We could in all possibility spend 1 sixth of a year in this hotel so it is important to build relationships. We have made some great connection with people who work here. They are becoming very special to us and I think we too them. This has been very obvious in the last week or two. some examples of this
One of the front of house staff is off for a month on annual leave. We gave her a small gift as a thank you in case we were gone when she got back. She cried and hugged us all and then came in to visit us just before she was about to leave the country.
Our maitre de has been away for a week out of the country. I moved from a verbal greeting to shaking his hand each time we met a few weeks back. Again he was concerned that we would be gone before he got back. I walked into breakfast this morning and got this great hand shakes and a big hug. Arabic men are very tactile and the amount of physical contact appears to be a measure of respect, closeness, relationship. So you see greetings, handshakes, hugs, hongi cheek touch and kiss. We appear to be moving along the continuum of friendship amongst Arabic men.
I have taken an interest in our staff’s cricket team. One of my first posts was about the cricket that is played out in the car park. The word got around that I had asked so suddenly I was having these conversations with them about their cricket and their team. Remember they have one day off and this is how they spend part of their limited free time. So it is a big part of their non work experience. I got up and went out to watch them at 7-30 on Friday morning. They were so pleased to see me and they were short of players so asked me to play. I couldn’t and wouldn’t given the skill level that was on display. The cricket would match top club level back home. I took some photos and shared them with some of the staff over lunch. I’m now getting daily updates on their next matches, how they are going in their league. They seem to appreciate someone showing interest in their lives.
1 comment:
HeavyFish
following the chronicles with great interest...you are living the life of Riley...my only excitment is the Sunday post ride bacon sandwich...heard you were struggling with choice of buffet...do the Umpoi and eat at all for the same meal...looking forwrad the the measure off...
will catch up in the future
cheers
Umpoi
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