All righty! Did a lot work all week long, and cooked a few things to fill the freezer so that Tim and the boys can have a few good meals and manage through the week easily. I picked my clothes for the trip, now I need to find the perfect bag. Small is good, we'll see what I can find in our big closet.
I have another tight week ahead of me, and then work will be this thing far far away. Aaaaaah.
Because my sister LOVES to snorkel, I found a great excursion which we will look into when we arrive in Telchac Puerto. It's called the Scorpion Reef, and archipelago of coral reef located about 8 km North of Progreso, in the Gulf of Mexico. It's a National Park, and has some interesting ship wecks dating as far back as the 1600's - when pirates were ruling these waters. If the pricing is not outrageous and the ride is safe and sound - will probably do it.
I have to finalise the date and time to teach at the Telchac Puerto preschool, and also set a meeting with the owners of a small music school in Merida - friends of Judy. So far I have a lunch date with Judy, and my old friend Jose-Luis will visit us while we're in Merida. If possible I would like to pay a visit to the Alliance Française too. I don't want to book too much, because I want plenty of free time to walk around town. Merida is lovely. In many ways it reminds me of my home town of Quebec City.
And I would also like to do a couple of excursions out of Merida also, like the caves of Loltun, or the great archeological site of Uxmal. I heard a lot of good things about both places, maybe we'll do that... too????? Oh... so many places and so little time!
I'm looking forward to stepping out of my business shoes, it will be good for sure! Lots of decisions to make for the coming year and beyond - and i'm getting a brain cramp. A drastic change of pace and environment should remedy the situation : )
Somewhere between Izamal and Sudzal, Yucatan.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
9 Days to Departure
Now at 9 days to departure, and the countdown has begun. It's a very busy week, which was rather accented by the fact that I lost wallet on Tuesday afternoon. Crud! Cancelled everything after checking every possible pocket and nook 10 times each. Tim is out of town this week so I had no alternate access to our bank account. The first few hours were excruciating... I was very upset and could not believe that this happened to me one week before I leave the country. Crud!
But there is nothing like a good night of sleep... and the following day I took care of business and found that it's actually not so painful nowadays to replace bank cards and driver licence. By Wednesday afternoon, I had my bank cards for my business account, and personal account, as well as a temporary driver's licence in hand. Still some calls to make, but the top items are taken care of. Phew!
On a brighter note, I started to sort my summer clothes to pack my suitcase! Yay! I travel light - simple and minimalist. Things which I know I will wear, and I will do a couple of loads of laundry at the beach house (we have a laundry room). I only bring a few skin care essentials, and I will buy the rest when I get there (shampoo, sun screen, etc.).
It will be a healthy break, and I am very much looking forward to introducing my sister to the Yucatan state. She is a Caribbean fan, loves to snorkle, but knowing her I think that she will love the region and the laid back life style. It will be a nice adventure for her to venture into new territory.
Time to make a list and make sure that I have what I need in my suitcase! Woo hoo!!!
But there is nothing like a good night of sleep... and the following day I took care of business and found that it's actually not so painful nowadays to replace bank cards and driver licence. By Wednesday afternoon, I had my bank cards for my business account, and personal account, as well as a temporary driver's licence in hand. Still some calls to make, but the top items are taken care of. Phew!
On a brighter note, I started to sort my summer clothes to pack my suitcase! Yay! I travel light - simple and minimalist. Things which I know I will wear, and I will do a couple of loads of laundry at the beach house (we have a laundry room). I only bring a few skin care essentials, and I will buy the rest when I get there (shampoo, sun screen, etc.).
It will be a healthy break, and I am very much looking forward to introducing my sister to the Yucatan state. She is a Caribbean fan, loves to snorkle, but knowing her I think that she will love the region and the laid back life style. It will be a nice adventure for her to venture into new territory.
Time to make a list and make sure that I have what I need in my suitcase! Woo hoo!!!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A Little Bump on the Road
It's been awhile since I posted... caught in the swirl of multitasking I guess.
