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Making New Friends While Traveling

 

Jamaica May 2021 - Grand Palladium - Lady Hamilton Resort

 

When we travel to foreign countries, we always make it a point to talk with the locals about how they were doing during the Covid shut down.  We meet all kinds of folks who work in the resorts and drive taxis or shuttles for the guests.  Everyone has a story, and all are eager to talk with you.  The smile on their faces when you engage them in conversation is precious and rewarding to both of us.  So many folks come to the resort to get away from it all for a week or two.  We see them ordering food and drinks, sometimes never bothering to ask the name of the server who has been working 15 hours straight that day. 

Travel Stories

We met a driver in Cabos last year that was laid off for six months.  His entire family moved into his house except one daughter who worked in the States and was able to send them some money.  They all survived using a barter system of sorts.  Some would clean homes, others worked in carpentry or traded wares they had.  Many of the professions they people had were no longer viable and they did what they could to survive.  All of them are so humble and appreciative of our talking with them and visiting their country.  

We spoke with workers in housekeeping that are scheduled for 17 days straight, then laid off for two weeks to allow someone else to earn some income.  Others in the resorts are kept full time to clean and sanitize empty rooms with the hopes of being used again someday soon.  A nice bartender we met in Punta Cana had such a loving smile all day as she ran around the pool area as the only server, but never complained.  

On our latest trip to Jamaica this spring, we met Trevoy at the Grand Palladium Resort.  We were staying in a beautiful ocean view suite with tremendous sunset views.  One night we decided to try the Italian restaurant.  We were seated in a great outside dining area so that we could see the sun setting on the horizon.  Trevoy was our waiter for the night.  He greeted us in perfect English, along with that beautiful Jamaican accent!  He has worked for the resort for three years and unfortunately he was laid off for almost a full year due to the pandemic.  We found out he moved back into his parents home as many of the local citizens have done.  No one in his house had a job and they lived as others do, with a barter system for goods and services.  

Tips for Traveling

tip:  When you visit these fine countries, take some extra cash with you.  Even though your "all-inclusive" advertises that tips are included, the meager amount shared is calculated as part of their wages.  In fact, as the census of the resort drops, so does the salary or wage.  For this reason, we typically tip at least a dollar or two every time we served a drink, and at least five to ten dollars for a dinner tip.  It really does not add up to more than a hundred or so dollars for a week and it is so appreciated.

So, next time you find yourself at a resort or cruise (hopefully soon), don't forget to engage your server, room steward, and even gardener in a conversation.  You might come back richer yourself!

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