Sharing Bananas: As a Bunch We Can Do More

By Gesmay Paynter

Gesmay has compacted her life experiences into this book '' Sharing Bananas''. She was motivated to write this book in order to inspire, motivate and hopefully empower the reader.

This is a book of dreams, aspiration and taking action. She believes that winners never quit, and quitters never win.



Gesmay wants to share the philosophy that sharing makes us better and richer people. She believes perseverance and determination really pays off.

Gesmay invites people to connect with her and learn more about '' Sharing Bananas'' - as a bunch we can do more. She would like to connect with independent travel community using the forum on her website: sharingbananas.org.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Nov 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479736737

Gesmay Paynter

Gesmay grew up on a paradise island of La Digue, Seychelles. From an early age she was very aware of her call in life. Her vision was to help, empower and transform people's life. She dreamed of traveling the world before the airport was built on the Seychelles islands. Gesmay has wide experience of traveling which includes living in Arabia and Asia. Gesmay is a well respected coach, mentor, teacher, travel expert and a raconteur. She has held several positions and now runs her own business in the UK and internationally. Gesmay's zest for life and positive attitude impact on those she meets.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Gesmay Paynter 305072-PAYN

Library of Congress Control Number:   2012919689

ISBN:   Softcover     978-1-4797-3671-3

ISBN:   Hardcover   978-1-4797-3672-0

ISBN:   Ebook         978-1-4797-3673-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

305072

Contents

Acknowledgements

Awareness

Risk is a Good Thing

Action

Energy

Passion

Sharing Bananas

Happiness

Challenges

Laughter and Fun

My dreams of travelling the world started when I was a small child growing up on my isolated island paradise in the Indian Ocean. From a very young age I felt I was special and had the power and purpose to help others. I never stopped dreaming about travelling to other countries and as the Seychelles was a British Colony, I dreamed of travelling to the so called ‘mother country’, thinking that when I reached England my dreams would come true.

I have travelled and lived in different corners of the world. England was not the first country I visited (you have to read the book to find out which the other ones are) and I have embraced many different cultures, religions and traditions, met many types of people and made some wonderful friends all over the world. Many people in the ‘colony’ thought English roads were paved with gold. When I eventually stood in front of Buckingham Palace in London I wondered what all the fuss was about.

My good intentions and desire to help and inspire people recently took me to Guatemala to teach English as a Foreign Language and while there I learned Spanish and made a profound spiritual connection with the beautiful and unique Mayan people. I knew I had to find a solution to the problem of the many children in Guatemala who did not go to school.I thought long and hard about the issues concerning this problem and how I could help these children, their parents and their teachers. When I returned to London, I met Michael Padmanathan who is the CEO in charge of the business of building schools in twenty-eight countries. I persuaded him to look at Guatemala as a new destination and subsequently I was sent there as his representative to research and start a new project. I am now the Manager of the Guatemala project and have done whatever it has taken to help others to make the job of teaching children easier.

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In the village, Northern Luzon, Philippines with the Aeta children.

I was a volunteer helping the indigenous and displaced people of the so-called ‘ETA’ in Luzon Island in the Philippines. I taught English there and helped to motivate and inspire the villagers as it was the first time the children had ever been in a classroom. As a team we raised funds for their causes, coached and advised the adults how to become self-employed (as they’re brutally discriminated against by their own countrymen) and co-operated with the village chiefs to find a solution to their problems.

I was part of a team that raised funds for the defence of battered women in the Philippines as women there have few human rights. I have a real passion about what I believe in and there is no such thing as un-resourceful people, only an uncaring state. I took it on myself to call BBC Radio and persuade them to interview me to increase the awareness of the Guatemala Project and obtain donations for books which are beyond the reach of most people there. I travelled for hours through the night in chaotic traffic to teach these beautiful people at daybreak. And I am ready to go on most assignments at a minute’s notice.

I have a thirst for knowledge and last year set out on an adventure to Chang Mai in Northern Thailand to obtain a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate. Short of cash I sold some of my belongings to pay for the course which inspired me and gave my confidence in English grammar, English not being my first language. This also greatly assisted me to write this book.

When I was in Thailand, I went on a spiritual journey as I was embraced by a monastic community who hadn’t seen foreigners before. The isolated monastery and its community welcomed me into their retreat and unique way of life and I was introduced to the Buddhist religion. The head nun took me under her wing and I was taught meditation, I managed an hour and a half without moving my body. I was made an honoured guest by the community and was able to join in the early morning rituals and ceremonies. I felt blessed and honoured to have that opportunity especially on the Buddha’s birthday. During this, the congregation dressed in long, white robes. Carrying a lotus and a candle, I walked in the procession from the temple to the pagoda perched on a hill where I was introduced by the head monk to worshippers in the community.