Time sure flies these days, and I'm almost 2 weeks to departure to Mexico. The last couple of weeks have brought a little bump on the road... one fellow traveller cancelled at four weeks to departure and refuses to pay a cent. My opinion is that it's very lame on her part. Not only do the rest of us have to cover for her empty room in one of the houses, I have to re-calculate transportation cost for each leg of the trip and figure out individual price differences for the 10 of us. No fun - but not the end of the world of course - and that is that.
Business is very good and lined-up until mid-June (closed in the summer) but I have a major challenge... one of my top teachers might stop teaching sometime next year. Lots of notice, but still very challenging because it takes about one year for me to train, and assess a teacher's strengths and level of commitment. Growth is stalled for the time being - I have to look for a new French music teacher now. There is a silver lining to everything, and this unexpected news has forced me to see what I didn't want to look at... like losing a great teacher, which is bound to happen sooner or later. Business must go on.
It also made me consider way to simplify my approach. My current operations are very demanding in terms of prep and processing (admin structure), and it might just be the time to rectify my procedures - work smarter, not harder.
And my upcoming trip to Mexico will be refreshing that's for sure - I do need to walk away from it all. It has been a very emotional time after my teacher announced that she would eventually quit... and at times I was ready to give-up the business altogether and look for a job.
Mexico here I come again! There's nothing like a good break to find a new perspective on a situation - or at least I hope it will be the case!!! I need it!!!!
Time sure flies these days, and I'm almost 2 weeks to departure to Mexico. The last couple of weeks have brought a little bump on the road... one fellow traveller cancelled at four weeks to departure and refuses to pay a cent. My opinion is that it's very lame on her part. Not only do the rest of us have to cover for her empty room in one of the houses, I have to re-calculate transportation cost for each leg of the trip and figure out individual price differences for the 10 of us. No fun - but not the end of the world of course - and that is that.
Business is very good and lined-up until mid-June (closed in the summer) but I have a major challenge... one of my top teachers might stop teaching sometime next year. Lots of notice, but still very challenging because it takes about one year for me to train, and assess a teacher's strengths and level of commitment. Growth is stalled for the time being - I have to look for a new French music teacher now. There is a silver lining to everything, and this unexpected news has forced me to see what I didn't want to look at... like losing a great teacher, which is bound to happen sooner or later. Business must go on.
It also made me consider way to simplify my approach. My current operations are very demanding in terms of prep and processing (admin structure), and it might just be the time to rectify my procedures - work smarter, not harder.
And my upcoming trip to Mexico will be refreshing that's for sure - I do need to walk away from it all. It has been a very emotional time after my teacher announced that she would eventually quit... and at times I was ready to give-up the business altogether and look for a job.
Mexico here I come again! There's nothing like a good break to find a new perspective on a situation - or at least I hope it will be the case!!! I need it!!!!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Spring has sprung!
We just ended a two week period of unusually warm weather here in Toronto. About 15 to 20 celcius above seasonal average... so it's as if we skipped spring and got straight into summer. The warmest day was last Thursday with a beautiful 26 c.
Tree buds have popped, magnolias and cherry trees are in flower, crocuses and tulips are in full bloom, and I even saw a dandelion! Very bizarre.
The trip is still developing and we are now collecting the balance payments for accommodation and transportation from all our travelling companions. Exciting!!!
I have confirmed my teaching in the little Diego Rivera Preschool in Telchac Puerto - they are very happy to have me back, it feels good. And the school has grown to 3 Kindergarten groups (there were 2 last year). They are sweet kids, it will be fun.
I have also arranged to have lunch with Judy, a fantastic person who inspires me very much. She is the founder of Yucatan Today, and when she retired from the magazine she founded Telchac Education - financing the education of about 70 children of Telchac Puerto. Wonderful initiative which changes the outlook of the village. The power of one!
