The Wayfarer, December 2014

The WayfarerA publication for the SSA global community

December 2014 Issue

The WayfarerA publication for the SSA global community

The Wayfarer 2

December 2014 Issue

SSA Mission

The Schlumberger Spouses Association (SSA) is a global, voluntary, social organization for all spouses and partners of Schlumberger employees. We aim to create and maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for all members and their families. The SSA fosters fellowship through ongoing social events and community involvement.

We thank you for taking a moment to read and learn about what other Chapters are up to. The Wayfarer will be issued every two months, focusing on each one of our Areas. We hope you seize the chance to showcase your region and all the amazing activities that the Local Chapters put together for their members. All Areas can still send contributions, articles, pictures, etc., anytime! There is always space for whatever you want to share with our global community.

As you will notice, this is our LAM Issue! You will find out what some of the Latin American Chapters have been up to these past few months.

Also, as many of you know, this year we celebrated the SSA’s 25th Anniversary, and we have some pictures of celebrations from around the world.

In October, many Chapters organized activities to raise awareness for breast cancer. Thank you for sending us your pictures of these important events.

We have had to say goodbye to some of our SSA Global Board members, but there are some new faces that you’ll meet in this issue. If you’d like to participate in the Global Board, be aware of the positions that are available here or on our Global Blog at www.SSAfara.net.

We’d love to hear feedback from you. Did you like this edition of The Wayfarer? What else would you like to see in our pages? Send your comments to [email protected], we look forward to hearing from you.

We hope you enjoy this issue!

Welcome to our newest issue of The Wayfarer!

http://[email protected]

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 3

TABLE OF CONTENTSMeet the Global Board - Pages 4-6

A thank you note - Page 7

A note from our Global Coordinator - Page 8

A note from the SSA Global Communications Coordinator - Page 9

A note from the SSA Global Secretary - Page 10

Calls for applications - Page 11

What’s going on in Latin America? - Page 12

A language experience, from the SSA Bogotá - Pages 13-14

Poza Rica, México - Pages 15-16

Trinidad & Tobago - Pages 17-21

Ciudad del Carmen, México - Pages 22-26

Santa Cruz, Bolivia - Page 27

Neuquén, Argentina - Page 28-32

Villahermosa, México - 3-35

Macaé, Brazil - Page 36

Buenos Aires, Argentina - Page 37

Ecuador - Page 38-39

SSA 25th anniversary celebrations around the world - Pages 40-46

SSA breast cancer awareness activities - Pages 47-51

What are they up to in Muscat? - Page 52

A Friendly Reminder, a Special Seminar and An Invitation - Page 53

One last picture - Page 54

A big THANK YOU to all our contributors to this issue!

Cover photo credit: Alejandro Scheffler, OFSNevado de Toluca, México

Photo by: Elsa Scheffler, SSAXochimilco, México

The Wayfarer 4

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

Meet the Global BoardAnisa HaddadSSA Global CoordinatorAnisa is a lifelong volunteer, wife (to Sammy Haddad), mother of five (James, 32; Reem, 28; Hamsa, 27; Aimee, 26; and Ariana, 10) and is passionate about social justice issues. She began a career that spanned almost 20 years, working in the non-profit sector and earning several awards, like the St. Louis King of France Lifetime Service Award from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. She has served the SSA as Middle East Coordinator (2005-2007), Global Communications Coordinator (2007-2009) and is currently serving as the SSA’s Global Coordinator, living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nikita GoelSSA Global WebmasterNikita hails from the land of the Himalayas, the northern part of incredible India. She is a graduate in Computer Science Engineering. She is an ambitious and self-motivated person who believes in setting high targets and pursuing them with vigor and passion. Her relationship with the SSA started in 2013 while living in Kuwait. Nikita has a passion for dancing, reading and traveling. And of course, with a computer science engineering background, the latest gizmos tempt her too. Her expertise and skills help her perform the role of SSA Global Webmaster and share her knowledge in the best possible way. She currently lives in Hyderabad, India.

Deysy LamasSSA Ex-officio Global CoordinatorDeysy Lamas, from Venezuela, married to Jesús Lamas, also Venezuelan, currently based in Rio de Janeiro where he works as Vice President Drilling and Measurement for SAM (previously LAM). Deysy is a Public Accountant, but became a stay-home-mom in 1998. Deysy and Jesús have two kids: Andreina (17) and Oscar (10). Although she has been a Schlumberger Spouse for 16 years, it was not until 2002 that she became an active member holding at first different positions at a local level, and later on becoming part of the Global Board, first as Latin America Coordinator and then as Global Coordinator during two terms. As a Schlumberger Spouse, her life has been filled with exciting and amazing adventures; she has enjoyed a lot dedicating her days fully to her family: it is something she won’t ever change for anything. As an active member of the SSA she feels grateful for all the chances she has had to meet extraordinary people, with incredible stories and with one common thing: living away from their hometown but making home of wherever SLB takes them.

