Embracing the World through Hospitality Course Essay Example for Free

Embracing the World through Hospitality Course Essay Traveling is one of the most exciting and adventurous experiences that an individual could ever have in his or her life. Almost everyone has a dream of traveling the world to see the things beyond their horizon. It has been said that an individual who travels a lot, learns and experiences a lot. This is one of the reasons why I chose to take a hospitality course. Aside from the fact that I do love traveling, I also wanted to learn and experience more. I want to discover all the wonders of the world and be able to share it with other people. Among the greatest experiences that contribute to my desire to be involved in hospitality service are my travel experiences in various countries like South Africa, Senegal, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Through these experiences, I came to realize how wonderful our civilization is. I also came to discover that there are other rich cultures outside my territory and knowing other culture has made me aware how important the concepts of understanding is. I grew up in a country where racism is prevalent. The differences among cultures are the reasons why some people tend to harm people who behave differently from them. My travel experiences taught me the value of going beyond our horizon and getting to know other people as well. Their knowledge and experiences might be helpful and significant in one way or another as we traverse the roads of our life. I want to discover the world. This is also one of the reasons why I want to take a hospitality course. The importance of discovering the world would make us more academically, emotionally, mentally and physically involved in promoting the good of what we have. Indeed, like plants and animals, we are inhabiting a place that is more mystical and complicated in many sense. But unlike these creatures, we have the power to think and act according to what would be good for this earth. I may sound like a Miss Universe candidate answering a question that is likely to influence my audience, yet my claim that we could do more things to make this world more comprehensible, best managed, and taken cared of is indeed possible. Through hospitality course, I know in my self that I could be one of those individuals working to promote the best of this world. Moreover, studying the different aspects of our society, specifically of the different countries, would make me aware of how these countries, despite their differences, were able to build and employ an international relationship that has unity and coherence. Knowledge in history, economy, politics and other important aspects or systems of different countries would enable me to devise an activity or program that would promote understanding and encourage unity from different people. Through this, people with racist attitude might be reduced, particularly in many racist countries. Indeed, my love of traveling in different places made me a more open person, with lots of dreams for my country and for the whole world as well. My travels and discovery of other cultures such as what people in South Africa, Senegal, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica also made me a more knowledgeable and improved individual such that embracing other peoples culture and studying the different systems of their country have enlightened me that it is not enough that I am living within my horizon because life and discovery beyond this is significant in many ways as we are living in a diverse world. I do hope to become a part of the hospitality industry for me to be able to share to other people how wonderful our complex world is, how important hospitality industry in supporting the countrys economy, and how understanding differences in culture and other systems make us a better person. In addition, I hope to become a part of the hospitality industry for me to be able to serve the diverse people of this world in the most applicable and appropriate way that would satisfy them and make them realize how wonderful it is to travel and discover the world.

Does Vision And Mission Emerge Essay -- essays research papers fc

Does vision and mission emerge from the particular culture of a firm or is it dictated by strategy?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The culture of a firm and the formation of strategy are two very important aspects of an organisation. The world contains many different people all with different values, ideas and beliefs. These differences create a diverse range of cultures within organisations, some having bigger influences than others. Strategies within organisations are highly dynamic and complex, and can have positive and negative effects on an organisation. Vision and mission are concepts that many believe are vital for an organisation to operate effectively and to the best of its abilities. Andrew Campbell (1991) , a prominent writer on vision and mission, believes that both the culture and the strategy of a firm come together side by side to build an overall definition of mission for a firm. The paper will be based around Campbell’s perception and whether either culture or strategy has a greater part to play in an organisation’s mission.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Culture and strategy will be examined in a context relevant to the title question. Hofstede (1993) defines culture as ‘the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes one group or category of people from another’. Hofstedes research of different organisations and countries allowed him to make predictions on the way different societies operate, including their management processes and the theories that would be used in management. Morgan (1996) refers to culture as ‘the pattern of development reflected in a society’s system of knowledge, ideology, values, laws, and day-to-day ritual’. In subsequent writings he expands on organisational culture as ‘self-organising and is always evolving’ and also ‘ we are observing an evolved form of social practice that has been influenced by many complex interactions between people, events, situations, actions, and general circumstances’. These broad definitions of o rganisational culture are important bases and will be used throughout.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Defining strategy is a difficult process because it is a complex concept that has many forms and is constantly changing. Andrews (1987) attempt is a comprehensive definition... ...(1980) Defining the Business – The Starting Point of Strategic Planning New Jersey, Prentice Hall Collins, J.C. & Porras, J.I. (1996) Built to Last – The Successful Habits of Visionary Companies Kent, Century Ltd. De Wit, B. & Meyer, R. (1998) Strategy – Process, Content, Context London, International Thomson Business Press Fawn, J. & Cox, B. (1985) Corporate Planning in Practice London, Kogan Page Ltd. Morgan, G. (1996) Images of Organizations London, Sage Publications Porter, M.E. (1985) Competitive Advantage New York, The Free Press Journals Baetz, M.C. & Bart, C.K. (1996) Developing Mission Statements Which Work Long Range Planning 29 (4), pp.526-533 Campbell, A. & Yeung, S (1991) Creating a Sense of Mission Long Range Planning August pp.10-20 Campbell, A. (1997) Mission Statements Long Range Planning 30 (6), pp.931-932 David, F.R. (1989) How Companies Define Their Mission Long Range Planning 22 (1),pp.90-97 Piercy, N.F. (1994) Mission Analysis: An operational approach Journal of General Management 19 (3), pp.1-19 Hofstede, G (1993) Cultural Constraints in Management Theories Academy of Management Excutive 7 (1)

