Entry 10 - The use of slang

Slang- very informal words and phases that are more common in speech than in writing.  I am guilty of using slang and this is because it is our culture here in Trinidad, however, i am certain i use it appropriately.  Slang like Jargon once used appropriately is usually accepted anywhere in the world.

NLG

Entry 9 - Are you an effective verbal communicator?

Yes i do believe that i am an effective verbal communicator.  At times more than others or when it is most necessary.  I do believe that the english language is not used as it was intended by some and i try to make corrections when i can, but generally i do a good job.  As a public speaker i may not be as effective if i among peers or family but i do demonstrate linguistic sensitivity.

NLG

Entry 8 - Local Newspaper Article

BREAKING NEWS - Petrotrin strike off

By Richard Charan Multimedia Editor

Story Created: Feb 17, 2012 at 12:38 PM ECT

Story Updated: Feb 17, 2012 at 1:20 PM ECT 

The strike is off.

The Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) and Petrotrin this morning settled a bitter wage dispute, a day before workers planned to walk off the job.

At around 10 a.m., it was agreed that the workers of the State-owned oil company would accept a nine percent wage increase over three years for the bargaining period 2008-2010.

The deal came after a marathon 16-hour meeting at the Ministry of Labour, St James Street, San Fernando.

At 10.30 a.m., the union signed the terms of settlement on behalf of the five bargaining units it represents.

Under the terms of settlement, the workers will receive their nine percent increase over three years after the consolidation of Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

President general of the OWTU Ancel Roget is expected to address workers at the union's Paramount Building headquarters to share details of the deal.

The eleventh hour negotiation meeting was chaired by Labour Minister Errol Mc Leod who intervened to help broker a deal before workers abandoned the job at multiple onshore and offshore installations at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

The strike threat was already causing transportation chaos ahead of the Carnival, and would have cost the country untold millions. Since Tuesday, there has been panic buying of fuel across the country, leading to a shortage concentrated in south and central Trinidad, which strained the ability of National Petroleum and Petrotrin to deliver fuel to service stations.

Several service stations remained closed this morning, and there were vehicles in long queues at other stations.

Talks broke down last Friday after company and union could not find common ground on wages.

The union had initially asked for a 75 percent increase over the three-year period, but stated it was willing to settle for less.

However, Petrotrin's vice president Khalid Hassanali said the company's five percent offer, which came with other allowances, was extremely competitive given that Petrotrin workers were already among the highest paid in the energy sector.

Hassanali said offering a double digit increase would imperil the company's financial viability.

Petrotrin also appealed to workers not to join the strike since the country would lose significant revenue, and the shutdown would come at a time when the Gas Optimisation Programme, its Ultra Low Sulphur Deisel project, and key oil winning initiatives at Trinmar were at a crucial stage.

The company also disclosed the existing salaries of some categories of workers to prove the superior compensation packages. With the new agreement, a general labourer will now earn a monthly salary in excess of $12,000, a mechanic in excess of $15,000 and an engineer in excess of $25,000.

The more than 5,000 staff employees of Petrotrin will be entitled to retroactive payments. Company and union will shortly begin salary negotiations for the current bargaining period.

-reporting by Carolyn Kissoon

A fair day's work for a fair day's pay.  This article brings to memory the importance of not judging a book by it's cover.  From a 75% increase to settle for a 9% increase, on the surface seems to be a very large pill to swallow but while reading the article it was revealed that this particular company was already the highest paid employees in the industry added to which it would be 5000 people to benefit from this negotiation.  I believe that anywhere you go in any country in the world no amount is good enough, people always think they deserve more.  If you ask them if they don't work for some time during the month if they would accept a lesser amount the obvious answer would be no, so why then for the same amount of work we would need more pay.  Maybe because the company is making more money they believe they deserve more.  I would indeed love to give my deepest thoughts on this article but because i believe i would be heavily judged i would prefer to remain silent. 

