I’ve been banging on about this workshop since the beginning of the year and last week it finally happened. I didn’t sleep much up to the days and hardly ate throughout it, but I really enjoyed it!
There were 10 students and Jacquelyn (the person who sorted this contract for me), she was there as a subject matter expert for anything specifically related to the company standards and procedures.
Everybody seemed quite excited to be out of the ‘front of house’ environment and to get on with the training. They all participated well in the group activities and had lots of great questions, but the role plays were my absolute favourite! When asking people to do role play activities you normally have to drag them kicking and screaming, but not in Africa! They love it. And the effort they put into the acting is immense – Oscars all round! It was so much fun.
I was also super pleased that I got so much good feedback afterwards. The only real complaint was that it was only two days! Of course there were a few things I would change for next time. A couple of the activities were perhaps a little too complex for them, both due to their English skills and their level of experience, so that was a big learning for me.
I was so exhausted after those two days so was happy to have a couple of admin days where I could stay in bed and watch a bit of Netflix in the mornings! But today I started my stint of 55 consecutive days of one-to-one training, observation and coaching. I have started at Faru Faru where I will stay until the 7th or 8th February to work with Charles and Gekuli. Nice to be in a place for a little longer to settle down a bit and unpack the suitcase etc.
In general, I am feeling great. The peaceful atmosphere of the bush & the plains combined with some really lovely people has totally lifted my spirits and I am enjoying life again.
Oh and a couple of my favourite staff members here at Faru Faru are…
- My housekeeper, Jalia (sounds ridiculously pretentious to have a housekeeper… haha), he is super sweet and refuses to speak English to me, even though he can, because I need to learn more Swahili, he says! And he is not wrong – haha!
- The intern, Benedict. He apparently just rocked up one day to say that he really wanted to learn to work in a hotel. He doesn’t get paid, he doesn’t get a share in the tips, but he works hard and always smiles! I have been training him a little on the side, as he really deserves it!
Now time for a nap – have been doing the split shift with Charles today (7:30am – 2pm + 5pm – close), so it becomes a long day without a little siesta!
BETINA IN AFRICA 