Health Insurance and Medicare

This presentation involved an interview with Gerry Flanagan. She is an agent with Human where she specializes in Medicare advantage plans. She and I worked together In Florida, Alabama, and Georgia as Insurance agents. She was my supervisor and a good friend. During the Interview, Gerry and discussed the three issues that agents and supervisors face In the industry. Licensing, MedicareMedical regulations, and how the Affordable Care Act would change Medicare. Licensing Is a big Issue, as there Is a lot to do to get a license. First, a person must complete a background check.This requires a fee and a fingerprinting process. Twenty-four pre-licensing courses must be completed. These classes involve life, accident, health, and annuity education. Once these are completed a state exam must be passed in order to hold a license. Many people are not aware of all the requirements involved. Gerry gets to weed out those not meeting the basic elements to be an agent. Medicare has changes that oc cur yearly, agents have a lot of rules they have to follow. Center for MedicareMedicaid Services (CAMS) does a good job of protecting seniors.There are certain ways to handle clients. Agents cannot call them. We use to do a lot of cold calling when we got leads. Everyday seniors could get many calls from agents trying to get them to sign up for their plan. This created a lot of frustration and contusion tort seniors. Some other things that are restricted: we could not buy them lunch to hear our sales-pitch or offer them a gift tort listening. CAMS makes these rules & If you don't follow them, pay a fine or you could lose your license. Basically, Medicare Is a health Insurance plan you pay Into prior to retirement.It has 4 parts A, B, C, ; D. There Is an annual enrollment period, which this year Is 10/15-12/7. Ten thousand Baby Boomers will age In everyday between the years 2012-2031. This Is an amazingly large amount of people to have in the system. Medicaid is an income-based insur ance plan. It can help with fees for all parts of Medicare. There are 4. 6 million seniors that qualify for Medicaid. Of those, there are 3. 7 million seniors that have a disability of some form. All together, there are 8. 3 million seniors that meet the criteria for both Medicare and Medicaid, being dually eligible.The Affordable Care Act will have a big effect Medicare. It will provide an out- of-pocket expense at a cap of $6700. The new Annual Enrollment Period is now 10/1 5-12/07/2012. It gives a reduction of donuts-hole costs. There will be an increase in premiums for seniors with higher incomes. CA will provide more managed care than fee for service in health care services. Advisory boards implemented that will attempt to reduce spending per person. Providers will have an Accountable Care Organization where they agree to be more accountable for over-all Medicare infirmaries w/ their primary care physician.Finally, an insufficient care clause where there Is a 1% reduction In pa yment for excessive admittance of seniors. Most of these parts are to be In effect by 2015. This concluded my Interview with Casey. Being a former agent, I know the importance of being informed about Medicare. Seniors would wait patiently for me as I worked with clients Just to ask a question. I want to briefly go over Medicare ; shed some light. Odds are that you will know someone turning 65 this year. Medicare NAS 4 parts ; D Witt each avian a different function and fees.You must be 65 years old or have a disability. Part A is the hospital care received as inpatient, a skilled nursing facility, hospice, or home care. No fee is required if you paid into the system prior to retirement, if not $AAA month is the fee currently. With Part B, which is the medical part of Medicare, seniors will pay 104. 90 a month with a $147 deductible. You have a deductible for Part A as well per benefit period, which begins when you are admitted and ends when you are discharged 60 day consecutively. Th ese can be many per year as well. For days 1-60, there is a deductible of $1184.For days 61-90, expect a $296 coinsurance per day per benefit period. For day 91 and over, there is a $592 coinsurance per â€Å"lifetime reserve days†. A senior can have 60 over the scan of their lifetime. These 2 parts are known as Original Medicare. It has three key gaps with additional expense: prescription drugs are not covered, Parts A and B have out of pocket costs, and there is no cap on annual out of pocket expenses. Part C is seniors' Medicare Advantage or Media-gap policies. These options are extremely important as Original Medicare can get very expensive.Both of these choices offer the same benefits as Original Medicare but some offer additional benefits like vision and dental and have a cap on out of pocket expense set at $6700 with Medicare Advantage. Media-gap policies are more expensive but have more benefits. They offer that same basic benefits like host, med, but can cover 100% o f costs associated with health care. Prices can start as low as $75 a month. Some of the basic benefits are hospitalizing of Part A coinsurance plus 365 additional days after Medicare benefits ND.The first three pints of blood are covered each year. Hospice is covered through part A coinsurance. Each Media-gap policy has many plans. Plan A-N can be chosen depending on the need and can pay up to 100% of coinsurance & deductibles, 50-75% of fees for SIN, provide coverage for foreign travel. Prices can start at $75 a month. There are many plans to choose from. It pays to do some research. Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Seniors must enroll when they turn 65 years old or will face penalty of $31. 17, plus a premium each month.Monthly premiums are based on a senior's income. The yearly deductible is $320. However, some plans have $0 escapements or deductibles. However, this depends on formula and tier of drug. Part D plans can cover costs in the coverage gap, called the â €Å"Donuts Hole†. So let's talk about the â€Å"Donuts Hole†. All costs do not include a deductible. From $0-$2930 is spent, seniors are in the gap. In there, seniors will receive 52. 5% discount on drugs. This is an out of pocket expense. After seniors spend $4700, they come out of the â€Å"donuts hole†.Then seniors qualify for catastrophic coverage for medicine. They will then pay a small Coplay or coinsurance for remainder of the year for all medication. In summary, do your homework and read all you can to learn about Medicare and the costs associated with it. Start preparing now; it is never too early to start. Try to stay updated each year with all the changes. You can check an agent's license at this website: http://insurance. KY. Gob/Agent/Default. Asps? Manuel=46;Diva_id=2 . All information with this presentation was verified through the Medicare. Gob website.

