Blogs from Jupiter

I enjoyed every minute of my two week stay in the US. I am so thankful to my Company, especially my boss Nana, for allowing me to undergo training in Cape Canaveral, Florida; and to have an extended vacation to visit relatives in the US.

Yeah… Cape Canaveral, popularly known as the “Space Coast” and home to the Kennedy Space Center; I told a friend that I’ll be in Cape Canaveral, and he figured out that I’ll go there for space camp. Yippeee!!! How I wish I’d space camp but I went there to hone my public relations skills (don’t you find that more exciting? He he he). It is a one-of-a-kind training, a seminar-workshop for public relations practitioners working for the ports industry. It make sense right? I, Jupiter Kalambakal, Assistant Public Relations Manager of International Container Terminal Services, Inc., undergo training on public relations for port communicators in Florida, U-S of A! And why not in the US? The office of our regional representative in the Americas is in Florida (Miami), though I wasn’t able to visit as Miami is one long drive from Cocoa Beach (where I stayed, just a few miles away from Canaveral).

The training was organized by the American Association of Port Authorities; and this was the first time that we came across a training program on public relations specifically for the ports industry. I learned lots of new stuff: new and emerging technologies in online marketing and communications; things Greek in global maritime trade like the Suez Canal and Panama Canal are actually competing with each other, and emerging mega economies like the China and India cluster or “Chindia” and its impact to the future of the global economy; and how my PR colleagues strut their stuff in that part of the world (not much of a difference on how we practice public relations here).

As usual, the training had the usual presentations, discussions, workshops, role playing, and meet the press stuff. It was nice to benchmark our PR programs with programs of other organizations, especially in this case as I was comparing our programs and methods with that of the Canaveral Port Authority, Panama Canal Authority, Disney Cruise Lines, and Port of Los Angeles/ Long Beach. Their case studies gave me new insights on how to go about new PR programs I intend to propose in my next planning sessions with my boss.

I wasn’t able to side trip to Orlando to visit the world’s biggest Disneyland. But I still get to experience Disney magic as part of the training was a tour of “Disney Magic”, a cruise ship docked at Port Canaveral. Mickey’s pet Pluto was hovering around the ship’s restaurant while we were having lunch, and yes, I did introduce myself to the wacky canine. I called his attention: “Hey Pluto! We belong to the same galaxy (pointing to my name tag). I’m Jupiter!” A co-participant also shouted: “Pluto! We’re not sure if you’re still a planet!” And all were laughing.   

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Resort at Cocoa Beach. I was supposed to stay at the Radisson’s in Canaveral, the venue of the training, but by the time I got my US visa, the Radisson’s was fully booked. Its tourist peak season in Florida (start of summer), and all the nearby hotels at the Radisson’s were also fully booked. Holiday Inn was an okay hotel, so-so; but the good part was that the hotel was smacked right into the beachfront, though, our beautiful beaches here are incomparable.

Florida introduced me to a lot of firsts: my first American diner experience at Denny’s; my first American sports/ hooter’s bar at Time Out (we were watching the NBA finals); and of course that Disney magic experience at Port Canaveral. I was expecting a scheduled space shuttle launch. The launch area can be seen from the beachfront where I stayed, but it was a dud. Also, there was this cable channel taking live video of the activities of astronauts of a certain space ship or satellite in space.

I exchanged cards with my American colleagues, forged new friendships, and expanded my media network.

This was also the first time I experienced the sun setting late; at around eight to nine in the evening.