The next decade....what's in store?
Musings of a yamfooted traveller still trying to shake off those last 20 pounds as she treks across the Caribbean
What I would give now to be able to sleep until whenever I decide to wake up, rather than HAVING to get up at a certain time because I HAVE to go to work at a certain time.
Don't get me wrong....I love my job....but I also love my sleep.
Ah well, am on a day off again on Monday. Last week Monday it rained thereby making a tan impossible. I must go and check the forecast and see what is in store for Monday.
It's funny.....for the four years I lived here the first time, I probably went to the beach half a dozen times, but I am finding that these days, every opportunity I get, I am at the beach. I always go alone, and I almost never go in the water. There is just something special when you come from Kingston, to be able to drive 2 minutes and reach any of two lovely beaches, sit on the sand and not have harrassers bothering you.
What was he thinking?
A journalist of a college newspaper says that for some, rape is a magical experience. He asked "how else would an ugly woman know about the joys of sex with a man who wasn't drunk?" If it don't go so, it go hear so. Google it.
The fella is 23 years old. I am watching this on CNN. Unbelievable.
What the $^#@&%$*($ was he thinking?????
I was talking with a colleague yesterday and he mentioned Barrack or however him name spell.
Then I said that in my opinion, he and Hilary should join together and it would be a clear victory for the Democrats in the 2008 election. He only has 2 years in the Senate; she has lots more plus her hubby, so it's a no-brainer to me.
I guess they will wait to see who gets the party nomination and then decide their running mate. For my money, it should be a Hilary-Barrack (or should it be Barrack-Hilary?????) ticket all the way to the White House. I don't normally follow American politics but this race will get my attention because of the race.
I saw Barrack and his wife and Oprah. Very likeable guy. She did ask him if him was gwine run and me sure seh him did seh no. Why anybody would want to be President of that troubled country with so many enemies, I don't know!
But anyway, ah watching from mi likkle spot here in the Spice Isle.
Well I don't really follow politricks, but I do follow the news and was surprised that...
a. St Lucia had elections yesterday.
and
b. The old man Sir John won.
I don't know what the climate is like in St Lucia but it must have been really bad for people to go back to someone who retired years ago, and looks like the 80+ years that he is!
By the way Sir John, you need a makeover. Pretty much like me I suppose.
So Madame Portia, don't think that because the people dem like you, that you gone clear when elections come. If Bruce & Co. throw mud and innuendo at you, well, we could go back to being a capitalist state.
UPDATE: A picture of a well brain.
Read all the stories below......starting from the bottom up, from Day in Port of Spain: 1
MRI Technician: Do you have any metal pins in your body?
Yamfoot: Nope.
MRI Technician: Any bridges in your teeth? Any metal ever got in your eyes?
Yamfoot: Nope.
MRI Technician asks me to fill out a form which includes a question on the symptoms I have been having. I write what they are and then add that I have been having memory loss.
MRI Technician: Short term or Long term?
Yamfoot: Short term.
Technician tells me to take off my jewellry and bra and then lie on the thingy. He gives me ear plugs because the machine makes noise. He advises that if at any time I want him to stop, I should press the button that he places in my hand. I tell him I have anxiety issues.
But I am prepared not to press "stop" because if I do, he would have to start over at the very beginning and there was no way I would let that happen.
The mind is a helluva thing. It's a bit clostraphobic under there. He told me if I was closing my eyes, to do it before he rolled me in. So I listened. Then I thought great thoughts about any and everything. So far, so good. No stop button for me.
He then does the cervical spine scan. Near the end of it, he comes from behind his computer to tell me I have been moving around too much and he has to redo that last segment. He asks me not to swallow. Lawks. How long for? Only 3 minutes. That is do-able. And I succeeded.
Got my film, went to my friends, got up next day, got on the LIAT plane (very on time), got back to Grenada, went to work, conducted the training session and just waiting for when I go back to the Brain Docta to get my results. That's Saturday. Maybe I'll update you. Maybe I won't. But this was certainly an interesting experience for me.
