contents - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New York ...

khady gueyeThe Best Job I Have Ever Hadiwork at the Pierre Hotel Taj. It’s called Taj now because Taj Mahal, an Indiancompany, manages the Hotel Pierre. I’ve been working at the hotel sinceAugust 24th, 1990. I was a young lady when I started. Before I got this job I workedat the Helmsley Palace on Madison Avenue and 51st Street. I worked there for sixyears. My manager, Mrs. Santo, left the Palace and got a management job at thePierre. One day she called me and said, “Khady, I think I found a better place foryou to work.” She told me to call her the next day. When I called her the next day,she told me my attitude would fit well with the Pierre.I always like to joke and make people feel good and feel comfortable. Shesaid, “Khady, ask your new boss to give you your vacation, and take your sick days.After you finish, call me so that you can come to my office.”So I took all my time, one month and two weeks, and went back to mycountry, Senegal. When I came back to New York, I went to see Mrs. Santo. Assoon as I met her, she told me to say hello to the general manager, Mr. Culveze.I had overheard in the café that Mr. Culveze is French, so as soon as I met him Isaid, “Bonjour, Mr. Culveze,” and he was so delighted. I told him I really wanted ajob. First he said, “I’ll see what I can do.” By the time I got home, I had a messageon my answering machine: “Congratulations, you have the job!”They put me in housekeeping.I worked from 8:30 a.m. to3:15 p.m. I had to make 15 rooms aday. Room 3901 is a VIP suite with17 rooms. It’s a marvelous place, onthe 39th floor with a view of CentralPark, facing west. We used to have a very special lady stay with her beautifuldaughter. Her daughter was about four or five years old. This little girl reallyliked me. We used to sing and dance. She would say, “Let’s go, Khady,” and dance.I couldn’t play with her because I had so much work to do. She asked her mother,Finding Encouragement99‘Can we ask the managerif Khady can have adifferent job. . .?’khady gueye