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Hello all,

Just thought I´d write since I haven´t in a while. Not much to report. Work is ok but I find I´m not liking the job as much as I thought I would. I´ve thought about it long and hard and I think it´s because of the hotels that I´ve got. I don´t have many arrivals so the job isn´t very challenging. Others of my collegues are going crazy because they have so much work. I do find that when I have a lot to do and I´m challenged and motivated that I do like it. It´s all those other times that I´m slightly indifferent. But soon I won´t be the new rep and some of my co-workers will leave (they´re nt liking Cuba and all it´s restrictions too much!) and then I should get a better hotel. Yay!

I did learn something new about Cuba. Although children go to school, they only go full day once they reach high school. Alex´s brother, although still in kindergarden, only goes to school 3 times per week, 1.5 hours. Not very much if you ask me!

Other than that, everything is good here. The sun is shining, it´s hot...sorry, just thought i´d rub it in. Hehehehehehe.

Pam, I´m almost all out of bamboo shower gel. I expect you to come bring me some please.

I watched part of the superbowl. It wasn´t as much fun as watching it with Jan and Wayne (which might explain why Ifell asleep!). Can anybody tell me who won???

Take care all of you and try not to freeze to death. Ciao

Life in the pink is good but tiring. I work quite a bit as most of you know since I haven´t been writing very much! But yes, I am still alive! I usually start at 9 until 12 for my visiting times at the hotels. Between 12 and 3:30 I usually go to the office and talke care of paperwork, deposits, whatever. Since my 2 hotels aren´t very busy, I often have about 1 hour off in the afternoon before starting my visiting hours again from 3:30 to 7. I have 1 day off/week and one afternoon off as well. I like it. Some people are nice, most of them. Others are just poor miserable souls whom you can tell are never happy and obviously won´t be here either! What makes me laugh the most (on the inside) are the people who go somewhere else wanting everything to be like it is at6 home! For those of you out there who are like this, little piece of advice, STAY HOME! It´s cheaper and more comfortable!

But like I said, most people are nice even if they have problems. The attitude has a lot to do with it. Some people have a little problem and it ruins their whole vacation and others just go with the flow.

Change of subject...sad news, Alex won´t be doing the tour of Cuba. He wiped out last week pretty badly and he´s hurt his sciatic nerve or something. The doc has told hoim no training for 15 days and that there´s no way he can do the tour ´cause it´s too demanding. Poor guy. All that training for nothing!

I´m anxious to see all of you. When are you coming to sunny and warm Cuba???? I´m not coming back to Canada until the weather improves!!!!!! Ciao

First of all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!

Yes, I have finally started working. I started on Christmas Day actually and it was quite a rough start. Lots of angry customers the first morning...eeeeee. But I survived. I even had a customer tell me that they did not envy me my job and when I told her that it was my first day, she gave me a hug! Things are good though.Now this week I hardly have anything to deal with and I´m feeling bored!!!! There´s just no pleasing me! Actually I´ve taken to helping people fromother companies just to have somethingto do sometimes!

And yes, I am wearing that lovely pink uniform anduntil today, I didn´t have a skort so I had to wear the pink skirt with the nurse´s shirt. Lovely! But I did have more than 1 guest tell me that they liked the uniform and that pink looked good on me. And no, I don´t believe they were being sarcastic!

The job is actually a lot of running around,the hours can be long sometimes.Other times I have an hour or 2 off in the afternoon between my deskhours. I start at 9 to 12, thenagain at 3:30-7. In between, I go to the office, do some paperwork, get things organized for my next arrivals. I´m now taking care of 2 hotels, the Club Amigo and the Brisas next door.

Alex and his family are doing well. Went to spend New Years Eve at his house. Alex made the team to compete in the tour of Cuba which will start about mid-February. I was quite proud of him. There are still competitions before but he says no one will beat him so he´ll stay on the team. Pretty cocky if you ask me but that´s how he is!

Tomorrow I have the afternoon off and I´m going to the beach. Would you believe´I´ve only been to the beach once since I´ve been here?

Anyways, I´ll try to writemore often but I am pretty busy. And please feel free to send me e-mails. I get lonely you know!

Ciao

Hello all,

Sorry it has taken me so long to update my blog...I've been pretty busy. So, I'll have to go back in time to Novembwer and start with my training in Cancun. That was a crazy week. Lots of work but also lots of drinking and partying. Went to Jim Carreys bar, the Coco Bongo. That is an insane bar and I suggest it to anybody going to Cancun. It's not just a bar. There are also acrobats flying in the air and Michael Jackson impersinators. After Cancun, went back to Montreal for 4 days and then came down here.

I still haven't started work officially so I haven't yet worn my beautiful uniform....Can't wait! I've been going on excursions and shadowing other reps. I should get my work visa soon and start.

Right now I'm staying at the Club Amigo....I shouldn't say anything bad but....this hotel sucks and I can't believe anybody comes here! At least I changed rooms. The first night I was here, I killed 5 cockroaches in the bathroom and I'm sure the bed had bedbugs because both beds in my room made me itchy. But then I got a neew room and the AC should be working nopw so alls good. The food here is crap so if anybody wants to lose weight, come stay here. I've already started losing weight.

If anybody wants to call me, you should check out www.nobelcom.com about phonecards. It's a cheaper way tocall Cuba. If you do, just email me and I'll give ytou the telephone number and my room number.

I've been swimming with tthe dolphins. That was quite something although I have to say that I felt bad that they were in captivity. They're really soft.

I've also been to Havana, on a catamaran, snorkelling a few times, to Santiago, saw a show at the Tropicana in Santiago, went on a jeep safari on an island that's a nartural reserve. And I'm getting paid to do all of this!!! I really think I will llike this job and I'm anxious to start officially although I do hope that I'll be working in another hotel.

That's all for now. I'll try to be more regular with my entries. Merry Christmas, Happy New year and I hope to see you soon!

Ciao

So I will have been back in Montreal 5 months to the day! I'll be heading back to Cuba for a vacation on October 14th. It'll only be for two weeks, then back to Montreal for two weeks, then off to Cancun (again) for a 1 week training.

I've gotten a job as a destination representative with Signature Vacations and I will be posted in Cuba. So after the 1 week in Cancun, I should go to Cuba, either straight away or I might come to Montreal first. Then I'll be in Cuba (don't know where exactly yet) for a 6 month contract.

I've quit the job that I had gotten upon my return. I finish work in a week and a half. I never did get an apartment when I came back. I guess I always knew I wouldn't be staying long. And then when I got the job as a destination rep I knew I wouldn't be settling down in Montreal agai, at least not for a while. I've sold or traded my furniture. I have a few bags and suitcases to my name and of course, my bike, which I will be bringing with me. That's it. Quite liberating let me tell you. My friends and family are still great. I think it's a bit easier on them this time around. They've had practice with my leaving. And I think they realize that life in Montreal is no longer appealing to me. I'm thinking I'd like to try Italy. I don't kow why but I'm fixated on Italy. I think I'd like it there and I think I'd fit in (although I've never been so rerally have no clue!)

It's funny how life changes. The adventure down this road began 1 year ago with my first trip to Cuba. At the time, although I knew I was starting to feel disenchanted with life in Montreal, I didn't know to what extent. And I could never have predicted where things would lead, how much my life would change. I am now embarking on a new career, in a new country, with a new love. It's all very exciting.

I will try to update my blog after my vacation and then once I'm back in Cuba working. Hasta pronto chicas y chicos