How quickly perspectives can shift......
I start with Miguel Moses just around the corner from Subway on Hart Street. A clerk met me right at the door and offered assistance. Suit fabric was my desire. Saw one I liked. Asked her how much. TT$20.00 per yard (US$1 = TT$6). Nope. I don't spend so much for that kind of fabric, I told her. She asks how much I usually pay. Around TT$16.00. Ok, she says. She can give it to me for this price. She'd better!
Then on to Classy Fabrics, Yufes, Fabric Land, Diamond Tex and Aboud's, along with those other small ones on the same side of Queen Street as Aboud's.
Well, clearly I went at the wrong time. To the front of the store was curtain fabric and upholstering fabric. Had to look hard for the suit/work fabric.
I asked my friends why was this so? Interesting response.....
Carnival is early next year (11 and 12 February) which means that the fetes start early December which means that they need to enjoy the Yuletide season properly. So Christmas activities start early. Usually it's just after EID I am told. They were playing Christmas carols for crying out loud!
But I got what I wanted so I was happy, and more importantly, the prices were good. I tell everybody that I won't buy fabric anywhere but Trinidad. Noway I am paying more than I have to, especially since this MRI cost a pretty penny.
I've got some really good friends, so called one of them on Friday to say please can I stay with you. He was off the island but would be back on Sunday, so presumably yes. Call him Monday. This I did and he was back.
Jumped on my LIAT flight (a few minutes late). Landed, the medical company's driver was there to meet me on time, and I went to their office. Registered, then they dropped me at the corner of Hart and Abercrombie. First goal was to find Cleve's Records in Mall 58 to find more elan parle music. I had bought two in the airport shop when I was coming out, and they told me about Cleve's.
Found them, then bought a top in the second store I went in. In the first store, the store clerk looked like she didn't want to be there at all. Worse, you could only take one item into the change room. The first thing I took in didn't fit, the button on my shirt came off (luckily they had a needle and thread) and so I decided this was just too much hassle. So on to store number 2 it was. Then it was time to hit the cloths stores!........
Brain Docta: How soon can you do an MRI? It's not available in Grenada. You'll have to go to Trinidad.
Yamfoot: Well I am going to Jamaica in December, so I can do it then.
Brain Docta: I'm talking about like next week (this was last week Friday).
Yamfoot: I have a really busy schedule next week you know. This isn't life or death. Why can't I wait. I am really busy next week.
Brain Docta: I need to rule out any cysts or lesions. If you die, the work will still go on you know.
Yamfoot: You know, that is exactly what I tell my colleagues. Ok, I can go on Monday.
Brain Docta: Good. Here is the form for you to take.
So with that, life just took a different turn for me.....and emptied out my pockets! Anyway, I always look on the positive side. I can buy fabric on Frederick and Queen Streets!
So a guest comes to ask for a special request last night when I was on duty. His colleague is going on a hike, leaving the hotel at 4am and wants to get some coffee and two bacon sandwiches to take with him. Yikes!!! We don't have overnight staff, so what do I do?
Told the guest "sure, no problem", then went and arranged to have things put in place (mis-en-place) so that I could do the stuff myself. Got up at 3:25 and was able to deliver everything he needed.
That's service! (There really wasn't the option of saying 'no'....that's a word we try not to use in the resort)
It was on this day in 1989 that I started my life as a working professional. Imagine that 17 years have passed since that day. How time flies.
Any of you watched the final of The Apprentice last week? From Randall and Rebecca were the two finalists, Randall was the sure pick.
From after his second time managing the task, I picked him to reach the finals. The only thing I was concerned about was whether he had enough "umph" to get the job. But he did. A perfect record in the tasks he managed. He also had the respect of all the other candidates.
It teaches a lesson, that has been taught by many business gurus. You have to be nice AND get results. One or the other won't cut it.
Variety is the spice of life, so I try and do as many things as I can do. Well, this is really in the last 4 or so years. Here's how it went......