The SSA has a very unique and multi-cultural base. It has a mix of extremely talented and dynamic people.Nikita Goel

The Wayfarer 5

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

Meet the Global Board

Madeeha SaifSSA Asia/Australia Area CoordinatorMadeeha is wife to Saif and mother to a 25-month-old daughter, Alina. She is an Engineer by education, although is a full time mom these days and happy to have their second baby on the way! Before being the SSA Asia/Australia Area Coordinator, Madeeha worked full time as a lecturer in Engineering University. Teaching is her passion, and she also loves traveling and making new friends. She currently lives in Perth, Australia.

Elsa SchefflerSSA Global Communications CoordinatorElsa is from Mexico, married to Alejandro Scheffler and mother to two amazing kids: Isabel (10) and Patricio (7). She has a degree in Marketing from the Tec de Monterrey, and worked in Market Research for a few years before joining Alejandro in the excitement of the expat life. Elsa and her family have lived in Nigeria, France, The Netherlands, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico, and she has collaborated with the SSA in most of these countries. Where there was no SSA, Elsa still worked in organizations that helped other expatriates adjust to their new environment. She lives in Cd. del Carmen, Mexico.

Sandra ShowalterSSA Global SecretarySandra is married to Paul Showalter and together they have two energetic boys: Isaac (1) and Lucas (4). Before Houston, she lived in Dubai where she served as Website Coordinator and assisted the Communications team as Newsletter Editor. She is working to complete her Bachelors of Business Management degree. Her hobbies include adventures to parks, reading, photography, blogging/writing and running to burn calories from all the food she loves to try.

No other company has such a dedicated team of spouses willing to donate their time

and effort to the noble cause of making others feel at home away from home.

Elsa Scheffler

The Wayfarer 6

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

Lorraine AlbeltoSSA Middle East Area CoordinatorLorraine is from Trinidad & Tobago, wife to Phinix Albelto and mother to two boys. She first joined the SSA in T&T in 2005, but as a working spouse, she only attended evening and seasonal events. After living in Aberdeen, they moved to Luanda, and that is where she understood the importance of the SSA. While it was a challenging environment, the experience gained has prepared her well to deal with whatever the future brings. She served as Chapter Coordinator in Luanda from 2010-2011. Her experience in Egypt was a dream come true and she enjoyed every minute of it. She was the SSA HSE Coordinator there from 2011-2012. She joined the SSA Doha in October 2012 as HSE Coordinator, and became Chapter Coordinator in January 2013. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve as MEA Area Coordinator and feels privileged to be part of the Global Team.

Diana SguerraSSA Europe/Russia Area CoordinatorDiana is from Bogotá, Colombia. She has been in the SLB family for almost 20 years, and has lived in 8 different countries. She is wife to Oscar Rodríguez and mom to two great sons: Juan (Brazilian) and Felipe (American), and her family is completed by Ike, their beloved dog, who has travelled with them around the world since 1999. She graduated in Computer Information Systems from Tulsa University, and loves computers, photography, animals and traveling. She speaks three languages, and is learning her fourth. She served as the SSA IT Global Coordinator in 2005, Chapter Coordinator in Macaé, Communications Coordinator in Cairo, and right now, besides being the Europe/Russia Area Coordinator, she also helps as the Communications Coordinator in Moscow, where her beautiful family currently lives.

Ann SpencerSSA NAM Area CoordinatorAnn and her family have lived in Alberta, Newfoundland, Texas, Colorado and Utah. She was a member of the SSA in Houston and Salt Lake City prior to accepting the NAM Area Coordinator position. It has been an adventure for her! She has enjoyed the opportunity to support the SSA as we strive to welcome and support the many families that find themselves moving to new locations. She admires the dedication of the many members of the SSA. When not supporting the SSA, Ann can be found assisting a number of community organizations and hiking, cycling and skiing in the Wasatch mountains.

The SSA is a vital support, specially for

new spouses to the location, and continues

to be a source of assistance and guidance.

I believe welcoming is one of the most

important functions of the SSA. I have seen the

impact it has on a new spouse and we do not

get a second chance at a first impression, so let us do it right the first time.

Lorraine Albelto

Meet the Global Board

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 7

The SSA would like to thank Ana Acevedo, who served as the first Global Board Secretary, until recently.

Ana is from Venezuela, currently living in Rio de Janeiro. She has a long standing relationship with the SSA, serving as Newsletter editor in Tulsa; Welcome team in Bucharest, Douala and Cameroon. She has always been fond of participating and meeting new people; so she regularly attends SSA functions and offers a helping hand to anyone who needs it.

Thank you, Ana, for the wonderful job you did as part of the Global Board.

We wish you the best and hope to work with you again someday!

