WORKING FOR AQUUM FAQ

1. Where is the Maldives / Seychelles?

The Republic of Maldives is in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India and Sri Lanka.

The Republic of Seychelles is located in the western Indian Ocean, east of Africa and north-east of the island of Madagascar.

2. What is the time difference in the Maldives / Seychelles?

The Maldives is 5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Seychelles is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

3. Who works at Aquum Spas?

Jane Quinn, Managing Director, and Scot Toon, General Manager, manage approximately 63 employees for the Spa Collection of Per Aquum Resorts Spas and Residences.

There are two spa brands under the Spa Collection: Aquum and Lime. Two of the three Lime spas are located in the Maldives, while the other is in Sri Lanka, with the fourth spa opening in December 2007. The Aquum brand has four spas, three in the Maldives and one in Seychelles.

4. Which languages are spoken on the islands?

Dhivehi is the official language of the Maldives. It is closely related to Sinhala and southern Indian coastal languages and is written in Arabic thaana script.

English, however, is widely spoken on the islands and is the language of choice at all Per Aquum properties. Japanese, German, Italian, French, and Dutch are also widely spoken by both staff and guests.

There are three official languages in Seychelles: Creole, English and French.

5. Who visits Per Aquum Resorts?

The majority of guests come from Japan, Russia, Italy and Germany, followed by Britain and France.

With an international clientele, not to mention staff, cultural understanding is the key. To begin to understand the professional side of working with people in an international environment, read the book “Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: How to do Business in Sixty Countries” by Terri Morrison, Wayne A. Conaway, and George A. Borden, Ph.D. The book was published by Adams Media Corporation of Holbrook, Massachusetts, 1994.

6. What is an atoll?

An atoll is a large ring-shaped coral reef, encircling or nearly encircling a shallow lagoon. This massive coral growth is commonly found along a submerged mountain range or volcano in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The word “atoll” is the only English word that has been derived from the Maldivian language.

7. What is the weather like in the Maldives / Seychelles?

Year-round hot and humid. The Maldivian climate is determined by the monsoons, though milder and not as defined as in its neighbouring countries. The southwest monsoon – May to October – brings some rain and wind, while the northeast monsoon – November to April – delivers the dry season with very light wind.

The temperature varies little throughout the year, with an annual average of 30.4 degrees Celsius maximum and 25.9 degrees Celsius minimum. On the capital island of Malé, the average humidity is at 70 – 75%, while on the southern atolls along the equator it is often over 85% on a clear day. In 1996, the annual rainfall stood at just over 1,900 millimetres, and the country had more than 2,800 hours of sunshine – an average of about 8 hours a day.

Seychelles’ enviable climate is always warm and mild. In this tropical haven, the temperature seldom drops below 24 degrees Celsius or rises above 32 degrees Celsius. All but the remotest southern islands lie comfortably outside the cyclone belt, which makes Seychelles’ a year round destination for sun worshippers and beach lovers.

During the north-west trade winds that visit between the months of October and March, the sea is generally calm, and the weather warm and humid, with average winds of 8-12 knots.

In January and February, the islands receive their life-giving rains, rejuvenating the rivers and streams and teasing the vibrant foliage into rainbow of colours.

The months between May and September bring drier, cooler weather, and livelier seas - particularly on south-eastern coasts – and winds of 10-20 knots.

8. What is the appropriate attire to wear?

For work: Uniforms & footwear will be provided

For leisure : While off duty and in guest areas, staff should dress appropriately and follow the guest dress code, including cover up when in the restaurants. Shorts, sarongs, and/or summer dresses made of lightweight cotton or other cool fabrics work well. If you wish to participate in sports at the resort, bring appropriate clothing and foot ware for the activity: bathing suit, sneakers/trainers, t-shirts, etc. In addition, it is a good idea to bring along a light raincoat or jacket for the rainy and windy days during the southwest monsoon season.

For a trip to Malé, shoes or sandals are needed, and casual clothing is appropriate. Although a Muslim country, it is not necessary for expatriate women to cover up totally. T-shirts and reasonably modest tops are fine.

Evening wear: Suits, formal evening wear, and high heels are too formal. Evening wear should be smart casual: long trousers, dress shirts, skirts, dress shorts (not surf type shorts), dresses, etc.

9. Besides clothing, what should I bring to the Maldives / Seychelles?

Don’t forget…
- Toiletries*
- Recreation items:reading materials, music, etc.
- Electrical adapters/transformers, extension cords, and outlet divider plugs
- Sunglasses (wise to invest in a good pair)
- Sunscreen
- Bathing suits

Consider bringing…
- Hairdryer
- CDs
- Snorkelling gear
- Rechargeable batteries
- Plastic hangers
- Sarongs(very popular island wear)
- A digital camera (no film developing is done on the island)
- Laundry detergent(laundry and pressing are provided free of charge for staff but bring some if you want to do any of your own washing)

Leave behind…
- Shoes
- Heavy clothing
- Bible or other Christian religious items (Considered as “signs of worship” and will not be allowed into the country.)
- Videotapes, DVDs, etc.(They will be confiscated at Customs in Malé; if returned at all they will be severely edited for any hint of “sexual” material.)
- Radio(no reception on the islands)
- Alcohol (Even duty free liquor will be confiscated upon arrival.)