1. Did a Hotel Management degree a loooooong time ago. Worked at a hotel in Jamaica for 8 years, then worked at this same hotel I am writing from now for 4 years.
2. After that, left in order to do a Masters in Tourism and Hospitality Education, because I felt that I wanted to concentrate on people development. Spent nearly 2 years in England because I started another Post Graduate degree.
3. Now it was while I was in England doing my second degree that I started the cricket writing. My very first piece for the website was a call to rally around the West Indies team when they were playing Australia in Port of Spain in 2003.
4. When I got home in May 2003, the editor of the website (bless him!) asked me if I would do some off-the-field cricket stuff when the Aussies came to Jamaica. Sure! So did that.
5. I should have gone to start my PhD at Virginia Tech in August 2003, but a Grenadian person I know said a hotelier was looking for a trainer. So I deferred my PhD, and took that contract which lasted three months. Worked between Trinidad and Grenada (not at this hotel).
6. Did some odd jobs in the first part of 2004, and then came to this hotel to conduct some training, then was to return the week of Ivan....well....you know what happened. Was fortunate to get a contract in St Kitts/Nevis for two months.
Now in and between all of that "proper job", I still do cricket stuff. The mandate given to me by the editor in 2003 was to do profiles and Q&As with the players. The public only knows about what a player does on the field, but doesn't really get to know them. The cricket stuff is very voluntary, however out of that I have been fortunate to get some paying pieces.
Then I also started writing some hospitality pieces for The Jamaica Gleaner.
Ok, I think that should un-confuse you?
Time to go home. I wore high heel shoes today for the whole day....and they were new shoes. You can imagine how the yamfeet are feeeling!
Well, we receive our first guests on Thursday, a family of five. Let's hope all goes well. The resort looks stunning. One day (can't say when!), I will post some pictures. The owner only does things in style and it shows.
Sorry, really sorry that I haven't been able to read your blogs....don't see that happening before early January. Yeah.....it's a BIG shift in gears for the resort right now. But when you have that lovely view of the sea and the city across the harbour...maaan, all worries disappear.
Lovely, beautiful Grenada.
The previews this week for Donald's The Apprentice had said that something would happen that never happened before. I didn't see the clip just before the show started, so didn't know what to expect.
Both teams had to create an interactive sales experience in a sporting goods store. The aim was to increase average revenue. Capital Edge team did golf and increased revenue in their store by a whopping 74%. Excel did baseball and DECREASED revenue by 34%.
Now you know The Donald likes money. So don't make him lose money. Well is not him, but the sports store. So he was mad. Hopping mad.
For those of you who don't normally watch, what happens is that he asks the Project Manager of the losing team to choose two people to bring back in the Boardroom, then they and The Donald argue about who should be fired. His two side kicks who this week were Carolyn and Bill (who won the first year), each contribute their two cents.
The Donald told three members of the team to go back to the suite and told all remaining four, including the Project Manager, to remain. They thrashed it out. The main point was it was a sales task and they failed.......badly.
The Donald said never had any team lost so badly. Then the dreaded "you're fired" came, to all four. The beauty queen Jen looked like she was about to cry. Then all four squeezed up in a taxi. We didn't see what their reaction was. Maybe they decided not to put them in the spotlight too much.
This show tonight taught that you're never safe in the business world, unless, maybe, you own your own business!
Campfyah asked about it, so I've checked the CARICOM website, and here is the explanation.
Basically graduates of a recognized university are exempt from work permits and a permit of stay.
FREE TO ROAM......FREE TO ROAM......FREE TO ROAM.....
Applied for my Certificate of Recognition of Caribbean Community SKills a few weeks ago. Went and collected it yesterday.
The Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act, 1997 has certain requirements for you to be recognized as a skilled person. One of them is you had to attend the University of the West Indies, or University of Guyana and I guess some more regional universities have been added. I'm not sure if they have now included Caricom Nationals who went to university abroad.
