Excuse the cheesiness of my opening phrase but I always get enthusiastic about these blog posts. Being so spread out you don’t get to hang out with colleagues much and so its always cool to learn something about the people you work with. With Paul, I’m particularly excited to see what he had to say because he comes across as being quite quiet and reserved. Paul was one of the first people I met when I started working for the company (he’s also based on campus). What immediately fascinated me about him is his smile – it radiates warmth and in my eyes it defines him.
Keeping in line with the rest of our employees interviewed so far, Paul is not lacking in his love for sports. In fact he is an ex professional footballer and still plays casual games to this day. He is also very much into tennis. Paul is the Entertainment & Merchandising Coordinator at MUHC – to me he’s the guy always running around between the pitches and campus (he coordinates the merchandise and the campus shop and also regularly replaces Louis at the pitches). Here’s Paul’s take on things:
1) What’s a typical day at work for you?
My day usually starts at the campus shop except when I have to go to Benny(Frame maker) to pick up ready frames or to drop off photos/certificates to be mounted in frames. I’m often busy at the shop where students(mostly foreign) come in just to take a look and many times buy our merchandise.
(I can vouch for the fact that Paul is one busy guy)
2) What’s it like being based at the heart of the student house on campus?
You get to experience something different every day. There are often different different activities taking place in the quad. One can find students selling all kinds of items including cakes, muffins, cards, health products. Sports activities are also very common and one can play table tennis, volleyball, baseball, chess etc. I recall one time I was watching two students playing chess and the game finished in a stalemate. One student was shouting to the other one that he won as the other student could not move his remaining pieces. I told him that it was a draw (Stalemate) but he was not convinced. He later came to me and told me that I was right because he looked it up on the internet.
3) What do you get up to when you’re not at work?
Every Saturday morning I used to give tennis coaching but following my wife’s back condition, I started washing the floors of our home and preparing lunch. I never cooked in my life but I started checking the internet for recipes and eventually had a go at it.
(So when are we coming for dinner?)
4) Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years time, I would be a pensioner and that is the worst challenge in my life. I will try to start giving tennis coaching which I miss very much.
(He really doesn’t look his age…..)
5) Who do you look up to in life and why?
I mostly admire my parents. They were always there to guide me and give me hope whenever necessary. I have 2 sons and know what it’s like to raise a family. Imagine what it was like for my parents raising 10 boys and 2 girls. Imagine my father, who worked in the police force, coming home from a night shift and waking us up just to play with us and show us that he is there for us.
6) What have you done that you are most proud of?
I got a contractor to build my house and with the help of my father and brothers I manage to do all the plumbing, electricity, tiles laying, wall & roof finishing and even the kitchen cupboards.
7) What’s the funniest/ weirdest thing that has ever happened to you while at work ?
The first time during the graduation festivities. I had to scream to communicate with somebody at the shop. One time a graduate came to the shop with a bottle of Coke !!!!!!!!!!!!! He told me to take a sip and I told him no thank you, I’m working(God knows what was in the bottle).
(haha never a dull day on campus)
It’s surprising the things you can learn about a person from a casual interview. Paul is one of the most helpful people I know; he really looks out for others and all in all we are extremely lucky to have him on the team.