William Shakespeares Family

We know that William Shakespeare was born in 1564, but what else? Who was Shakespeare’s family? Did he have children? Are there direct descendants around today? Heres what we know about Shakespeares family history. Shakespeare’s Parents Father: John ShakespeareMother: Mary Arden There is no exact record of when John and Mary married, but it is estimated to have been in about 1557. It is widely recognized that John was a glove maker and whittawer (leather worker) in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. John was very active in Stratford-upon-Avon’s civic duties, and in 1568 he became mayor of the town (or High Bailiff, as he would have been called then). Shakespeare’s Siblings Sister: Joan Shakespeare (born in 1558)Sister: Margaret Shakespeare (born in 1562)Brother: Gilbert Shakespeare (born in 1566)Sister: Joan Shakespeare (born in 1569)Sister:Â  Anne Shakespeare (born in 1571)Brother:Â  Richard Shakespeare (born in 1574)Brother:Â  Edmund Shakespeare (born in 1580) John and Mary had a total of eight children, but infant mortality was common in Elizabethan England, and the first two children passed away within a year of being born. William, therefore, was the eldest of those who survived infancy. The other siblings all lived until they were adults, with the exception of Anne who died at the age of 8. Shakespeare’s Wife Wife: Anne Hathaway When he was just 18 years old, William married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway. Anne was the daughter of a farming family in the nearby village of Shottery. She became pregnant with their first child out of wedlock and the couple applied to the Bishops Court in Worcester to speed up their marriage proceedings, possibly to avoid scandal. There is no surviving wedding certificate. Shakespeare’s Children Daughter: Susanna Shakespeare (born in 1583)Daughter:Â  Judith Shakespeare (twin, born in 1585)Son: Hamnet Shakespeare (twin, born in 1585) The child conceived out of wedlock to William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway was a daughter named Susanna. A few years later, the couple had twins, Judith and Hamnet. Sadly, in the summer of 1596, Hamnet died at age 11. It is thought that Williams grief over his only sons early death can be read in his characterization of Hamlet in the play written not long after. As for the other children, Susanna married a man named John Hall in 1607, and Judith married Thoman Quiney in 1616. Shakespeares Grandchildren Granddaughter: Elizabeth Hall (born in 1608)Grandson: Shakespeare Quiney (born in 1616)Grandson: Richard Quiney (born in 1617)Grandson: Thomas Quiney (born in 1619) William had only one grandchild from his eldest daughter Susanna. Elizabeth Hall married Thomas Nash in 1626 and, after his death, she remarried John Barnard in 1649. From William’s youngest daughter Judith there were three grandsons. The eldest was named Shakespeare because the family name had been lost when Judith married, but he died in infancy. Shakespeare’s Grandparents Grandfather (paternal): Richard ShakespeareGrandmother (maternal): Abigail (Webb) ShakespeareGrandfather (maternal): Robert Arden Above William’s parents in the family tree, information becomes a little sparse, especially for some of the women. We know that the Shakespeares were farmers—there is even a story of Williams grandfather getting in trouble for grazing too many cattle on common land. The Ardens, meanwhile, were a wealthy, noble family that owned some of the land Richard would have worked on. Shakespeare’s Living Descendants Wouldn’t it be great to discover that you are a descendant of the Bard? Technically, it is possible. The direct bloodline ends with William’s grandchildren who either did not marry or did not have children to continue the line. You have to look further up the family tree to William’s sister Joan, who married William Hart and had four children. This line continued and there are many of Joan’s descendants alive today. Could you be related to William Shakespeare?