Part of it says
I Horace W Dalley, the Minister, in exercise of the power conferred upon me by the said Act, hereby grant to the said Yamfoot this Certificate of Recognition of Caribbean Community Skills.
I remember when the announcement was first made in 1995, of the intent to enact this piece of legislation. A green light went off in my head, for I had always seen myself as a roamer from ever since. Then I went to Grenada on holiday that same year, and decided that was where I was going to roam to. Two years later it happened, and it was one of the best things I ever did.
So more roaming going to go on. Not that I haven't been roaming since 1997, but now, it's official!
Maaaan, I find that having a credit card in my purse is a bad thing.
If I go into the supermarket to buy one thing, it turns out to be all three and four and five. And before you know it, I've spent in excess of J$1,000!
And is not like I earning any money. And that J$5,000 I spent on that useless course on Monday makes me well pissed.
So, out of the purse and into the drawer the credit card goes....I'm Miss Cash from now on.
Lawks, if is anything I dislike is being dragged out of bed and don't get any reward. Probably the only reward was getting to see the dog Penny earlier than normal.
Mr Smith could have just sold us the manual, and the organizers could have halved the fee, because there was nothing there of substance.
Foreign consultants are way over rated.
Ok. Reached there on time, chatted with a couple people I knew, had some tea (mi fraid of hotel coffee. From experience, invariably it's a server who knows nothing about brewing proper coffee who is sent to make it. Those of you who are coffee drinkers can probably count on one finger how many times you've had good tasting coffee at a conference).
Sat at a table, said hello to the people sat next to me. Then the presentation begun.
First he told a story about taking 15 boys sailing from Miami to the Bahamas. He said it was relevant to the theme of the session, but blow me down with a feather if I could see the real relevance. OK. Maybe there was a little to do with needing something like a compass in business. But he took too long with the story, went off on too many tangents and so he didn't get into the session really until about 20 mins after he started.
Then after he got into the session, he showed a bunch of slides from US organizations of some of the practices they have. Well, most of them might not be workable in the Jamaican context, so why show them? He coulda put that in a handout for us to read!
There were 10 points to follow in creating high performance organizations. He only got through 7 because of these irrelevants inserts. He gave some group exercises for each table to do, and then gave us 2 minutes to discuss!!!!!
He didn't go to Adult Learning Principles 101 clearly! Adults want discussion. Adults want practical things they can take back to their organization and implement NOW. I was talking with a lady who joined our table late and she agreed with me.
Now I would love to have looked at the evaluation forms. I rated the presenter and the content as Fair. I rated the facility, administration etc as Good. I wonder if, because Mr Smith is a caucasian American, the participants gave him very high marks? Well if they had any sense and looked through the humour and guffaws, they would realize that they left with a manual.
The organizers coulda just mail the manual to me and I coulda slept late!
These days I have to weigh choices of expenditure.
Read about a seminar next week on Creating High Peformance Organizations. Cost = J$5,000.
After the heart consultation, the doctor suggested a test where they attach some device to your chest and record your heart beat for 24 hours.
Cost = $9,000.
For now, I chose the seminar, since I will do the test and the results will be normal.
So why did I have trouble sleeping last night, I ask.
I woke up this morning to the realization that I had a frightening dream.
In reality, I am going to the Eastern Caribbean in a couple of months to work on a training project. In the dream, I dreamt that I was offered a really great permanent job which I had to take up right away.
Towards the end of the dream, I realized the predicament I was in, and was about to go to the boss man, who was Mike Fennell (Olympic boss in Jamaica), to ask him if he would give me about two months so I could fulfil my committment to the company in the Eastern Caribbean.
Have you ever been in that kind of pickle? Thank goodness mine was only a dream.
It was frightening because I had to choose between two situations that I would want to be in...having steady income, and working in that lovely establishment in the Eastern Caribbean.
I so don't want to give up the freedom of time that I have, but money is always nice.
I've found that in my working life, I've had to be very persuasive, so those skills have certainly developed.
