15
Apr
2009
Hi Evon,
Congratulations on your new job! I can't tell you much about the job of childcare coordination, but I can tell you about Cherating. The weather will be very warm when you arrive, about 37 C. It is also very humid and wet clothes will not dry except in a dryer. (Wet hair and manicured nails don't dry well either.) You will want to bring lightweight clothes and bathing suits. The theme nights last month were pirates, circus (popular with the kids), Asian, Orientale (more Middle Eastern), etc. You can be very creative in how you meet these themes. Several pairs of white pants and skirts work wonders as do the same in black.
The club is family oriented and the clientele is multi-national with many Asians and Australians. The diversity makes the club very interesting although English is the common language rather than French. There are, however, French-speaking GMs and GOs.
Miniclub goes to the beach each day via a tram. Children also play in the pool area, which is beautiful. Say hi to Erik, from Mauritius, who works with the kids in the pool as well as the adults. Club Med is just completing a renovation of the Miniclub area, and there are three separate areas for the 2-3 yr olds, children and teens. Adjacent to these areas are the fitness area and batik activity. Children usually batik t-shirts as an activity. There is also a trapeze area, which children and adults use.
You need to take a taxi to get to Cherating Beach, the local beach town area. There is, however, a little cafe just outside the club's gate, which GOs frequent. GOs also go to the "MegaMall" or newer mall in Kuantan for shopping and salon services. There is a nice spa on the club site and the ladies, many from Borneo, who work there are very nice. (Kuantan is the town you fly into and the Club is about 45 minutes away from there. A Club Med bus takes you from the airport to the club.)
The hair dryers at the club are inadequate at best. I would bring one. There are irons and ironing boards, but they are fairly challenging to find. A refillable water bottle is helpful due to the heat. Sunglasses and possibly a hat or visor are also useful. There is WiFi in rooms and in the bar/Orchid Lounge area. There is a computer area with about six computers, but I'm not sure if those can be used by GOs. There is another computer for GOs near the registration area.
Monkeys: They are interesting, very cute and devious. They can open your sliding glass doors; they will walk into your room; they will take food out of your hand. The best way to get around them if they have formed a group near your room is to look tall and stomp loudly and, if necessary, squirt them with water, which they don't like. Do not leave any food around where they can reach it. They visit the main part of the club twice a day. There are also Monitor lizards, some about two feet long. They are fairly placid, and you should not approach them as they have long toenails.
As Malaysia is a Muslim country, when you go off the club site, you will want to dress respectful to their customs. For a woman this means a dress or skirt below the knees or long pants and covered shoulders. Other GOs can give you advice.
The GOs are friendly and energetic at Cherating. The club site is really beautiful. I wish you a very successful tenure in Cherating.
Say hi to Nicole, Dee, Gareth!
Adios!
MB
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