THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT. I often hear people sigh and declare with a deep sense of resignation that today’s youth is not what it used to be! I am here to kill that notion, because there is nothing wrong with the Millennials. On the contrary they are intelligent, eloquent and charming, and in the case of our island, also born under a star, as members of a society where opportunities abound. I recently met University of Aruba students Daniela Piazzi, Bryan Viera, Tian Xie and Christopher Habibe for coffee, they wanted to tell me about the activities of the student board, SUA, and how they feel about the recently-announced tuition increase. I loved talking to them, they are full of ideas, and as students it is their job to protest and speak out and fuss, because as they get older and burdened with responsibilities they will have no time for any of that. Bryan is the President of the Board, blessed with great charisma, and a free entrepreneurial spirit. He will be a brilliant lawyer soon, when he graduates in just about two months. Daniela, the youngest of the bunch, practically still in her teens is an incredibly accomplished social mover and shaker, who strives to create a greener university. Tian has very practical ideas, among them the formulation of a Book Club to ease the financial crunch of having to buy new books each year, and Christopher is getting ready to negotiate with the bank a fee-free student banking structure. With seven hundred and fifty scholars, enrolled in four faculties, the University of Aruba serves as the incubator of local talent and leadership, and from what I see, it’s doing a great job at unleashing the powers within that precious human soup. Among its great suggestions the SUA board envisions a payment plan for students, a more understanding and flexible faculty, a formal claim procedure, sports teams, the improvement of the UA kitchen, fund raising for school projects, and giving back to the community. Bryan would like to bring an independently run TEDx event to the island to help share ideas in our community and the region, and make some money for SUA in the process, true to the adage: When you dream, dream big! And about that tuition increase, the SUA board understand that education should be paid for, and Tian adds: It can’t be that good if it’s free, but they would like to temper the blow with a more gradual increase, in a less drastic approach. That’s reasonable.
GROWING SEGMENT OF THE MARKET. The demand for villa, condo and apartment rentals on the island is growing, and consequently that second tier of accommodation options is attracting first-class management. Hans Timpner is now running a charming hideaway of 39 socially responsible studios and apartments. He’s been at the helm of the Camacuri Residence & Apartments, which caters to a majority of Dutch guests, for the past one and a half years. After more than 25 years of work in the tourist industry, he happily found his last project and is inviting us to visit in order to experience his oasis of peace and quiet in Oranjestad, away from the hustle and bustle of mass tourism. This year, he reports, the property already hosted four repeat guest couples, honored by ATA, which means people love it and return every year!
CONGRATAS TIARA AIR. Pa bien Tiara Air, for getting back in business, having obtained the renewal of your Air Operator Certificate (AOC). With the paperwork in place Tiara Air is preparing to fly again restarting operations that are strategically less dependent on the Venezuela Bolivar sales. That’s great news! Congratulation to Managing Director Alejandro Muyale, and crew, I bet you are relieved, and joyful.
NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS. Lotte Blom is a dedicated elementary school teacher in Mon Plaisir, and for the past couple of weekends she has been standing with her third-graders at the entrance to a popular food market, education shoppers about the toxic effects of plastic on the planet. The environmental project is impressive in many way, and Lotte deserves praise for taking action outside the school and giving her students an interactive experience, in a real-life setting. I was stopped by a 9-year-old who very sincerely asked me if I wanted to take a quiz and win a prize. When I agreed, he questioned me about the life span of commonly discarded items such as cigarette butts, empty water bottles and banana peels. When I answered correctly, he sounded a yippi-kay-yay, and awarded me a reusable shopping bag! Really adorable, and very self-confident. Then another cute elf named all the world’s continents correctly, pointing out the locations of plastic soups, the underwater rubbish dumps destroying oceans and beaches. Plastic pollution, he told me, causes irreversible damage to the planet. Such big words from a little person, it gave me goose bumps. Lotte also started the ArubaBeachPlastic Facebook page where she showcases the art work she makes from found single-use objects thoughtlessly tossed away as garbage. She makes fun pieces from plastic toys, lighters and bottle caps, creating awareness of the problem through art.
RECOMMENDED: RED SAIL SPORTS, SUNSET SAIL. We watched a spectacular performance of the sun’s setting from on board the Rumba catamaran recently with Captain JP at the helm. The catamaran departed on time from the Hyatt Regency’s Piet’s pier sailing in the direction of scenic Malmok and Arashi, then tacking to picturesque Eagle Beach, and back, for a most relaxing two hour trip, pampered by very attentive crew members, Orlando and Gregory, who bartend efficiently, served really good snacks and even dance respectfully with guests moved by their music. First tune, right off the pier: Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya, to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama — you know, it greatly sets the mood. The catamaran is nicely maintained and all of its 70′ sparkling clean. Run with quiet efficiency, the crew lets guests be, romantic and unmanaged, and we appreciated the offer to take our group picture in the sweet twilight glow. You earned my vote for best sunset trip on the island!
CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE IS HERE. Aruba Brokers now represent R365 | Christie’s International Real Estate in Aruba. R365 is the exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate in The Netherlands and, starting March 2015, also in the Dutch Caribbean Islands, says Managing Director Juan Sonensein. As of that date, Aruba Brokers may market its listings in the exclusive network of the brand in over 900 offices, in 46 countries. Very exciting news for the Sonenseins.
PALM LI SPA IS OPEN. She left the management of Blue Village to her husband and kids, and embarked on a new challenger, a spa, at Caribbean Palm Village, taking the location over from Madeleine Pappers. It is evident that Ma Li has a colorful personality, having once been a famous singer in her country of origin. As a spa operator she gave the tired interiors a face list, and lined up a series of quality, Chinese beauty products and treatments. Friends sent many flower bouquets and showed up in person with warm congratulations: Shanela Paulina, Elisa Lejuez, Karin Swiers, Glenda, Ildo and Hiram Vrolijk, Sheila van Veen, Melinda & Theo van der Sanden, Giovanni Di Vecchia, and a handful of friends from Divi Phoenix. [email protected]