NLG

Entry 7 - What i learned from the Colombians

It was very strange to me, that in this time 2012, Columbia is still a male dominated society.  I initially thought that these were strong, liberated women who lived in this country.  And even though it is one country the culture variations was surprising to me.  For example the higher up the mountain you go the more serious the people were, which in Trinidad is so different.  In Trinidad the  country folks are so much more pleasant than the city folks.  What i do love about the Colombians is that they are so passionate and expressive of their culture and their heritage.

NLG

Entry 6 - In class presentation on Culture

I learned that each country's culture is unique to each country.  Some countries place emphasis on material gains as other rely deeply on image.  It is evident that culture is formed by the geographic locations of each country.  In Columbia the higher up the mountain you go the more serious the people are.  In Italy the people in the town is not into the serious family life as those located in the countryside.  Culture plays a significant role in the way each country communicate within themselves or even with other countries.  In my opinion everyone should pay attention to this as it can make or break a friendship or even a business deal.  As i am studying at USC and have had the chance to meet a lot of nationals from other countries, i can now fully appreciate their choices, lifestyle and the way they operate.


NLG

Entry 5 Culture and Communication

In Trinidad our culture dictates the way we communicate in a professional or even an unprofessional setting.  We are known to be limers on and off the job, yet still finding time to accomplish daily set goals.  I was once amazed by the confusion of a colleague who was brought in from the United States of America to give a presentation at a symposium.  She was amazed at the fact that even though we were at such a prestigious and auspicious occasion, she noticed that we were finding the time to laugh and enjoy the moment that we were in and even begged to know the secret of having fun on the job and still getting it done.   One might for a moment say that we don't take anything thing seriously but i beg to differ it is our culture as Trinidadians to make any and every moment into a joyous one, a trait that has been passed down from generation to generation.


On a negative note, our culture has breed us to be the type of people that says whatever is on our mind even though the situation may not call for it, something i believe we need to work on.  In front of a crowd a 'friend' or colleague would not hesitate to ask at the top of their voice "why you wearing that, it not looking good", a statement that might be better received in a soft tone with no other present, sadly i think this is because we tend to seek out the negative in other people to make us look better.  Statement like that would obviously meet with straight faces as we would usually try to send the message that you are being disrespectful and have all mastered the 'eye', that look with our eyes that tells the other person or persons you need to stop now.


NLG

Entry 4 - What perception was formed after reading a newspaper article!

Initially this article was one that caught my attention, being a female driver myself and a great one i naturally gravitated towards this article.  What was someone saying about us now? We can never seem to please anyone with our driving yet statistics have proven we are the most safe drivers on the road.  However, on reading the article i quickly realized that this person was not attacking people like me but was concerned for the direction in which the People's Partnership is heading. An interesting look at a female's position on female driving.  On can only stop to think for a moment, is the female doing all the driving or is it the same as the driving test with the officer on the passenger's side with the brake at their feet quietly being in charge.  

The writer seems to be very upset with the Prime Minister's ability to lead but is it because she is a woman that all these problems are being highlighted? Many questions to consider, but the President of the USA is a man and yet nothing Mr. Obama seems to do for his people meets their approval as well.  It is evident that there is no right way to do anything, with critics on both sides how is it easy for someone, either a Woman or a Black Man to take reigns over a country, can a woman who is naturally a multitask-er be the one to blame for what some may think is the slow death of a country, shouldn't we as a people stop hating and start appreciating.

NLG  

Beware of female drivers

Story Created: Feb 5, 2012 at 12:41 AM ECT

Story Updated: Feb 5, 2012 at 12:41 AM ECT 

Is the People's Partnership failing because it is led by a female? Is the very female in charge the arbiter of her own defeat?

Why is it that the core UNC (United National Congress) supporters are crying with disappointment? What can be done to prevent the sitting Opposition overturning what was supposedly a death blow, political trouncing?

All of the above questions can be answered by the membership of the Partnership. To the viewing public, it would appear that the ungluing of the coalition was inevitable, once the decision was made to dismantle the ideas and aspirations of the defeated PNM (People's National Movement).

