Sunday, June 3, 2007
Well everyone after a long long break, I finally have a new entry. I am no longer in the Carribbean but back home for a break. I am then off to Europe to see what trouble I can get into. Something I am very good at. Will try to update a bit more regularly then I have been. After all has been said and done. My time in paradise was AWESOME. Thanks to all the great people that I met along the way.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
I'm Back
I am back. For a couple of days anyway. I have made the plunge and joined a boat on a permenate basis for the next couple of months. It is a great boat with a small crew so not too too stressful but very busy. So this may be my last posting for awhile but I should have some great tales to tell. Hopefully our charter guests will want to go to the BVI's and there is talk about the Turks and Caicos which I would love to see after hearing how beautiful it is. I will be back soon with more tales from the Caribbean
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Classic Sailing
Hello all, just a quick update from the sunshine. I have been taking the week off from the boats but only so I can concertrate on my web work and studies. We spent the past weekend sailing on a beautiful old boat call When and If, which was owned by General Patton. He never got to sail it though since he was killed at the end of WW2. It was amazing and the rest of the crew was fanatastic. However it is hard work hositing sails and such. Russ did not tell me this when I first got on. I thought I was going for a cruzy sail. When will I learn that sailing with Russ is NEVERa cruzy sail.
This weekend being Austrailia day and Russ's 30th will prove to be memorable I am sure. To tell you the turth island living is very similar to ski resort living. Drink, work, drink, sleep, drink detox and repeat.
Hope everyone is doing well and staying out of trouble or getting into it.
This weekend being Austrailia day and Russ's 30th will prove to be memorable I am sure. To tell you the turth island living is very similar to ski resort living. Drink, work, drink, sleep, drink detox and repeat.
Hope everyone is doing well and staying out of trouble or getting into it.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
St Maarten Style
St Maarten is a beautiful island that is well developed compared to other Caribbean islands and has many different and interesting aspects to it. It is divided into French and Dutch sides, the French side being very French and the Dutch side not so Dutch. Living on the Dutch side where English is the most commonly spoken language, then Spanish, Papamentio (local dialect) and then possibly Dutch one feels like they are somewhere between Europe, America and the Caribbean.
There is no border between the two sides but one know instantly when they are on the French side because the roads are much much better then on the Dutch side. The road system on the island is notoriously bad and it can take until cows come home to get to where you are going. Traffic is chronically congested and the amount of cars on this island is quite substantial. The best way to get around is by scooter or vespa. They are cheap to run, can be parked anywhere and fun to drive.
The traffic situation is not helped by the guy who stops mid commute to chat to his friend either in another car or roadside. This is quite a common site here and although it would infuriate any North American driver there seems to be little road rage as people just accept the traffic situation. Hey what can I say it the Caribbean.
The pace here is a bit slower but still lively as there is quite a mix of people from various nationalities here. While the majority of business and upper management positions appear to be held by people not from St Maarten the workforce is made up of many different cultural groups. What was unexpected for me is how I did not feel any overwhelming sense of culture shock. I suspect it has to do with English being the universal language spoken here and many products come from the States.
Apart from its traffic, St Maarten has so much to offer. Amazing beaches, fantastic nightlife, shopping and dining. There are a range of activities that one can do from sailing, snorkeling, shopping, drinking (considered a past time fdown here) and just relaxing. I would encourage anyone who has the chance to visit St Maarten to do so without hesitation. Besides who does not want to be on a beach right now.
There is no border between the two sides but one know instantly when they are on the French side because the roads are much much better then on the Dutch side. The road system on the island is notoriously bad and it can take until cows come home to get to where you are going. Traffic is chronically congested and the amount of cars on this island is quite substantial. The best way to get around is by scooter or vespa. They are cheap to run, can be parked anywhere and fun to drive.
The traffic situation is not helped by the guy who stops mid commute to chat to his friend either in another car or roadside. This is quite a common site here and although it would infuriate any North American driver there seems to be little road rage as people just accept the traffic situation. Hey what can I say it the Caribbean.
The pace here is a bit slower but still lively as there is quite a mix of people from various nationalities here. While the majority of business and upper management positions appear to be held by people not from St Maarten the workforce is made up of many different cultural groups. What was unexpected for me is how I did not feel any overwhelming sense of culture shock. I suspect it has to do with English being the universal language spoken here and many products come from the States.