A THANK YOU NOTE

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 8

A note from our Global Coordinator

Dear Friends,

First, I have to say how excited I am about the publication of the LAM Area Newsletter. I AM SO EXCITED! This is our new Global Communications Coordinator, Elsa Scheffler’s inaugural issue and she has so many amazing things to share with all of us. Welcome Elsa and thank you for such a beautiful issue.

Communications is the life blood of any organization and our eZine, The Wayfarer, shares so much about the Schlumberger Spouses Association with all of our members and Schlumberger employees worldwide. In issues of The Wayfarer, we learn about the commonalities and diversity of our SSA Chapters. All Chapters have Activities, Coffee Mornings, HSE trainings, etc., but as we see in the article by Ana Isabel García Lorenzo, even in an Area with a “common language” there can be language differences. Spanish spoken in Mexico may be a little different that Spanish spoken in Bogota, but just as SSA Chapters are different in each Area or location; we all have one important commonality – our mission to be a global, voluntary, social organization for all spouses and partners of Schlumberger employees. We welcome and support one another and participate in a unique fellowship through ongoing social events within our Chapters and involvement within our communities.

One important commonality is The SSA Guidelines and Mission Statement. Have you even received a copy of it? If not, you should have and we can change that today. Go to www.SSAfara.net, Sign In and click on the Documents folder (on the right hand of the web page), then Global Board Documents and then

SSA Board Docs. The Guidelines were a joint project with Schlumberger and contain the rules and best practice advice that support and govern our association. When the new version is complete, it will be uploaded to our website. We hope that all members will take the time to read over this important document.

Before I close this note and spend some time re-reading…and re-reading again this wonderful issue of The Wayfarer, I want to thank all of the SSA Volunteers worldwide. You are the heart and soul of our organization. You give your time and your talents and you positively affect the lives of your fellow members in ways that you may never know. Not everyone says thank you, so I will say it: Thank you! Thank you for all that you do for the SSA. Thank you for so generously sharing your precious time with your fellow members. Thank you for your compassion, your kindness and the respect you show for your fellow members – no matter what the situation. Being a volunteer is not always easy, but please remember: No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted (Aesop).

Again, Thank You!

Until our next issue…

With best wishes and warmest regards,Anisa HaddadSSA Global CoordinatorKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaE-mail: [email protected]

http://www.ssafara.net

mailto:[email protected]

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 9

Dear all,

Hi! My name is Elsa Scheffler, and I am thrilled to be the newSSA Global Communications Coordinator. I have always admired theSSA and how clear our mission is. I have loved being a part of itwherever our Schlumberger life has led us. I’m sure many of youremember your first day as an “official” Schlumberger Spouse.For me, it happened when my husband Alejandro and I were newlyweds. We arrived in Port Harcourt, Nigeria at 5 a.m. The compound was still quiet when we got to our assigned apartment. To my surprise, on the dining table we found a beautiful woven basket with coffee, cookies, cereal, milk, some fruit, chocolate bars, tuna, crackers, and other fruit items. At first, I didn’t understand who left it there, but as soon as we got settled and my dear husband left for the office, there was a knock on my door. Three very nice ladies came to say hi and explained that they were the Welcome Committee of the SSA. They told me about all the activities they planned, about life in Port Harcourt, how to write my preferred pick-up time in the driver’s book if I wanted to go to the supermarket… and that they were the ones who left the basket and groceries on our dining table. It all made sense then. I had no local money, no way of knowing where to go shopping or where the driver was, let alone his book! So the SSA Welcome Basket was a lifesaver for the first few days until I figured things out. It really made an impression on me how thoughtful these ladies were, and because of this I decided that I wanted to be a part of the SSA. Now, 16 years later, I still think that what we do is amazing. I have friends whose husbands work in other companies and ask me endless questions about the SSA, not really understanding why someone would happily donate their time and effort to make other feel welcome in their new home away from home. And it makes me proud to tell them that the SSA is full of amazing, talented, brave women (and men!) who understand how hard this “nomad” life is and really just want to help others adjust happily to their new city. And it’s the little things, you know, it’s always the little things. Like the basket filled with food in Port Harcourt, the surprising Galeries Lafayette gift card in Paris, the beautiful book in Bogotá, the useful information booklet in Poza Rica, the welcome phone call in Rio… “Little things” that make a difference when you arrive in your new city that help make you feel slowly at home.

So here I am now, part of the Global Board, and hopeful to learn about the “little things” that your Chapter is doing to make newcomers feel welcome. Please allow me to share your Chapter activities with the rest of our SSA families worldwide via our bimonthly newsletter, The Wayfarer. Who knows, maybe we might inspire others to join us?

Saludos from Cd. del Carmen, Campeche, México.