Judy has friends who own and operate a small music school in Merida, and I will explore the possibility of offering teacher training sessions there. I did try to arrange it for this next trip, but it's not realistic to pull it together without having met them in person. I would also like to sponsor one of the owners to teach a series of classes in Telchac. He has done it on a volunteer basis in the past, and I think that there is a way to finance a simple program for that community. The Yucatan - as all of Mexico - has a very rich musical culture and such a program would help in perpetuating the traditional music of the region. Iam not rich, far from it, but a little money goes a long way in rural Yucatan.
Departure in 5 weeks!!!
Tree buds have popped, magnolias and cherry trees are in flower, crocuses and tulips are in full bloom, and I even saw a dandelion! Very bizarre.
The trip is still developing and we are now collecting the balance payments for accommodation and transportation from all our travelling companions. Exciting!!!
I have confirmed my teaching in the little Diego Rivera Preschool in Telchac Puerto - they are very happy to have me back, it feels good. And the school has grown to 3 Kindergarten groups (there were 2 last year). They are sweet kids, it will be fun.
I have also arranged to have lunch with Judy, a fantastic person who inspires me very much. She is the founder of Yucatan Today, and when she retired from the magazine she founded Telchac Education - financing the education of about 70 children of Telchac Puerto. Wonderful initiative which changes the outlook of the village. The power of one!
Judy has friends who own and operate a small music school in Merida, and I will explore the possibility of offering teacher training sessions there. I did try to arrange it for this next trip, but it's not realistic to pull it together without having met them in person. I would also like to sponsor one of the owners to teach a series of classes in Telchac. He has done it on a volunteer basis in the past, and I think that there is a way to finance a simple program for that community. The Yucatan - as all of Mexico - has a very rich musical culture and such a program would help in perpetuating the traditional music of the region. Iam not rich, far from it, but a little money goes a long way in rural Yucatan.
Departure in 5 weeks!!!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Traveling in Yucatan - Transportation
And still fine tuning the next trip... now about 6 weeks to departure. Woo Hoo!!!!
The transportation seems pretty good, and I have received the adjusted pricing for the various transfers for our group of 11 travellers (we were initially 15 people).
The reduced group number has translated into fair savings on transportation, mainly because the trip from Puerto Morelos to Telchac Puerto now requires only one 14 passenger van instead of two smaller vehicles. That leg of the trip is costing $700us per van (with driver), so this is good news!
I have also arranged two shuttles from the Cancun airport to Puerto Morelos for $50 per van, so those who can catch the ride will pay about $15 per person instead of the regular $25.
And on the last day for most of our traveling friends, there is also a shuttle taking them from their hotel in downtown Mérida to the Cancun airport. That will be a total of $540 shared between 8 passengers - also very good and convenient.
It's all booked with the same company (www.entertainment-plus.net)... I only hope that they are good - I never tried them before. I think that making it worth their while by handeling all our needs will establish a good relationship. If they are bad however - as in not showing-up for example - there are always plenty of competitors to take our business. So we will be fine.
The car rentals are confirmed for our stay in Telchac Puerto, and there will be a car waiting in front of each one of the beach houses upon our arrival. Sweet! This was all arranged via Kab Yucatan (www.kab-yucatan.com), fabulous accommodations on the Yucatan coast, and much more. The average rental cost of a spacious 3 bedroom beach house is $750 per week (with private pool) in early May (low season), and each car is $35 per day. We have dealt with Kab Yucatan n the past - and they are highly recommended.
And back to work... busy busy busy me!
The transportation seems pretty good, and I have received the adjusted pricing for the various transfers for our group of 11 travellers (we were initially 15 people).
The reduced group number has translated into fair savings on transportation, mainly because the trip from Puerto Morelos to Telchac Puerto now requires only one 14 passenger van instead of two smaller vehicles. That leg of the trip is costing $700us per van (with driver), so this is good news!
I have also arranged two shuttles from the Cancun airport to Puerto Morelos for $50 per van, so those who can catch the ride will pay about $15 per person instead of the regular $25.
And on the last day for most of our traveling friends, there is also a shuttle taking them from their hotel in downtown Mérida to the Cancun airport. That will be a total of $540 shared between 8 passengers - also very good and convenient.
