IN Al OWN WORDS Four Seasons Hotel genere’ man- ager and regional vice-president Ruy Paes-Braga brings to his posi- tion insights gained from experi- ences ranging from compuisory military service to Woodstock. His viewpoints, encapsulated below, were gleaned from his interview with reporter Peggy Trendell- Whittaker. COMPULSORY SERVICE On doing his compulsory two years of military service for Por- tugal in Angola: “We were still shooting with guns from the First World War. The conditions were awlul, It makes you that much closer, and your sense of vaiues changes completely.” “In a way you can say } lost two years in my career: | could have been, for example, general man- ager two years earlier or some- thing like that. But when i took back I'say, no, | didn’t lose those two years, those years made me a much better person. Today | can react to siiuations in a different way than if | hadn’t gone through thai.” On his belief that Canada should have a system of compulsory ser- vice — not necessarily military — for young people: ‘‘You see a lot of lack of discipline in young people in Canada. This country, of all the countries | lived in, this is probably, if not the best, one of the best countries you can live in. Canadians are so lucky with what they’ve got, and, really | don't think they appreciate what they have.” HIS JCB “1 Jove it. | couldn't do anything else. There’s one thing | could do, maybe, if | wasn’t in this business. t could have been in women’s fashions, can you imagine? Because it’s something that goes, goes, goes. It’s always a challenge. “It's very demanding; there’s so many long hours. It’s pure dedica- uon. If you want to really be suc- cessful in the business you must love people. You have to, other- wise you can’t put up with it.” Lonsdale Court 1433 Lensdale Ave., North Van 980-810 NORTH & WEST VANCOUVER SOUTH AMERICAN AMERICAN «Woven shawls EXCLUSIVE FOLK ART SHOP OPEN FOR DECEMBER ONLY! WHOLESALE + PRICES ¢ Colorful giant parrots and primitive ceramics from the Amazon «Vibrant folk art paintings on stretched skins * Elegant hard-spun tapest:.es and pillows * Appliqued panels for traming from Panama ang Petu (“Molas” & “Arpdieras’ } sCamves, nand-snut sweaters G eweilery e him rag Gols and tre: gecorahons wptime for Chrctmas 21 - Sunday, December 3, 1989 - North Shore News @, INFLUENCE HOBBIES “| love cooking; | love wines. | have my own wine cellar.’ “You give so much of yourself to the well-being of your guests; it’s good and healthy to play and be happy. lf you don’t have fun, how can you be happy when you deal with the guess?” “| shouid do something as a hobby. ( jike books, | like music, but | just don’t spend enough time doing those things.” $5.00 off any - BONSAI with this ad 1529 W. 4th, Vancouver photo Mike Wakeiield Ruy Paes-Braga studies a full appointment calendar in his Four Seasons Hotel office. Below, he and wife Deborah take it easy in their new West Vancouver home with their sors. Nineteen-month-old Brian, says Paes-Braga, looks just tike Deborah, while Anthony, 5, bears a striking resemblance to Dad. Come in and choose that special gift from a dazzling array of BONSAI. We’ll keep it a secret and hold it for you till Christmas Daily 10:00-8:00° Phone orders accepted — We Delivert (604) 737-2204 Tat Block, East ot fir se By Granville Island —