*The staff shop and the hotel souvenir shop sell a limited range of toiletry items and snack food. However, if you like to use a particular brand it is advisable to bring a supply to last a few months.

10. Will I be able to use my personal electric devices from home?

Throughout the Maldives and Seychelles, the voltage is 220-240 volts AC 50 Hz. The Maldives and Seychelles uses the British standard square three-pin, 13 amp sharp electric plug. Visitors from countries other than the United Kingdom are advised to bring their own adaptors.

11. What sort of the telephone, television, and Internet services are available?

Management staff receive a small monthly telephone credit (as specified in the letter of offer). However, it may be a good idea to look into Call Back (http://www.callback4u.com) and Net 2 Phone (http://www.net2phone.com) services as telecommunication rates are extremely expensive.

Also, management staff will be given an e-mail account, while all employees have access to the Internet. However, be prepared for slow and sometimes unreliable connections.

12. How does the postal system work?

Mail is delivered via speed boat / seaplane everyday.

13. What are staff accommondation like?

Staff housing ranges from single rooms for department heads to shared quarters for two and three people of the same gender. Quarters have an air-conditioning unit, a shower & toilet, a desk, bed(s), and wardrobe cabinet(s).

14. What sort of dining is avaible to staff?

All staff eat in the Team restaurant located in the staff village, which serves an ever-changing menu of both local and international food.

Management staff can dine at the guest restaurants and are entitled to staff discounts. Just like guests, staff must sign for all meals and drinks.

15. What sort of exercise facilities and activities are available?

A wide range of water sports is available on a discretionary basis, free of charge to management staff, in addition to volleyball in the staff village. Many people jog on the beach or swim in the crystal clear ocean.

It’s a good idea to bring hobby items such as fishing rods or snorkel gear for personal use.

Spa treatments are available to staff (on a discretionary basis) for a discounted price.

16. Is there shopping available at the resorts?

Exclusive guest boutiques and staff shops on the resorts supply a small range of necessary items.

Note, however, that the guest shop offers a very limited selection at high prices and caters mainly to guests. More shops can be found in Malé. Normally, staff visit Malé on their day off to shop.

17. What will my schedule be like?

The normal workweek in the Maldives is 6 days. Daily schedule depends on job responsibilities, but an average day is 10 hours, excluding lunch. Living and working on a small island amounts to a long and demanding but challenging and rewarding job.

18. How do I get work permit in the Maldives / Seychelles?

New staff members at our Spas are subject to a general medical examination and the approval of a work permit by the Republic of Maldives. The following documents are needed to process a work permit: 8 passport-size photos, police report, passport data pages and academic & professional certificates, including details of work experience.

For visits to the Maldives of 30 days or less, a tourist visa will be granted upon arrival to all visitors with valid travel documents, properly completed embarkation/disembarkation cards, and a return air ticket.

19. Do I need vaccinations to enter the country?

In the Maldives,an international certificate of inoculation is required for those coming from yellow fever infected regions. A blood test with screening for HIV/AIDS is also part of the required physical examination for those seeking a work permit. Hepatitis vaccinations are always a good idea.

Vaccinations are only required in the Seychelles for travellers over 1 year of age who have come from, or passed through, a partly or wholly infected area within the previous 6 days, in order to keep Seychelles free of Yellow Fever. Infected areas include certain parts of northern and central South America and central Africa. Persons travelling to Seychelles in transit do not require a vaccination against yellow fever.

20. Are there any heath-related issues I should be aware of?

Expect the flight attendants on the airplane to spray the cabin with insecticide upon arrival into Malé. The Maldives is highly cautious about bringing in foreign organisms that may carry infection that can spread to humans.

Dhoni Mighili does not have a doctor on the island. Doctors are located on nearby islands and in Malé. Decompression chambers (used for diving emergencies) are located in a medical center on Bandos Island near Malé and Kuramathi.

Though at one time a concern, the Maldives is now free of malaria.

The seawater here is rich in plankton that can cause severe ear infections. Always wash out your ears with freshwater after swimming in the ocean.

21. What is the currency in the Maldives / Seychelles?

Maldives – Rufiyaa “Rf” (paper bills) and “Laaree” (coins)
1 Maldivian Rufiyaa is equivalent to 100 Laarees
The US Dollar is the most frequently used currency.
1 US Dollar is equivalent to 12.75 Rf, a rate that does not vary much.

Seychelles – Seychelles Rupee “SCR”
1 US Dollar is equivalent to 6. 37 SCR.

The most ideal Travellers’ cheques to use in the Seychelles are the US Dollar, the Great British Sterling and / or the Euro.

22. Can I have my salary paid into an overseas account?

Yes. We can pay your salary into any international bank accounts. A fee of US$20 is charged to you for each transfer.