Apart from its traffic, St Maarten has so much to offer. Amazing beaches, fantastic nightlife, shopping and dining. There are a range of activities that one can do from sailing, snorkeling, shopping, drinking (considered a past time fdown here) and just relaxing. I would encourage anyone who has the chance to visit St Maarten to do so without hesitation. Besides who does not want to be on a beach right now.
Working in the Lap of Luxury
One may assume from my previous blog that I spend the majority of my time sun baking on the beach, sadly that is not true. As much as I wish it were the cold hard truth is that as a free lancing stewardess the closest I get to the beach is what I see from the yacht. Not that I am complaining life as a "yachtie" can be quite exciting since you are given the opportunity to see some amazing places and get a glimpse into the world of the uber wealthy.
Work as a stewardess is a challenge more physically then mentally. Although one has to negotiate the politics and nuances of each boat's crew all while maintaining an air of professionalism. I must admit that I do not know how some of these crew members live and work on a boat permanently. It requires one to live in cramped quarters with multiple other people on a boat which is not only your home but your place of work as well. It makes for quite the drama and intrigue. I am thinking about contacting Fox TV and letting them know they are missing out on a wonderful opportunity for reality TV. It would be like Survivor meets Big Brother but on water. I am fortunate to have the advantage of being on different boats for short periods of time and getting to go back to my own bed at night.
Physically the job is hard as you are on your feet 10 or more hours a day. Basically you are up when the guests are up and you go to bed when the last guest goes to bed, which could be 9 pm or 4 am. Larger yachts have multiple stewardesses but let me tell you that is only because there is more things to do and does not always mean you are getting any down time. At least I get my cardio in running around all day.
Not that it is all bad, it can be enjoyable work if you like to be busy and can be lucrative too. It is a bit surreal at times to be working on a mega yacht and seeing how much money the very wealthy spend on their vacations. Yet the surprising thing is that many of them are self made and down to earth people who still hold middle class values.
All in all I enjoy working in the sunny Caribbean in a unique industry and I am sure to have many funny and interesting stories of my adventures on the high seas.
Work as a stewardess is a challenge more physically then mentally. Although one has to negotiate the politics and nuances of each boat's crew all while maintaining an air of professionalism. I must admit that I do not know how some of these crew members live and work on a boat permanently. It requires one to live in cramped quarters with multiple other people on a boat which is not only your home but your place of work as well. It makes for quite the drama and intrigue. I am thinking about contacting Fox TV and letting them know they are missing out on a wonderful opportunity for reality TV. It would be like Survivor meets Big Brother but on water. I am fortunate to have the advantage of being on different boats for short periods of time and getting to go back to my own bed at night.
Physically the job is hard as you are on your feet 10 or more hours a day. Basically you are up when the guests are up and you go to bed when the last guest goes to bed, which could be 9 pm or 4 am. Larger yachts have multiple stewardesses but let me tell you that is only because there is more things to do and does not always mean you are getting any down time. At least I get my cardio in running around all day.
Not that it is all bad, it can be enjoyable work if you like to be busy and can be lucrative too. It is a bit surreal at times to be working on a mega yacht and seeing how much money the very wealthy spend on their vacations. Yet the surprising thing is that many of them are self made and down to earth people who still hold middle class values.
All in all I enjoy working in the sunny Caribbean in a unique industry and I am sure to have many funny and interesting stories of my adventures on the high seas.
Life in the Caribbean
I have to admit that life in the Caribbean is great. To be surrounded by swaying palm trees and aquamarine water that is so clear that you see straight to the bottom brings nothing but a smile to my face. I have to pinch myself sometimes when I wake up and look out my window and see sunshine and sand.
It is still strange however to be lying on a beach in mid-January when you are so use to bundling up in layers of cloths, bracing yourself for the biting cold and digging your car out of three feet of snow. Living on St Maarten has convinced me that it is unnatural for human beings to be living in frightfully cold conditions, reaffirming my belief that those who choose to live in the prairies are crazy.
All in all living on St Maarten has been wonderful so far and I am looking forward to exploring all that the island has to offer.
It is still strange however to be lying on a beach in mid-January when you are so use to bundling up in layers of cloths, bracing yourself for the biting cold and digging your car out of three feet of snow. Living on St Maarten has convinced me that it is unnatural for human beings to be living in frightfully cold conditions, reaffirming my belief that those who choose to live in the prairies are crazy.
All in all living on St Maarten has been wonderful so far and I am looking forward to exploring all that the island has to offer.
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