More somber than usual.

Bear with me on this one lol.

First the good.

The new store is coming along nicely.  We have some construction to do still, and some organizing but the place is starting to look like a real restaurant.  I am getting along great with the other managers and the only problem so far is that I seem to make Sara (our sous chef) laugh to much with the dumb things I am prone to say... which of course makes me want to say more dumb things.  (Sidenote:  There are three left handers in the front of house management team... how whack is that... even more so over here!).

Most of the trainers flew in today, and I got to see Ray Rey and Jared for the first time in over a year.  It was a great reunion and I am looking forward to working with them, Jessica and the rest of the training team that has been brought over from the other stores here in Dubai and also Kuwait.  It is going to be a great and interesting experience since this is the first time I have worked with them in  management, and a good portion of our team has already been trained at least once.

Now for the bad.

The last two years of my life have been me doing my best to repair damage that has caused of a lifetime of suffering on my part.  From my pain, sense of abandonment and guilt for the things I have either lost or avoided my entire life.  It has been an uphill battle, and as most things I have put my mind to, I have overcome.

My greatest threat now is my sense of loneliness.  Not necessarily in a romantic sense (though that has been lacking as well) but mostly human interaction.  Since I have left MOE I have kind of lost touch, since that staff has been so good to me and I have had problems sleeping due to it.  Late at night I feel the familiar creepers of anxiety creeping back in.  They are not strong, or difficult to defeat, but they are there. 

This frankly scares the poop out of me.  My first reaction is to retreat inwards and shut everyone out in an effort to protect myself, but I know this is the incorrect action.  The danger that I fear are those creepers becoming more powerful as those connections start to break down and fade.  They always do when I move to a new place or job... no matter how much people promise to keep in touch they always drift apart.

I suppose part of this is me being stupid since some of these people I work with are fantastic, and some I am interested in (of course, professionalism would require an unrequited attraction in this matter).  However as Jerome said, "the ones who are interested in you, you are not in them, and the ones you are, are not interested in you".  Long winded, but the truth.  But as we say over here in the Middle East.

What to do Yanni?

So tonight I decided to ramble as I lay in bed... wondering about the fact that I am almost 33 years old and girding the possibility that I may never either be prepared, or get the nerve to commit to a longterm relationship.  But again.

What to do Yanni?

Alright... I think I am going to try and sleep now.

Sorry, for the downer... living here is still great.

All Good Things...

While not quite the seven year run of the Star Trek the Next Generation whose finale was titled those very same words I have come to an end of a sorts.

Tonight was my last night as an AGM at the Mall of the Emirates Pf Chang’s.  A nine month run at one of the most fun jobs I have had the pleasure and honor of working at.   I truly cannot thank the team enough for what they have done for me since I have moved to Dubai.  From my first GM, to the last, to the management team and the staff, I have never felt more welcomed and part of something, ever.

Times like these, with people as great as these make me realize why I have remained in this industry for so long.  It is not the work, but the people.  From staff to guest, I get to meet people from all walks of life, every creed, lifestyle, nationality… it is amazing.  For a man who spent most of his life doing his best to not be human, I have spent the greater part of my adult life immersed in humanity, at its best and worst.

While there is no way I can shout out everyone (I have like 150 employees at the store) there are a few I really do need to give a shoutout too.  First the managers.

Sean, you are quite possibly the best GM I have ever worked for(and I have worked with some truly great ones).  Never have I worked with someone with such a powerful grasp of the business, and be skilled at it, yet remain a leader that allows their staff to grow with their jobs.

Mike, I have learned a tremendous deal about the does and don’ts of management.  I am sure I will continue to use these examples in the long future ahead.

Jorge, the Latin Lasso… you my friend are the man.  You are one of the most remarkably talented and intelligent people I have ever met.  You have what some people would call a beautiful soul (not a come on).  The irony is that you are latin, which pretty much requires you to be so.  Be well on your journeys my friend.

Maan, thank you for the humor at work.  You are very down to earth and have a deep caring about the staff you work with.  Even through your Bravado you truly do care about your staff and try and do right by them.

Charissa, I am going to miss you.  You have a depth of knowledge about management, yet a charming naivete that constantly WoWs me.  You are not afraid to teach, as well as learn to improve their shortcomings, and you do this without being told what those are.  Continue to grow, though I think the only way you are going to get taller is with bigger and bigger shoes

The Chef team of Ed, Dale, Federico, Allen, Meg and Ron… when I first got there it took me a while to get close to you (aside from Dale), but over the months of working together I consider you some of my closest peers.  Though a couple of you are continuing your journey with me, I will miss all of you and your Chinese food slinging greatness.