As the people there were hungry for learning and knowledge I proceeded to teach them English. This experience will stay with her me for the rest of my life especially when I sleep in an open wooden hut in the forest, among the trees, next to a river, listening to the birds singing. I felt privileged when the head monk asked to be photographed and interviewed. It was the first time he had been photographed and I was chosen to be their messenger to the rest of the world.

My diplomatic and negotiating skills along with an ability to integrate into any environment and culture are legendary. But my own development is on-going; twenty years ago I was invited to a yoga class by a friend and it made a deep impact on my life and my personal growth. It was time to take a deeper look at my life and as a result the positive changes came. I have since felt more at peace and contented with my inner self. I start every day in the Elephant position (standing on my head) and I am then ready and happy to face any challenges that come my way, no matter what the situation.

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Been interviewed by the local newspaper in Northern France about the business course.

In 2006 I was inspired to go on a different path of learning and I felt the need to accomplish something I had always wanted. I studied French at school but dreamed of being fluent. I resigned from my job which I loved and decided to go and live in Northern France, not knowing anyone there but determined to achieve my goal. Being of a warrior spirit and very persistent, I knocked at the door of the local Job Centre and acquired funding from the European Union and a local bank. Being an entrepreneur I secured a place on a local business course with fierce competition for places, managing to get onto the shortlist of fifteen. I gained the distinction of being the only non-native French speaker in their twelve-year history to complete the course.

During the course I was given a hard time by my teacher, but in spite of all this, with my patience, strength and determination, I took up the challenge and qualified after four months. I now consult and advise companies on how to do business in France, which has the most complex employment laws in the world. I completed a further business course with the Chamber of Commerce and a French Cooking Course through the ANPE, job centre.

I am a fluent French speaker. When asked how it is that I speak French with such a good accent and which university I attended, my reply is, The University of Life and I am one of the Golden Girls.

Over the last few years I have been an advocate for the ‘less eloquent’ and provided a Mentoring Programme to help young adults, working with people with limited language skills. I understand their plight because of the difficulty I had expressing myself and knows how it feels to be laughed at, but I turned that into something positive and went on to be expressive and articulate. I have recently coached adults and young people—one of them who were unemployed for years now feels he has developed a level of awareness that has enabled and empowered him to move on in his life.

On my remote island in the Indian Ocean, technology was never part of daily life and I overcome my technophobia, attending evening classes to learn how to use a computer. I recently bought my first computer and dongle and learned how to text because I couldn’t bear being left behind in the technology stakes. Certain tropical island people have another thing in common, they can’t swim. I do not allow my fear to influence my decision making and commitment, so a few years ago I decided to learn to swim even though I found it extremely difficult. I nearly drowned on one occasion trying to master the technique on my own.

I lived in the United Arab Emirates for seventeen years and while living there, visited several other Middle Eastern and Asian countries, experiencing the many diverse cultural aspects of the region. I often delight others with my stories, creating a ripple effect of positivity to inspire those that I meet to rise and be empowered to pursue their dreams and aspirations. I am passionate about life, and always see the funny side of life.

I am a raconteur, loves debate, adventure, and philosophy, has a great sense of humour and will always laugh and joke about myself. I am called an encyclopaedia on two legs by people who know me very well. I am a fierce adversary and warrior, who is highly spirited. I’ll do whatever it takes to help my fellow-traveller. I am sometimes mischievous and have very dry wit. I have a very caring nature along with the ability to help and inspire people to the highest level and I am doing just that, almost every day of my life.

Acknowledgements

I am extremely honoured to have met some wonderful, interesting people in my journey to empowerment. I am who I am because of everyone. I have my unique ways and wisdom but I have also learned from them, I thank them with gratitude.

My thanks are due to the following:

Mathew Tilbrook, I admired your courage in accepting the challenge in the planning of ‘Sharing Bananas’, a big thank you.

The college lecturer from New Castle upon Tyne, Richard Pattison, who has given his precious time in proof-reading ‘Sharing Bananas’.

Sarah Garnett who responded to my call of help in proof-reading ‘Sharing Bananas’.

Eileen O’Callaghan who travelled from Bournemouth to help me with my corrections, spending hours of her precious time in revising my book.

Ziana Hichem and Salah Hadji, you deserve a gold medal! How many times I’ve rushed into your Internet cafe, with my laptop, thinking that I’d lost my work. Special thanks are due Ziani who showed me how to move the paragraphs to appropriate places. He acted as a ‘computer surgeon’; I can’t thank him enough.

Laura Phra whom I know from Dubai days, answered my every call of help, and her fourteen year old daughter, Hannah, assisted me with the typing. Laura always reminded me that the challenges are worth it and definitely I can ‘do it’.

Kevin Lemos, my Travel Consultant at the Flight Centre, Piccadilly Circus, London, who has been there every step of the way, booking flights for me at short notice and answering my calls and queries when things were not running smoothly.

My long-time friend Noel Brassey, who invariably has something encouraging to say and has always helped when call upon. He looked at my draft and made changes and suggestions without being judgmental.

Pauline Brassey, who has always believed in me and always had time to listen to