[email protected] 2014

A note from the Global Communications Coordinator


The Wayfarer 10

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

A note from the Global Secretary

Hi y’all from Houston!

Although new to the wonderful and very very busy SSA Houston, I am no stranger to SSA. Many friends have been made; especially from my first relocation of Dubai. There are many there that I hope to see again and hope to never lose contact with. It is because of Schlumberger that I even had the opportunity to meet and make some of the best friends I will ever have.

Maybe it is the ‘know it all’ in me that needs that feel of satisfaction, but I love love love to help people. Especially if the information that I can provide is accurate and actually makes their lives easier. That is why I was convinced, by a close friend, to join SSA and the board in Dubai. My first role to fill was as Dubai’s Website Coordinator. The second role helping Communications and filling the role of Newsletter Editor/Creator opened up a feeling inside of me that I didn’t even know existed of a wannabe writer and photographer.

As Website Coordinator, before even announced live, I had done tons of research and filled the site full of useful information for newcomers; which allowed me the opportunity to help the website team fill in information for other regions. I learned a lot about website design and what I wasn’t supposed to make changes too. Oops!

As Newsletter Editor, the challenge I made myself every month was to work the stories of the newsletter around a central theme. I loved this challenge and loved bringing others in to help me with it. Voting for newsletter name, creating a logo, pictures of the month, recipes and lunchbox specials, special farewells to our friends from our friends, and a classified ad to help those moving sell some of their items.

Now, relocated in Houston, I am not only ready to start wrapping myself into the SSA events and making friends, I am anxious to get back to ‘work’. When my ex SSA Chapter Coordinator of Dubai sent me a message telling me to apply for the SSA Global Secretary position, I was skeptical about my experience and skills out of the requirements. But she told me to go for it. So here I am today, elected as the Global Secretary and very anxious to start my work to helping everyone in SSA obtain accurate and helpful content in documents as well as taking notes to help all be on the same page.(If that is what I am to do)!

If you have suggestions, feedback, need to talk or chat it up please know that I am always available at [email protected]. I look forward to serving for the next two years!

Regards,

Sandra ShowalterSSA Global Secretary


The Wayfarer 11

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue Call for Applications

Due to Global Board members relocating, there are some Global Board and Support Team positions available! We really hope you consider volunteering for any of these positions and become part of our wonderful team!

The SSA Global Board would like to make an early announcement of the Call for Applications for the SSA LAM Area Coordinator. This Call for Applications will be open from January 1st to January 15th, 2015. This position is for a two-year term. SSA Area Coordinators may reapply for a further two-year term and will be considered along with other applicants. SSA members serving in this position must live in the Area. Check out the full job description on our Global Blog at www.SSAfara.net.

In order to apply to this position, candidates should submit a letter of interest and a CV to Anisa Haddad, SSA Global Coordinator ([email protected]) and Elsa Scheffler, SSA Global Communications Coordinator ([email protected]) before Thursday, January 15th, 2015.SS

A L

AM

AR

EA

CO

OR

DIN

ATO

RSS

A A

REA

WEB

C

ON

TEN

T E

DIT

OR

S The SSA Global Board would like to announce a Call for Applications for the Area Web Content Editor position. The Area Web Content Editor oversees all content and publishing aspects of the Area’s chapters in the SSA website, www.SSAfara.net. This position is voluntary, for a two-year term, and is part of the Support Team for the SSA Global Board. All Areas are up for elections for this position (Africa, Asia/Australia, Europe/Russia, LAM, MEA, NAM). The Area Web Content Editor must live in the Area that she is applying for. Check out the full job description on our Global Blog at www.SSAfara.net.

Candidates should submit a letter of interest and a CV to Anisa Haddad, SSA Global Coordinator ([email protected]) and Elsa Scheffler ([email protected]) before Monday, February 16th, 2015.

REMEMBERAll SSA positions, including positions on the SSA Global Board,

are volunteer positions.

The language used within the SSA and the Global Board is English, and it is a requirement for all Global Board members to be fluent in English

(written and spoken).










December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 12

What’s going on inLATIN AMERICA?

FACT: There are 19 SSA Chapters in

Latin America.

By definition, Latin America designates countries in the Americas where a Romance language (languages derived from Latin) predominates: Spanish, Portuguese, and French. But our countries are united and defined by so much more. Here you can find all kinds of beautiful landscapes, from white sandy beaches in the Caribbean, to snow perfect for skiing in July/August (the southern hemisphere winter months) in Chile and Argentina. There are mystical, sacred places that belonged to the Incas in Peru, the Aztec and Mayans in Mexico and Central America, the Quechuas in Bolivia, among many others. We have amazing artists, such as famous singers Juanes and Shakira from Colombia; Seu Jorge and Ivette Sangalo from Brazil; the recently deceased and greatly missed Gustavo Cerati from Argentina… There are also great artists like Diego Rivera, Pérez Celis, and Fernando Botero, to name a few. The list of Latin American Nobel Prize winners is diverse, with names such as Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (Nobel Peace Prize 1980, from Argentina), Gabriel García Márquez (Nobel Prize in Literature 1982, from Colombia) and the most recent winner, Mario Vargas Llosa (Nobel Prize in Literature 2010, from Peru). They, along with others, are great examples of the magnificence of our region. And we haven’t even mentioned the food! With influence from all over the world, when you visit Latin America you will be able to find the most delicious local dishes, as well as perfectly made pizza or Chinese food. We hope you enjoy the many contributions from our SSA members in Latin America!

