When I thought that Angola was really at the end of the world (with heavy oil company investment, of course), two very interesting events snuck up on me this week. Ok, ONE was an event, the other was an occurrence.
The Event
Tom Peters, the “guru” of modern management, blessed us poor lost souls with his presence this week in the Centro de Convenções Talatona (Convention Center).
Let me start off by saying that I can’t remember the last time I inhaled so deeply.
The main conference room was half-packed with executives from most of the large companies (domestic and foreign). Poised and ready to absorb global knowledge, we waited patiently for the whirlwind known as Tom Peters to begin.
He was fan-freakin-tastic. Minus the quasi-drool, I had to make a serious effort to close my mouth once in a while. Yes, the topics (invest in human capital, hire for attitude, promote inter-departamental communication, leadership, smaller offices the higher up you are) were not novel, by any means, which was exactly his point. We are living in a world where there are few Southwest Airlines, Googles, Apples, and Luiza Magazines. What we’re left with is a handful of wanna-be companies that have altogether forgotten how to do business…start with a killer smile, charm them with your language skills, and dance them to death. Delicious recipe. Why aren’t we making more of it?
So, after a day of brilliant examples, freezing cold temperatures, relatively tasteless food, and BAI´s heavy year-end report (bank sponsor), I left energized, giggly, and overall more complete. Hadn’t realized how much I was craving some global action…and English. Unfortunately, for those non-English speakers, they got less than little with the terrible translation service…alas, we’re still in Africa.
So worth the $2500 per person price tag the company picked up. Caught that? $2500! Who wants to volunteer to come to Angola next and talk about what to wear?
The Occurrence
Here I was, driving through Luanda´s traffic a bit later than usual and my eyes start wondering. They wonder right. They wonder left. And they wonder down…to a bumper sticker with OBAMA/BIDEN 08! I mean, you THINK I’m kidding, but I’m NOT!
Angola (heart) Obama. And just like that you’ve got your next bumper sticker.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Storms in Africa
I just downloaded the Enya “Watermarks” collection from iTunes. Track # 4: Storms in Africa.
The funny thing is, we’ve had this CD at home for years and not once did I realize the name of this song. And then, a zillion kilometers from home, tada, I find the perfect soundtrack for the beginning of the rainy season (ahem, summer) at my other home, in Angola.
I haven’t written in a while (4 months). Think I got so caught up with life, that I started giving less importance to the moments. I know, bad. So let me make it up to you.
From my window, I see a papaya tree so dry that I’ve started seriously doubting its fertility. The dirt that lines the paved road is red and sandy. The baobab trees are straining for water. There’s a vanilla-scented candle burning in my office, and my IPhone is pleasantly quiet.
Last night for dinner I made a delicious osso buco, which unfortunately had very little “buco.” I bring this up because to my shocking surprise, there IS osso buco in ANGOLA! Other delicacies that have started hitting the shelves include: parmesan cheese, asparagus, soy milk (different flavors, even), more wine from Chile, different shapes of Barilla pasta, and an aisle FILLED with Mars bars and their buddies. Luis likes chocolate. Unfortunately, several other yummy items are still stuck at the port in huge containers…pizza, hearts of palm, spinach…you know, the usual. I´ve been blessed that tea has never failed…thanks to the little packages I receive from New York every so often…ok, I cheat a bit.
News of the YEAR: Internet connection has finally gone up to 4MB! Oh yes. Which MEANS, Naama is on internet much much more (without the massive amounts of frustration that used to follow “signing in”). Which MEANS, Naama has become addicted to Mafia Wars on Facebook, Time.com and FT.com…and LOVES the recent news that the model and actress, Xenia Siamas, has joined Palms for Life Fund as Ambassador of its global alliance to end hunger and poverty. Lovin´it…
It’s raining now…and I can just FEEL the papaya tree smiling.
The funny thing is, we’ve had this CD at home for years and not once did I realize the name of this song. And then, a zillion kilometers from home, tada, I find the perfect soundtrack for the beginning of the rainy season (ahem, summer) at my other home, in Angola.
I haven’t written in a while (4 months). Think I got so caught up with life, that I started giving less importance to the moments. I know, bad. So let me make it up to you.
From my window, I see a papaya tree so dry that I’ve started seriously doubting its fertility. The dirt that lines the paved road is red and sandy. The baobab trees are straining for water. There’s a vanilla-scented candle burning in my office, and my IPhone is pleasantly quiet.
Last night for dinner I made a delicious osso buco, which unfortunately had very little “buco.” I bring this up because to my shocking surprise, there IS osso buco in ANGOLA! Other delicacies that have started hitting the shelves include: parmesan cheese, asparagus, soy milk (different flavors, even), more wine from Chile, different shapes of Barilla pasta, and an aisle FILLED with Mars bars and their buddies. Luis likes chocolate. Unfortunately, several other yummy items are still stuck at the port in huge containers…pizza, hearts of palm, spinach…you know, the usual. I´ve been blessed that tea has never failed…thanks to the little packages I receive from New York every so often…ok, I cheat a bit.
News of the YEAR: Internet connection has finally gone up to 4MB! Oh yes. Which MEANS, Naama is on internet much much more (without the massive amounts of frustration that used to follow “signing in”). Which MEANS, Naama has become addicted to Mafia Wars on Facebook, Time.com and FT.com…and LOVES the recent news that the model and actress, Xenia Siamas, has joined Palms for Life Fund as Ambassador of its global alliance to end hunger and poverty. Lovin´it…
It’s raining now…and I can just FEEL the papaya tree smiling.
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