Tick Tock... 12 hours to go....

I'm leaving.

It's tough. I wonder if this is what it's like to have a child move on. This team has been great. They were great before I got here but now... Now they are great and know how to support the account.

I've spent a good portion of this morning listening to M.Y.M.P. Thinking of what this month was like. Thinking of the things I love and the things I regret. Here is what I've come up with.

Regrets:
1. Not spending more time with the team after work.
2. Not seeing LALA in concert.
3. Not going up to the Taal Volcano and peering inside.
4. Not getting to know various people at the call center better.

Loves that I will miss: (I'm not numbering these)
A team of friends that no longer needs me, but wants to have me none the less.
Ivan and his attentiveness to my well being.
Gale and her teddy bear that always cheered me up when I walked by and scratched it's ears and to watch her smile at the silliness.
The view of Metro-Manila from Antipolo.
The skyline of Eastwood, Labis from the IBM building.
Beth and her brining me coffee, water, and tea throughout the day.
Francis (aka Jimmy Neutron) and his cheery nature.
Sheila's smile and "Morning Sir" as I would walk in each morning to work.
The tiger at Paridizoo.
HORRIBLE traffic and Ivan who can drive it as if it weren't there.
2am training classes and 6am conference calls.
Being asked how my friends back in the states were doing by the team.
The team hanging out at the ElbowRoom.
Al and his thankfulness for my time and effort.
The strange looks I'd get for my over zealous friendliness.
Ed and his relaxed nature.
Otty and her friendly charm.
Salud and her quirky extrovert style.
BamBam and her accepting spirit.
Aaron and his laid back way of sharing information.
Raul and his humor.
The ease of approach to each day. Never did I have to worry about what would come. I just knew whatever came we could handle.

These are just the things that come to mind for now. In the short month I have fallen in love with the people I have trained and the people I've come to know. I have no problem saying that. Yes there are people back in the states that I most dearly miss. People that I can't wait to see or hear from again. But I can truthfully say that I am leaving as much of my heart here with this team as I am taking back with me.

It's like I said to a few of the team members last night. I didn't come here to train them. That wasn't how I looked at it at all. I came here to draw up along side them and simply show them our protocols and then let them bring their own flavor. Their knowledge. Their kindness. Their caring. As long as they remember how they are cared for and pass that on to the customers then the customer will be see that and will feel served. There will still be bad days. But I think they know they are loved. They know that there is some guy across the pacific who's thoughts and heart is thinking of them while playing with his toy Jeepney.

My next post will be from the USA. I'll see you loved ones in the states soon.

To those of you here in the Philippines, We will see each other again soon. In the mean time, show them how great you are. Don't forget to read the email out loud to yourself just to make sure you didn't miss anything.

Love, honor, and blessings,
Gregg.