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 13

A Language ExperienceBy Ana Isabel García Lorenzo

SSA Cd. del CarmenEverybody thinks that being transferred from a Spanish language country to another should be easy. And in fact it is... but it's also very funny. I am Mexican and we got our first transfer abroad to Bogotá, Colombia. It was such an experience in language topics! This time I want to share with you some words and phrases that may cause some confusion and have a totally different meaning in Mexican Spanish and Colombian Spanish (I'll try my best to explain it clearly).

Tinto.In Colombia this means black coffee. Period. In most Latin American countries "tinto" is red wine! Can you imagine our surprise when someone offers you a "tinto", red wine in your terms, at 7 a.m.? Funny, isn't it?

Pericos.In Colombia, this is a breakfast dish that consists in scrambled eggs with tomato and onion. In my country "perico" is a parrot! Definitively not a good choice for breakfast!

Vestido.This word especially caused me lot of confusion. For me "vestido" is a woman’s dress... but in this beautiful country it is the gentleman’s suit! I don’t think it's necessary to explain more!

Trusa.If one of your kids go to ballet classes and the dance teacher asks to come in “trusa”, don’t worry if you are in Colombia because it means just to attend in the normal and usual clothes for this activity. Buuuut… if you are in Mexico don’t ever think about sending your child like that, because it means that they must go in their underpants!

Ají.Most Mexicans can't survive without spicy food! When you come to Colombia don't expect to find a huge selection of “chiles”. Habanero, jalapeño, serrano and even Tabasco sauce... All of them are called “ají”. And of course they are not as spicy as we are used to. Many Mexicans carry some “picante” in their personal bags for every occasion, which means that if you take a look into a Mexican lady’s handbag you will be surprised for sure.

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 14

The list of funny and different terms is long but I can tell you that living in Bogotá has been one of

the most enriching experiences of my life, particularly in language issues! Colombia is

recognized as one of the best places in the world to learn Spanish and that’s completely true.

Surely when you go to Colombia:“¡El riesgo es que te quieras quedar!”

(“The risk is that you will want to stay forever!”).

The Wayfarer 15

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

Poza Rica is located in northern Veracruz, full of culture and very friendly, always ready to welcome you with open arms people. SSA Poza Rica is comprised of a wide variety of ethnic groups, currently consisting of about 25 members. We have monthly breakfasts together, where we share experiences and advice and, above all, keep the spirit of unity and support as part of the large Schlumberger family. At breakfast we perform sports activities, safety talks, and celebrate the traditional festivities of Mexico; such as Mexican Independence Day's Breakfast and the Day of the Dead. We also have our International breakfast, where we all seek to share each of our cultures. We incorporate our children in celebrations such as Children's Day and Father's Day. Over the years, the SSA has developed a caring and supportive culture that has in effect become the attitude of every member of the group, old or new. We are indeed a family out here!!

Mariella Molina, Chapter Coordinator

POZA RICA, MEXICO

Monthly, voluntary personal contributions

are made to help provide for the needy in

the community.

The Wayfarer 16

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

Sport breakfast

POZA RICA, MEXICO

CPR Training

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 17

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

The T&T Chapter started in

September 2012, and has been very active ever since, organizing many

activities, like Welcome

Breakfasts, Baby Showers,

Christmas Parties, as well as sports

activities like Zumba classes.

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 18

The SSA T&T is also very involved with their communities, and organize special activities to raise money for charity, like Bingos and Raffles.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 19

The T&T SSA Chapter celebrates the diversity of cultures of our members in an amazing International Fair.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 20

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 21

SSA TRINIDAD

& TOBAGO

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 22

Ciudad del Carmen is a city in the southwest of the Mexican state of Campeche, on the southwest of Carmen Island, which stands in the Terminos Lagoon on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The 2005 census population was 154,197 people.

The city is nicknamed “The Pearl of the Gulf”. Ciudad del Carmen was a small city mostly devoted to fishing and shrimp until the 1970s when the city was turned into a hub for oil when PEMEX discovered large amounts of petroleum off the coast. Ever since, Carmen has become a home for Mexican and foreign oil workers alike, and now houses many foreign companies; since then it has grown and developed substantially.

