slovaks are here

Tired of battling with indeginous staff who dont seem to have the remotest idea of work, discpline, professionalism- we decided last year to look at the Central Europeans. First there was the Polish entourage- hardworking, disciplined- but so full of dogma and such internalised paternalism that our liberal attitudes faced a whacking challenge.They were too Black & White whereas we had several distinct shades of grey. They required very clear formal and tight structure for anything they did and we had a free flowing, organic form for in-house staff. Whatever it was, it was difficult for us to gell.

So for now have a team of Slovaks. Professional, work as hard as we do, are caring and seem to carry a lot less baggage.

I hear, through the local grapevine, that several Hotels, Inns and Pubs have international staff. How wonderful, I think, to have small gobal communities everywhere. The big cities have this already but the English Countryside is now experiencing this wonderful "melting pot". About time., I think.

I wonder about the impact of this on English culture and society, as surely most of those who migrate from Europe may stay here. I wonder about their understanding of blackness within society and ponder about the work done for decades by the people of Britain to understand discrimination and black issues. I wonder how this influx of peoples who have never been exposed to the struggles of black culture or colonialism would impact on British people. The issues are so complex, experiences so diverse. A few of the Slovaks who are here have never spoken to black or Asian people before!!!

But for now, we are comfortable with the staff we have. They have integrity, humour and work like F.... So it is Slovakians, for now.