Though the management team is who I work day in and day out with to ensure the success of one of the busiest (might be by the end of the year) PFC’s in the world… it is truly the staff that made me love the store.

There are far to many of you to give each and everyone of you a shoutout… but there are a few I feel as if I have to say something.  But know that if I do not say anything in this blog, that you are not forgotten, and each of you are close to me.

Ehab… you are an inspiration.  I have watched you grow over the last 9 months from a awkward server to a superstar.  You are the man, and I always could count on you for a smile and an attitude that could cheer anyone up.  “A smile costs nothing, but is worth a lot.”

The dynamic duo, Aimee and Glenda.  I could always count on you to be real at work, and were two of the first to actually listen to me as a person rather than a manager.  Even though you are both trouble.

The host team, Sarah, Anna, Margarita, Eula, Randy, Deepanker, Christina… each of you is awesome in their own ways.  And while I still suck at the host desk I love supporting you and wish you all the success Chang’s and life can give you.  

The runner team snuck up on me.  I was not that close to many of them until I started to expoing and I was honored to work with probably the finest tuned machines I have ever worked with.  Lemuel, PJ, Jade, Wendell, Paul, Ron, Samar, Binod, Armel, Jay-R, Vlad, Nicolai, Jorge, Allan (I probably missed someone)… thank you for being fun, and thanks for most of you for shaving your heads when my clippers betrayed me.

Bartenders, Willy, Eugene, Chris ,Ricky Ricardo and Arnel, the Gorilla from Manilla.  You proved to me that bartenders are bartenders no matter where you go.  Thanks for letting me hang out in your frat house.

Servers… there are so many of you.  Berlyn, keep smiling, your whole face lights up when you do.  Shyrell, you too… you have a lovely  smile be proud of it.  Jerome, stay fabulous.  Ajay, keep up the good work.  Lani, don’t be so shy, even though its cute.  For my future ex wife Cherry.. are you sure you want to be last?  Phyu, you are one of the most charmingly nice people I have ever met, even though I still think you are mean.  Miquela, stop hitting me.  Chona, quit calling me sir!  Caroline, you have made such an improvement over the last nine months, keep smiling it changes your entire demeanour.  Khin, you are a good guy.  You to Gavino.  I am still going to fight you Gibo.  Lance, you are a tremendous person, your personality is the tops.  Soe and Win, I am not even sure if you know how to not smile… keep it up.  Rhyan you are a player, don’t deny it!  Gracia, you keep smiling too!  

Schenley (lord I know I probably spelled that one wrong).  Thanks for being my server trainer.  You have a tremendous amount of talent, use it.  Keep smiling, it is infectious with you.  I could always count on you to say things that would make me with humor or shock, sometimes both.

To my trainers.  Aaron, Fox, Maria, Rizaldy and Rowell.  I want to see all of you in stores opening over the next year.  I have talked to each of you at least a little bit about what you need to focus on, and what to expect.  I may not be a guru like Dom, but I know a thing or two.

To the culinary team.  I wish I got to know you all better.  In truth I barely know some of your names, but I have never worked with a team that could crank out so much food everyday.  The hard work you guys do in the kitchen, prep and dish cannot be besmirched.  You guys are incredible.

I know I missed people.  Some are going with me, some I just overlooked in my tired mind… but know I love each of you, and will miss all of you.

Starting Monday I will be at Dubai Mall Pf Chang’s.  Same city but a whole different environment.  The Dubai Mall if currently the world’s largest mall (total floor area, not retail leasing space) and is adjacent to the Burf Khaliffa (the world’s tallest building and structure) and the Dubai Fountain, one of the world’s largest fountains.  I do not have pictures of this store yet, but I will.

This is a great opportunity for me and my own personal growth in this industry, but will press my limits farther than they ever have.  I know my future departments and they are things I have yet to do.  I am kinda psyching myself out already, but I did the same when I first got here, and when I did my culinary training.  If I can fly 8000 miles and have positive impact on MOE’s record breaking I should be able to handle this (just have to believe in myself).

My team over there is almost already good to go, having been trained over the last two months in stores in the UAE.  We have some late joiners to get up to speed, but some old friends are coming over from the states to handle the training.  Part of MCC’s team that I worked with a year ago.  I am looking forward to working with Jessica, Jared and Ray Rey again.

This blog is getting exceedingly long, and I can post another later about the hello to the new store. 

I am going to miss you MOE… stay beautiful.

We are truly glad you are here, and we will do everything we can to make you want to come back.