Founded in the pre-Hispanic era, Ciudad del Carmen was an important location, which served to connect the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. Between the 16th and 18th centuries when the city of Campeche was a trade hub between Spain and New Spain (Mexico), Ciudad del Carmen was inhabited by pirates and served as a port for repairing ships and planning attacks against the Spanish.

The city got its current name on July 16, 1717, in honor of the Virgin of Carmen, believed to be the protector of the island, when the Spanish forces, commanded by Alonso Felipe de Andrade evicted the pirates from the island and took control of the city after a long period of occupation. Since then, every year at the end of July, Ciudad del Carmen turns into the very center of the regional social, cultural and religious festivities, on the fair that celebrates the island’s protector Virgin.

Today, the island is anchored to the mainland by two large bridges that rise over the waters of Laguna de Terminos. As late as the early 1980s the city could only be reached by ferry boats called “pangas”; this changed with the construction of a causeway bridge to the mainland in the 1980s and another one in 1994. The construction of the first bridge was motivated by the sinking of one of the island’s pangas which resulted in the death of nearly everyone on board. The bridge Puente El Zacatal, constructed in 1994, is one of the longest in Latin America.

From an economic point of view, Carmen is the most important city of the state of Campeche and the 3rd municipality with the largest economic income on a national level.

SSA Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 23

Ciudad del Carmen has played a really important role in the development of the state of Campeche and the country due to its geographic location and wealthy natural resources. In the beginning, prosperity came from the exploitation of logwood and gum trees, later it came from shrimp and today it preserves its strategic position in the national economy but from a different kind of industry, oil.

Today, Schlumberger has 1455 employees working in Ciudad del Carmen.

The Schlumberger Spouses Association has 125 members, of which 12 were working in the 2014 Committee. We enjoy many fun activities, such as our monthly coffee mornings, where we welcome new members, celebrate birthdays and also say farewell to our departing friends.


December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 24

In March we held a Women Entrepreneurs Forum to celebrate Women’s Day. All SSA members were able to act as exhibitors and show their businesses and projects to other SSA members. We had 23 exhibitors, showing everything from bakery, to paintings, cosmetic products, language teaching, etc. We also had a guest speaker, one of our very own successful members: Joselyn Arrieta (who now lives in Quito), who gave a great motivational speech. Needless to say, the event was a HUGE success!

Isabel Scheffler sold her rainbow loom bracelets!


December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 25

Every year, we also celebrate an International Party, where all members represent their countries and share with everyone their culture, cuisine, crafts, clothes, and traditions. This

day is always fun, we eat such delicious meals, and in the end we all share leftovers and take them home for our families to enjoy too.


December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 26

In our monthly Newsletter members can keep up to date with news, birthdays, departures, charity work, and all the activities that we have planned.

The Charity Committee is always hard at work. We bring lunch to a Rural Elementary School every Wednesday, and we are able to do it thanks to the very generous donations of our members. The kids count on us for their meal once a week, and we go gladly just to see the smile on their faces. Some ladies also teach them English and crafts, which they always enjoy.


December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 27

SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIAThe Santa Cruz Chapter is rather new. It started on May 27th, 2012 thanks to the support received from SLB Management.

Our activities have increased at a constant pace and all of them have been a great success.

We have not only social activities, but are also very involved with our community, providing support in different issues, returning a little of what we constantly receive from them.

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 28

The SSA Neuquén chapter started on February 2011 and was originally formed by 7 members. As time has gone by, the number of expats has increased due to the growing oil activity of the region. Now there are around 40 families from different nationalities, such as Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, India, Ecuador, among others.

What do we like most about Neuquén? For starters, it is a very safe place to live. It is a small city, so you can be anywhere within five minutes, there is no heavy traffic. It is a great place to raise children. The weather is usually good, and it is located near many touristic places. You can find great food and there are lots of things to do! What’s not to love?

The SSA contributes to the commun i ty by he lp ing the Barrilete en Bandada ONG and the Castro Rendón Public Hospital. Barrilete en Bandada is a center of d i a g n o s i s , s u p p o r t a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l , s o c i a l a n d educational assistance for children and teenagers living in risk situation. The objective is to achieve an educational and social inclusion. The SSA provides educational material for the children, as well as cleaning products, gifts and candy for special dates, clothes and powder milk, among other things.

NEUQUEN, ARGENTINA

The Castro Rendon Hospital is a public hospital that belongs to the provincial government. Many of the patients who are handled in this institution have little or no resources and many needs. The SSA Charity Committee brings smiles to children with cancer admitted in this hospital and hands out blankets in winter.

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 29

Thanks to the support of the SSA members, we were able to donate gifts for the children of the hospital in

Christmas.NEUQUEN, ARGENTINA

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 30

T h e S S A w e l c o m e s newcomers and helps them se t t l e i n by p rov i d i ng information about the city before or after their arrival and sharing a list of contacts that include local important phone numbers, like doctors, schools, recreational places, areas where to live, etc. We also share moments as a group in different activities such as cooking classes and parties, and of course, our coffee mornings, where we get together to talk, share tips and have a good time.

