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BRAVE NEW WORLD.

Monica Pelz, HR Manager of the ‘fantastic’ One&Only Reethi Rah resort, answers questions about life on a desert island.

How and why did you relocate to The Maldives?

After having lived and worked in Switzerland and France and, for nine and a half years, in London, I felt it was time to add another exciting destination to my CV. London is such a great city and melting pot, but I needed something different as a new challenge. When the position with One&Only Reethi Rah came up, I was excited to pursue this career opportunity. It was so opposite to my London life.

What position do you hold and what does your job entail?

I joined One&Only Reethi Rah as the Human Resources Manager supporting and assisting the Regional Director of Human Resources. The role entails looking after 650 permanent employees who both work and live on the island. The Staff Village, Staff Restaurant, Team Bar and our small supermarket come under Human Resources, as does the Resort Clinic and the Imam who is responsible for the Mosque.

I’m responsible for the day-to-day Human Resources operations of the Resort, covering all aspects of HR including recruitment, employee relations, events and annual leave and ticketing administration. The role is varied as the HR team looks after 'people at work', and also organises recreational and social activities for team members outside work, to ensure island life is fun.

How was the move?

Leaving London after such a long time was a bit of a challenge - I had collected quite a lot of things during my time there. The question was what to take with me for island life? The prospect of warm weather made it definitely easy in terms of my wardrobe. Books and sun cream made it into my suitcase too!

Did you settle quickly?

My arrival at the airport, where the One&Only Airport representatives met me, my yacht transfer to the Resort, and a great welcome by the Human Resources team at the jetty set the scene for a friendly and informative induction period. Naturally, I had the opportunity to meet with team members during briefings and meetings and had some qualitative one-on-one time with members of the management team.

At night (when I drive around with the buggy), I still get lost occasionally. But otherwise I have adjusted well to resort and island life. The team bar is a great place to unwind and meet colleagues after a busy day at work. The staff beach offers tranquillity and beautiful turquoise waters to spend relaxing hours in the sun.

Did you encounter any culture shocks professionally or personally?

It’s not only my first time in the Maldives, but also my first time in Asia. Therefore, the whole experience has been so new to me. I was prepared for a shock, as obviously I was not sure of what to expect. What I’ve experienced so far has been very positive, as all the people I’ve met have been extremely friendly and helpful. Life is different and in particular, learning about how people live in their home countries, be it in the Maldives, the Philippines or India has been a real eye opener to me. I look forward to the opportunity to explore some more of the Asian continent during my time in the Maldives.

What was your first challenge?

My first challenge -- and I am still working on it -- is to learn the names of 650 team members!

What are the highlights of living and working in The Maldives?

Without doubt I live and work in paradise! I often think of my family and friends back home when I start my working day with a quick swim in a beautiful ocean watching the sunrise. These moments are absolutely amazing. The underwater world is truly fantastic as well. Having made my first snorkel attempt in the Maldives, I am already hooked on the beauty and serenity of the Maldivian underwater world and I can’t wait to learn scuba diving.

What are the challenges?

Evidently Island life has its challenges. You don’t have the opportunity to go home and leave work behind you. Life inside and outside work revolves around the same people, and sometimes it would be great to grab a cappuccino with friends that you haven’t seen for a while.

What is expat life like?

You have to come and visit me at One&Only Reethi Rah to find out! I still smile about part of my uniform being a raincoat… and I thought I had left the rainy weather behind!