aysabaw.com

I know, I know. The title is lame. But never mind.

I never really liked any activity that involves socializing with strangers, well, not physically. As virtually, I believe I am sociable enough.

So I was assigned to do the very thing that, I don’t really hate, but I just don’t like. To entertain and host guests. And not just guests (just so you know, if you still don’t, I work in a hotel), mostly bloggers, writers and press.

They write reviews and articles about our hotel or they shoot travel documentaries. So how do I come in and what exactly is my problem here, if you may ask.

Well, I welcome them upon their arrival, prepare itineraries during their stay, join them for dinner (and sometimes drinks), and dance with them too if needed. Worse of all, take photos with them which, oh my gosh, might end up in one of their social media platforms.

The problem is, I write more than I talk. And I am really scared to death whenever I have to host them for dinner. For I don’t know what to say (that won’t put our hotel’s reputation in ruins) or how to even express myself properly.

During some of the dinners I hosted, there were long awkward silences and I really didn’t know what else to say.

But that was before I found out, before someone told me, that I am too talkative during dinners and I am very good at inventing stories.

I was like, really?

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment. But I took it as one.

Then I started observing myself. I truly am talkative. I have become talkative. And I see how their face reacts when I tell my stories. I guess, my being a storyteller virtually has been taken to the next level.

I have been hosting several travel bloggers lately. One was a very lovely lady from Sweden, two hilarious UK-based gentlemen, a very elite European lady and his husband, an exiled Prince of one of the countries in Eastern Europe, a Japanese TV crew and a group of Spanish Fashion Bloggers.

It’s just funny that when I was in Dubai, at the center of everything (or as I thought so), when I had all the opportunities to travel and meet so many interesting people, I never had a chance to do so. And while standing still, and not setting foot out of this 67k sqm island, I was able to meet and interact with a lot of interesting people.

They bring stories from their previous travels, I share my island stories. We all learn from each other, each of us taking something home.

There aren’t any awkward silences nowadays, if there are, not for long. For I found the secret to long interesting conversations.

Ask interesting questions.