NEUQUEN, ARGENTINA

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 31

NEUQUEN, ARGENTINA

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 32

Meet the Neuquén Local SSA Board

NEUQUEN, ARGENTINA

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 33

VILLAHERMOSA,�� MEXICO

Villahermosa,�� México�� is�� a�� vibrant�� city�� located�� in�� the�� southern�� state�� of�� Tabasco.�� One�� of�� the�� largest�� SSA�� chapters�� in�� Latin�� America,�� there�� is�� never�� a�� dull�� moment�� here!�� There�� are�� monthly�� coffee�� mornings,�� often�� themed�� depending�� on�� the�� celebrations�� of�� each�� month.�� Enjoy�� some�� of�� the�� pictures�� of�� their�� fun�� events.

Celebrating�� Day�� of�� the�� Dead�� in�� November�� 2014,�� they�� had�� lots�� of�� fun�� with�� their�� “Catrina”�� make�� up.

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 34

They�� celebrated�� cultural�� diversity�� with�� an�� International�� Fair,�� where�� representatives�� of�� each�� country�� shared�� a�� little�� bit�� about��

their�� cultures.


December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 35

and�� of�� course,�� celebrations�� of�� Mexico’s�� independence�� day�� took�� place�� in�� September.

For�� this�� event,�� SSA�� members�� all�� dressed�� up�� like�� Frida�� Kahlo,�� unibrow�� and�� all,�� and�� had�� lots�� of�� fun.


December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 36

Macaé, BrazilHello from Macaé. Celebrating the Día das Crianças (Children’s Day).

To read more about the activities of the SSA Macaé Chapter,go to pages 41 and 47.

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 37

BUENOS AIRESI’d like to share a little bit about my experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’ve lived in this beautiful city two and a half years, and I can say that I am very happy, because Buenos Aires is a beautiful place to live, travel and enjoy.

I am from Brazil, so this is a great opportunity for me to learn Spanish. Another nice thing is that it is quite close to my country, so I am very happy to live here.

The SSA Buenos Aires was formed not long ago. I was the Chapter Coordinator until recently, and we tried our best to do a great job. The group is very nice and keen to participate in our

activities. In the SSA I see an opportunity to be a better person, learning to share, be respectful of different opinions and helping each other, which is our main objective. I hope this group continues to grow and we are able to help more and more new families.

It is a pleasure to be a part of the SSA, and a great advantage to us to have Schlumberger’s support wherever we go.

¡Saludos!Channa AlbertiniSSA Buenos Aires

ARGENTI

NA

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 38

This chapter was restarted mid-2013 after having several difficulties forming the new Local Board. SLB HR Management was very helpful and contributed to the reestablishment of the group. It was specially important because this last year has been very busy in Ecuador, with the activity growing at a fast pace. Therefore, the SSA group has been very active, always helping new families arriving to the area and also giving a hand to the society around them.

“All our efforts are being used to form

a strong SSA group” is our

motto.

ECUADOR

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 39

The ladies in the SSA Ecuador are

certainly making a great job, working

together for the benefit of all the

families in the area.

As part of their activities, the group recently had a security informational meeting where SLB security personnel explained and advised about the actual situation in the city and measures that families should take in order to live peacefully and be safe. They were also advised about the issues that should be taken into consideration when hiring personnel to work in their homes.

ECUADOR

The Wayfarer 40

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

SSA 25th Anniversary Celebrations Around the World

As many of you know, the SSA celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. As the story goes, it all started when a few expat ladies in Paris had the great idea of joining forces and help each other get settled in their new surroundings. They found value in helping other ladies like them as they arrived, and fortunately, thought that perhaps Schlumberger would be interested in providing support to these welcoming activities. And here we are now, 25 years later, lucky enough to be part of such a great organization. In the pages that follow, you will find a few pictures of the celebrations that took place around the world. If your chapter also celebrated, make sure to send us your pictures and we’ll include them in our next issue.

The Wayfarer 41

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

Macaé

One of the many beautiful cakes that you all made.

The Wayfarer 42

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

SSA 25th Anniversary Celebrations Around the

World


The SSA 25th Anniversary party in Cd. del Carmen coincided with the Mexican Independence Day, so there was a lot to celebrate!

The Wayfarer 43

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

The Wayfarer 44

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue


World

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

The Wayfarer 45

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue Baku, Azerbaijan


World

The Wayfarer 46

Dec

embe

r 20

14 Is

sue

Tyumen, Russia

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 47

SSA Breast Cancer Awareness Activities

The SSA Global Board would like to congratulate all the Chapters that organized Breast Cancer Awareness Activities. And thank you for sharing them with us.

