Over the past few weeks it’s been great getting to know some of the extremely friendly, open, and welcoming members of Cardamom County working with them on a daily basis. One such member is Jijo, who I’ve had the pleasure of spending a few night auditing duties with and even going down to the local gym together with a bright red sign and a muscular fellow plastered to it aptly entitled “Masterpiece”.

Jijo actually started out at Cardamom County just short of a year ago, which means this August will be his first year anniversary as a part of the team. Before this, however, Jijo talked to me about his two years at Club Mahindra’s Tusker Trail, which was an enjoyable stay where he acquired the majority of the English skills he holds today through persistence and practice with guests and colleagues. However, because it was more of an exclusive club atmosphere, there were many regular visitors who were mainly originated only from India. Thus, Jijo came to Cardamom County because he wanted to meet many different kinds of people from all over the world including people of different cultures, religions, ideas, and languages to learn new things every day, which also encompasses what is his favourite part about the hospitality industry.

 

But Jijo’s real passion was triple jumping, and long jump on the side. The sport as he described it requires extreme physical fitness in conjunction with a high level of technicality and a precise balance and coordination of arms and legs to achieve the longest distance possible. It was Jijo’s grandfather who had first inspired him to pursue the world of athletics being a national player for India in the Asian League of Ball Badminton players. Other role models consequently came and went, the first being the 100-meter sprinter Maurice Greene who ran it in 9.79 seconds, although we also discussed Usain Bolt and his incredible shattering of the records at the current 9.58s world record set at the Berlin World Championships in 2009. There was also Arnold Schwarzenegger who introduced a new level of bodybuilding to the world and Ronnie Coleman who won Mr. Olympia an astonishing eight times straight. Jijo did talk about impressively being a State Level Medalist of Kerala in triple jump for five consecutive years, but that after this he no longer wished to pursue athletics as a career.

 

One very insightful thought offered by Jijo was when I vaguely inquired what his favourite dish was. “I like all food, and I am simply grateful to have food to eat, especially considering the number of people who struggle for food and go hungry each and every day,” was his answer. Jijo says that his next ambition in his life is to continue in the world of hospitality but eventually enter the aviation industry as a flight steward for an international service, because in this way he can explore the entire world. Dream jobs included working for British Airways and especially Fly Emirates because of their high class, modernized fleet and service as well as custom amenities. When I asked what was one place he wished to visit, Jijo said that he could not choose one place because he simply wanted to see everything and this was the main reason why the aviation service industry is so appealing.