It's all booked with the same company (www.entertainment-plus.net)... I only hope that they are good - I never tried them before. I think that making it worth their while by handeling all our needs will establish a good relationship. If they are bad however - as in not showing-up for example - there are always plenty of competitors to take our business. So we will be fine.
The car rentals are confirmed for our stay in Telchac Puerto, and there will be a car waiting in front of each one of the beach houses upon our arrival. Sweet! This was all arranged via Kab Yucatan (www.kab-yucatan.com), fabulous accommodations on the Yucatan coast, and much more. The average rental cost of a spacious 3 bedroom beach house is $750 per week (with private pool) in early May (low season), and each car is $35 per day. We have dealt with Kab Yucatan n the past - and they are highly recommended.
And back to work... busy busy busy me!
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Strong Team
Hard work and vision are the base of a solid start-up business but as it grows, finding the right people is key. I am very fortunate to have a wonderful team of teachers working for me, and I am grateful. Managing people is not always obvious, and it's probably the most challenging part of any career - weather it's your employee, you boss, colleague or your client. It's a complex ongoing dance made of old moved and surprising novelties. So far so good, it all seems to work nicely.
I have introduced my service contract successfully to two of my teachers - they are the pillars in the growth plan and they are both on board for an exciting ride. It's now time to move on to my two other teachers, newer in the team but also very important players. My team is currently composed of very talented, mature and dedicated music teachers - and having them on board for the long run is essential. Yes, so far so good!
The telemarketing sweep will resume by the end of this week, and then I will get into sales mode to follow-up all the leads. I am fully booked until the end of the school year now, and that includes teaching music in elementary schools, and plenty of time for sales and marketing. Spring is always the time to position my business for the following school year - and there is still a lot of work on that front. My market share is the French community here in Toronto, and with this growing demographic we have three new French schools opening in September 2012 - and two of these schools will also have a daycare. Nice!
The schedules are out for approval by my clients for the period from April to June, and it includes some minor tweeking. I will take over one daycare client myself (I usually work in schools) and train on of my junior teachers who already had some training in the past couple of months. If all goes well she sill be able to teach on her own by the time I leave for my Yucatan trip.
Hey... I'm leaving is 8 weeks!!! Woo hooo!
I have introduced my service contract successfully to two of my teachers - they are the pillars in the growth plan and they are both on board for an exciting ride. It's now time to move on to my two other teachers, newer in the team but also very important players. My team is currently composed of very talented, mature and dedicated music teachers - and having them on board for the long run is essential. Yes, so far so good!
The telemarketing sweep will resume by the end of this week, and then I will get into sales mode to follow-up all the leads. I am fully booked until the end of the school year now, and that includes teaching music in elementary schools, and plenty of time for sales and marketing. Spring is always the time to position my business for the following school year - and there is still a lot of work on that front. My market share is the French community here in Toronto, and with this growing demographic we have three new French schools opening in September 2012 - and two of these schools will also have a daycare. Nice!
The schedules are out for approval by my clients for the period from April to June, and it includes some minor tweeking. I will take over one daycare client myself (I usually work in schools) and train on of my junior teachers who already had some training in the past couple of months. If all goes well she sill be able to teach on her own by the time I leave for my Yucatan trip.
Hey... I'm leaving is 8 weeks!!! Woo hooo!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Next trip to Yucatan - The Itinerary
I just booked my return flight, and the plans have developed - like a little creature slowly revealing its features.
My sister will meet me here in Toronto (from Québec City) and we are both flying together to Cancun. From there I have to finalise the transfers arrangements for everyone (I make all transportation arrangements for this trip), there will be two airport shuttles to our hotel on that day. Our meeting point is in Puerto Morelos, all our traveling companions should be there by dinner time. It's a one night pit stop.
On the morning of day 2, we have two shuttles taking us to our beach houses located on the tranquil coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in Telchac Puerto, Yucatan. It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive, so will will stop for lunch and for groceries in the lovely colonial town of Izamal. My favorite Mexican town so far - quaint and very pretty, not too big and not too small.