We held a TREASURE HUNT in a whole neighborhood. There were three different routes for the three different teams, and each one received a clue at the start. They had to solve each clue in order to find the next one. Each clue had recommendations of how to prevent breast cancer, and in the end, as we presented the prize for the winning team, we talked a bit more about this important subject.

Macaé

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 48


The Schlumberger Spouses Association of Trinidad and Tobago, on the occasion of the International Day of the Fight Against Breast Cancer, conducted an information campaign by delivering diptychs where the techniques for early detection of this terrible disease were explained for both men and women. The SSA T&T appreciates the help provided by Ms. Cindy Maharaj (Testing Services) and Miss Kristen Dookhoo (HR) for this activity.

Carolina Moya-Bermúdez, SSA T&T Coordinator

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 49


TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 50


December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 51


AberdeenSSA Aberdeen joined the SSA’s 25th Anniversary celebrations and Breast Cancer Campaign encouraging all our members to wear something pink during all October activities. Our members know that breast cancer is the most common cancer around the world, so it’s important to be aware of how to prevent it.

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 52

What are they up to in Muscat?FROM MARYAMSSA MUSCAT CHAPTER COORDINATOR

We had a great and new experience during Thai Cooking Class with SSA Ladies at Shang Thai restaurant in Muscat in October. It was joyful learning about some vegetables and spices most of us were using for the first time. In this half day session we prepared a total of five different Thai dishes under the Chef’s supervision. Afterwards, we enjoyed having the meals we cooked all together. The ladies were awarded a certificate of attendance by the Chef at the end.

December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 53

A friendly reminder: The correct use of the SSA LogoWe know, sometimes it is tempting to change our SSA Logo a little bit… Maybe change it to green for Earth Day? Or pink during October? But guess what? The SSA Logo is intellectual property and it belongs to Schlumberger, therefore, it cannot be modified in any way. The only thing that we can modify is its size. If you’d like to consult the document “SSA Choosing a Logo”, it can be found in www.SSAfara.net. You can also find the .jpg file with the Logo on our website. If you have any questions about this subject (or any other subject for that matter!), do not hesitate in contacting any Global Board member. We are here for you!

An invitationJoin us at www.SSAfara.netAfter our website was down for a while, it seems that many of you have not returned to visit. And we miss you!! There is a wealth of information waiting for you there. You will be able to find all kinds of documents, from information about how to run a Chapter and how to prepare your budget, to important facts about cities where there are SSA Chapters in case you and your family are being transferred. It is really quite simple, you just have to enter the website, and then click on the “Need IT Help” link at the top of the screen. Fill out the form, and IT will set you up with an account and password that you can later change to one of your choosing.Please keep in mind that THE ONLY OFFICIAL SSA WEBSITE IS www.SSAfara.net.All other web pages/groups using the Schlumberger Spouses Association name are not private to SSA members, so be careful of what you post in them.

We hope to see you soon at www.SSAfara.net!

A special Seminar:SSA Social Media Awareness Campaign

Most of us use Social Media in one way or another. With our “nomad” lifestyle, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and other apps help us keep connected with our friends and family back home. The SSA is no stranger to

Social Media. It is a great tool to share tips and information of the cities where we live in; to organize events and keep track of who is attending; to keep in touch with friends who have moved away; you name it!

Beginning next year, you will be able to attend a Seminar prepared for us by IT regarding the use of Social Media by the SSA. The purpose of this Seminar is to unify the way we all use Social Media on behalf of the SSA. For

example, there have been cases where, unknowingly, SSA members have been put at risk by sharing event information publicly. This has a very simple solution, and in the Seminar the Best Practices and Guidelines defined jointly by Schlumberger and the SSA, will be shared. We can only benefit from learning what to do, and it can also

help us beware of the way we share information on our personal Social Media sites.

We’d like to encourage you to attend these Seminars. You’ll have a chance to attend either a Webcast that will be given at different times and dates in English, or an onsite training that will be given by a local IT Analyst in your city in the local language. Your Chapter Coordinators will be sending more details your way regarding how to

connect to the Webcast or the dates and times for the Seminars.

We hope that you take advantage of this opportunity prepared for us by Schlumberger. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting your Area Coordinator or any of the Global Board members.

http://www.SSAfara.net




December 2014 Issue

The Wayfarer 54

Calakmul, Campeche, MéxicoPhoto by Alejandro Scheffler

On behalf of the SSA Global Board:

HAPPYHOLIDAYS!

Our next issue (Jan/Feb 2015) will feature Europe/Russia… so start sending in your contributions via Diana Sguerra, your Area Coordinator ([email protected])

or directly to [email protected]. Thank you!



The Wayfarer, December 2014

Documents

Transcript of The Wayfarer, December 2014