Whether it was getting a guest to agree to stay in a room he didn't particularly want (because we were full), or to get another to 'walk' to another hotel when we were full, I had to employ those skills. It also involved getting employees to do things that they didn't necessarily want to do, and I'd usually get "Is only cause it's you yuh know Miss Mac."
I think it calls for empathy and good interpersonal skills and making a connection with the other person. The feedback I've got indicates I do a pretty good job, and it has also stood me well for the interviews that I do.
So, armed with that, I phoned the supermarket today. My mission? To get them to accept my father's cheque......
We normally go to MegaMart on Waterloo Road to do the monthly shopping. As my mother is away, and I am not a signatory on Pops' credit card, he would either have to (a) come there when I was ready to pay or (b)give me a cheque.
(a) wasn't possible for tomorrow, so asked them if they would accept a cheque. After several backing and forthing, the answer was a big fat no.
"Well, I guess we'll have to shop somewhere else". Dem don't realize that shopping for 6 people is a hefty bill, but anyway.
It's on to Loshushan's......that new BIG supermarket in Barbican Square almost. I go there from time to time because it's never packed and the prices are only just a touch higher than SuperPlus, but less than Sovereign.
My last visit there was to return a bag of dog food that surprisingly turned out not to be good. So I called today, spoke with Mrs Kinghorne. I explained the situation to her, but she said they don't accept cheques.
ME:"Are you the lady who refunded me for the dog food?"
SHE:"Oh, yes. The one where the bag was open?"
ME:"Yes. Well that's me, and I really need to come to the supermarket but my father can't come blah blah blah blah"
SHE:"Oh, you remember mi name!"
I told her that we also shop at Sovereign, owned by another Loshushan. She said call her back in 1/2 hour. She was going to call Sovereign and see if they could vouch for us.
Half hour later......
"They say they have so many Yamfoot's that they can't say about your Yamfoot family".
But I was not daunted. I explained that this was monthly shopping ($$$$$$$) and that I have been in this new supermarket several times and the prices are very reasonable ("that's what a lot of customers come back and tell us you know").
"Ok, I'm not going to be here tomorrow, but go to Miss Grant and make sure all the details are on the cheque, and maybe this can be the start of a relationship".
You bet it will be, because I don't see what MegaMart have over Loshushan. After all, I aint looking for patio furniture and all dem tings.
Will let you know how tomorrow's shopping and my encounter with Miss Grant goes.
PS. I really could have gone to the supermarket in the evening when Pops was available, but the preference is to go in the morning when very few people are there. Ask for what you want. They can only say NO, like MegaMart....and be sorry.....VERY sorry.....
That was my composite examination score for the certification programme I did in Kidnap Kountry.
There were several topics that we were examined on....ten (10) in total. I got 100% in 7 topics; 95% in one, 94% in one and 86% in the other.
Normally this would give me great pleasure but multiple choice exams where the level of evaluation is recall (as opposed to analysis or application) don't really test one's intelligence. Plus we were not required to do a practical.
But anyway, mi will tek di 98% and hug it up and wear my CHT pin with pride (as they instruct me to do in the letter).
I have to do stuff to get recertified - full time employment (never!), teaching a course, giving a presentation etc. You have to get 50 points in 5 years, so not too too unachievable.
**applause**
Sometimes I doubt my abilities. I wouldn't say that I'm a perfectionist, but I do like to do things well.
So as a trainer, sometimes I wonder if the message is hitting the participants in the way that I would want it to. I usually give out evaluation forms which asks the participants to rate the content of the course, my style etc. I usually get good comments, so I should go by that.
Last week Wednesday, I attended an all day seminar run by a Jamaican lady who has lived in the USA for a number of years. I studied her carefully, and realized that I'm quite similar to her style and content. I'd say I'm a little more informal.
So it made me realize that I got talent and skills, and once I get my confidence levels up (in the classroom though, you'd never know that I was maybe doubting myself a wee bit) and then nobody can stop me.