We will arrive at our Telchac Puerto destination in mid-afternoon, with a catered snack waiting for us. We have three beach houses booked for our party of 11 travellers. I have booked three cars too, which will be conveniently parked at each house and ready to go. I booked one for my sister and I, I will be teaching at least one music class in the village, and generally I want to be free to come and go without compromising someone else's plans. The beach house accommodations, catering and car rentals are all coordinated by Susan and her team at K'ab Yucatan - in my opinion (and for having tried others), they are the very best - highly recommended - www.kab-yucatan.com
We will be in Telchac for 5 nights, relaxing and exploring the vicinity. Interesting day excursions include the sea turtle sanctuary in Chelem, the archeological site of Xcambo, the pink flamingoes in Sisal, and Progreso with it's public market and waterfront strip and restaurants. Progreso is also home to a fair size grocery store, and pretty much all the commodities of a small city. It's a 25 minute drive from our beach houses, just perfect!
At the end of the week we all leave the coast and make our way to Mérida, the white city. It's the capital of the state of Yucatan, a vibrant and festive city, rich in history and architecture, museums, theatre, music, cuisine and so much more. I am very much looking forward to that.
The group is spending the night in a nice little hotel in the historic centre of town, and a shuttle will be taking them back to the Cancun airport in the morning.
My sister and I will be in a little apartment in a nearby hotel, and we will be staying four nights. I will see a few friends, connect with the French community, and try to leave plenty of time to enjoy the city. Very much looking forward to that.
Then my sister and I will fly to Cancun to catch our respective flight back home - hers to Québec, mine to Toronto.
I will reveal al the details as we go during the trip, with frequent updates and lots of info and shared tips - so dear travellers, stay tuned around the end of April ! Weepee Yay!
My sister will meet me here in Toronto (from Québec City) and we are both flying together to Cancun. From there I have to finalise the transfers arrangements for everyone (I make all transportation arrangements for this trip), there will be two airport shuttles to our hotel on that day. Our meeting point is in Puerto Morelos, all our traveling companions should be there by dinner time. It's a one night pit stop.
On the morning of day 2, we have two shuttles taking us to our beach houses located on the tranquil coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in Telchac Puerto, Yucatan. It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive, so will will stop for lunch and for groceries in the lovely colonial town of Izamal. My favorite Mexican town so far - quaint and very pretty, not too big and not too small.
We will arrive at our Telchac Puerto destination in mid-afternoon, with a catered snack waiting for us. We have three beach houses booked for our party of 11 travellers. I have booked three cars too, which will be conveniently parked at each house and ready to go. I booked one for my sister and I, I will be teaching at least one music class in the village, and generally I want to be free to come and go without compromising someone else's plans. The beach house accommodations, catering and car rentals are all coordinated by Susan and her team at K'ab Yucatan - in my opinion (and for having tried others), they are the very best - highly recommended - www.kab-yucatan.com
We will be in Telchac for 5 nights, relaxing and exploring the vicinity. Interesting day excursions include the sea turtle sanctuary in Chelem, the archeological site of Xcambo, the pink flamingoes in Sisal, and Progreso with it's public market and waterfront strip and restaurants. Progreso is also home to a fair size grocery store, and pretty much all the commodities of a small city. It's a 25 minute drive from our beach houses, just perfect!
At the end of the week we all leave the coast and make our way to Mérida, the white city. It's the capital of the state of Yucatan, a vibrant and festive city, rich in history and architecture, museums, theatre, music, cuisine and so much more. I am very much looking forward to that.
The group is spending the night in a nice little hotel in the historic centre of town, and a shuttle will be taking them back to the Cancun airport in the morning.
My sister and I will be in a little apartment in a nearby hotel, and we will be staying four nights. I will see a few friends, connect with the French community, and try to leave plenty of time to enjoy the city. Very much looking forward to that.
Then my sister and I will fly to Cancun to catch our respective flight back home - hers to Québec, mine to Toronto.
I will reveal al the details as we go during the trip, with frequent updates and lots of info and shared tips - so dear travellers, stay tuned around the end of April ! Weepee Yay!
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