With no original planning or trained replacement staffers, the Partnership has opened a political vein that is gushing the blood of defeat, even as we speak.

They say "the first cut is the deepest". The Partnership has willy-nilly removed all the props that defined effective public and personal security at a time when they could least afford it. The badly advised State of Emergency was the final self-inflicted stab in the back of the economy.

But who are the advisers? On a daily basis, they unmask themselves as fully trained and, indeed, degreed persons of less than mediocre competencies. Eminently successful in one life and gasping for self-preservation in this new political incarnation. So it is alleged.

It is said if you have to go to hell, go in a chariot, don't walk. The individual members of the Partnership are having difficulty in deciding whether to travel there in a Porsche, a helicopter or a very small two-seater plane. Beware of female drivers...Lynette Joseph...via e-mail Trinidad Express

Entry 3 - Self Perception

I have on one or more occasions thought about my perception of me, but never really paid close attention to the fact that it has meaning and in fact can help me in becoming a better communicator.  My perception of me is that i am a very organized person i tend to pay close attention to how things must be done and do believe that rules, guidelines, policies and procedures were set up to make life easier.  I do believe that with given instructions and being able to use my initiative at times makes me a person who gets the job done right and in time.  I have been told on many occasions by friends that they admire me for being dependable, which reinforces my belief that i am a dependable person.  It is one of my most treasured  personality traits and one that i seek most in friends as well.

NLG

Entry 2 - An Event that had an impact on my life

The first time i visited my daughter at her swimming class.  I had no idea that she disliked the pool that much, she would help me pack her bag for pool day and was quick to remind me that she had to pay the driver which she took pride in travelling in bus and paying for herself, (which all the other children in her school had to do).  Off and on she would mention that she cried today, and when i asked her why she would say that she was afraid of the pool.  Her teacher did mention to me that she would cry once she is in the pool, which some how surprised me because little miss eager never showed any signs of nervousness.  I decided to leave work one day and visited her at the pool.  To my surprise in the distance i heard a child's voice screaming for dear life, as i came closer to the pool i realized that the screams belonged to Nyola, i couldn't believe this was my daughter who was so happy about pool day, screaming as if the instructor was taking away her life.

I wondered how could is show her that this is not as bad as it seemed.  A friend suggested that i started to take swimming lessons and take her along so that she might realize that once you are in the pool it is not so bad after all.  From the very first day of my class i took her along, she helped me pack my bag and of course reminded me i had to pay the driver when we were exiting the maxi.  She paid particular attention to me amongst all the other students and quickly realized that i am not crying which she called me to tell me.  I forgot to mention she was 3 years at the time.  I had to explain that the man is just helping mommy learn how to swim and that is exactly what Aunty Leslie was trying to do when you are in her pool.

Friday came and we proceeded with the same routine with her packing her bag and getting herself ready for the pool.  Nyola came home that evening with a big smile on her face telling me that she did not cry today in the pool and that Aunty Leslie was trying to help her learn to swim.  I realized that children are sometimes scared of the unknown so to are we, and as parents we can help them get over the fear that they may have by just listening to them.  If i hadn't decided to listen to that small voice today she may have been afraid to do alot of things and not even giving it a try.  We as parents must listen to our kids even when they think we are not listening.

NLG

Entry 1 - Introduce yourself

Hi, I am Natasha London-Griffin
My major is Business Management
I love cosmetics and purchase at least once a week something that can be added to my already really big collection.
On a scale of 1 to 10 on how effective i am as a communicator, I would rate myself 7.5 and this is because i dislike to speak in public or i should say in front of people, but i would speak from behind the crowd, i maybe a coward, i think not.
I am sure this problem can be improved with lots of practice, i would have to start in front of a very small crowd of maybe 4 to 6 persons and then progress accordingly.
I am hoping to overcome this in the coming weeks...

Smooches,

NLG