, Mathige lounge, dive centre washrooms, lobby washrooms, gift shop glass windows, and furniture in the lobby area. Not only clean but also replace amenities.
Although it sounds challenging and I was all up for it, the lack of sleep and my trainer’s good working attitude and desire to teach me right resulted in my sleepy self during his demo and it was not before long that I slapped myself mentally and literally grabbed the dust mop from his hands and started cleaning when he was on the walkie.
Boy was it fun, tough, but fun nonetheless. ☺ So many areas, so little time, and bad weather conditions meant repeated visits to the same areas in a cycle over and over to make sure it looks spick and span.
I quickly learnt what chemicals are used for various purposes and how to use them; how hazardous they are, amount to be used, where to replace them.
I came here with the mindset that anything there is to do, I will do, anything there is to be learnt, I will learn, and boy I did today. Nothing feels better than putting in a hard day’s work, and having time fly by. Before I knew it, it was breakfast break, and before I knew it, it was lunchtime.
Lunch was good but my throat felt worst and I visited Dr. Imateyaz again only to discover this time the swelling went up in the unaffected tonsil and on the affect an ulcer grew. >.< Was given some antibiotics and paracetamol to fight the infection and my fingers are crossed for it to be over soon. I feel great except the annoying obstacle in my throat that hurts from time to time, especially in this dry and hot weather.
After lunch it was going through the repeated cycle again as the winds would blow sand and particles into the areas and also guests walking in and out would bring sand, plus the gents and ladies would be used.
The gratification comes from knowing it’s a challenge to clean up all areas in limited time, walking away from the public areas you cleaned and seeing that it is spick, span and spotless, tangible evidence of your work, and ultimately I love cleaning!
But today during work I realised that this is the first time I see a lack of teamwork in Four Seasons and that it is tough to be Four Seasons in a rural environment. The locals here, not all, but quite predominantly lack professionalism and some maturity.
In addition, you start to learn about the culture here and although most of them are friendly to you, there are some black sheep who are not really friendly and are just here to get by and it is basically… A job.
Then again, this is a learning experience and you should learn as much and as far as I am concerned, I have been adapting well and the experience so far has been good and I have been lucky enough to get excellent trainers in each department.
I hope tomorrow with another trainer would be as challenging as today. ☺
Today Wilson left for home in the Philippines after finishing a year here with Four Seasons. Had a good final chat, exchanged email addresses and we said to keep in touch.
Most of the evening was spent with Yamaki-san, who’s the manager of recreation centre and he is what I would call a common comrade in my quest of self-discovery.
He graduated from school at 18, went into Nikkei stock market as a broker for 8 years, then to Okinawa to guide people diving and then to the island of Palau as a tour guide for six years and he’s now here for a year as the manager of Seawalker.
To travel the world, experience different cultures, meet people from all walks of life, and basically, to just see the world and in search of a final retiring place, that’s the life.
We talk about his life experiences and largely I asked him to help brush up on my Japanese and to learn about Japanese culture.
Okay I think I need to call it a night, down for work at 06:30 hours and it’s now 00:11. Good luck to me!
21:42 hours
C-17 (Girls’ room)
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
Surprise, surprise! ☺ Yes, it is the first time that I was reluctant to work after nine days in Maldives. I am in the girls’ room now as I have no internet connection once again and I am supposed to be helping Ms. Candice with her work as a ‘sommelier’, like RIGHT, sommelier. Not someone who’s fresh and NOT out of school.
I slept late as I was up chatting past midnight, a habit that has not seen light since eons ago, because of dear friends from Singapore. It’s not like in Singapore when you chat ‘cause you just have nothing to do, being away you really wanna make full use of the time online to communicate with friends and family.
As my tonsillitis was still in full effect, it was 05:30 hours when my alarm rang and I let it snooze til 05:55 before I jumped out of bed, washed up and got myself honey water as breakfast was yet to be served but there was honey on the table. ☺
The housekeeping office was locked and vacant which was a bit of a shock, so I had to ask one of the boys at laundry to help call for someone in charge.
It was then I met Nassir, who was my trainer for the day. I was quickly led into the public areas and I started my job first in the washrooms. Never have I imagined that I will be cleaning toilets but I did and due to hygiene concerns, as much as some areas I clean are drop dead beautiful, I don’t think I want my hands any where near my Fuji camera (Yes old school).
It is shocking, the amount of work that one public attendant has to do in a short span of three hours; gym changing rooms, lobby area, library, Mathige lounge, dive centre washrooms, lobby washrooms, gift shop glass windows, and furniture in the lobby area. Not only clean but also replace amenities.
Although it sounds challenging and I was all up for it, the lack of sleep and my trainer’s good working attitude and desire to teach me right resulted in my sleepy self during his demo and it was not before long that I slapped myself mentally and literally grabbed the dust mop from his hands and started cleaning when he was on the walkie.
Boy was it fun, tough, but fun nonetheless. ☺ So many areas, so little time, and bad weather conditions meant repeated visits to the same areas in a cycle over and over to make sure it looks spick and span.
I quickly learnt what chemicals are used for various purposes and how to use them; how hazardous they are, amount to be used, where to replace them.
I came here with the mindset that anything there is to do, I will do, anything there is to be learnt, I will learn, and boy I did today. Nothing feels better than putting in a hard day’s work, and having time fly by. Before I knew it, it was breakfast break, and before I knew it, it was lunchtime.
Lunch was good but my throat felt worst and I visited Dr. Imateyaz again only to discover this time the swelling went up in the unaffected tonsil and on the affect an ulcer grew. >.< Was given some antibiotics and paracetamol to fight the infection and my fingers are crossed for it to be over soon. I feel great except the annoying obstacle in my throat that hurts from time to time, especially in this dry and hot weather.
After lunch it was going through the repeated cycle again as the winds would blow sand and particles into the areas and also guests walking in and out would bring sand, plus the gents and ladies would be used.
The gratification comes from knowing it’s a challenge to clean up all areas in limited time, walking away from the public areas you cleaned and seeing that it is spick, span and spotless, tangible evidence of your work, and ultimately I love cleaning!
But today during work I realised that this is the first time I see a lack of teamwork in Four Seasons and that it is tough to be Four Seasons in a rural environment. The locals here, not all, but quite predominantly lack professionalism and some maturity.
In addition, you start to learn about the culture here and although most of them are friendly to you, there are some black sheep who are not really friendly and are just here to get by and it is basically… A job.
Then again, this is a learning experience and you should learn as much and as far as I am concerned, I have been adapting well and the experience so far has been good and I have been lucky enough to get excellent trainers in each department.
I hope tomorrow with another trainer would be as challenging as today. ☺
Today Wilson left for home in the Philippines after finishing a year here with Four Seasons. Had a good final chat, exchanged email addresses and we said to keep in touch.
Most of the evening was spent with Yamaki-san, who’s the manager of recreation centre and he is what I would call a common comrade in my quest of self-discovery.
He graduated from school at 18, went into Nikkei stock market as a broker for 8 years, then to Okinawa to guide people diving and then to the island of Palau as a tour guide for six years and he’s now here for a year as the manager of Seawalker.
To travel the world, experience different cultures, meet people from all walks of life, and basically, to just see the world and in search of a final retiring place, that’s the life.
We talk about his life experiences and largely I asked him to help brush up on my Japanese and to learn about Japanese culture.
Okay I think I need to call it a night, down for work at 06:30 hours and it’s now 00:11. Good luck to me!
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