Today saw my presentations skills stretched to the limits as a surprise visit by a group of Indonesian heads of department and school admin staff on a factfinding mission in Thailand caught me somewhat off-balance. I say surprise but only to those who had to receive them. The school admin apparently received the invite weeks ago.
So anyway I'm asked to give a short talk for 15 minutes on the history of the school and I am given a small english pamphlet outlining the main details in English. on which to base my facts on. It turned out exceedingly useful.
To start with the delegation is 30 minutes late, then when they arrive it turns out that none of them can speak English. Fear not as Mr Bustle can speak fluent Passa Indonesia. So off we go on our presentation once the 40 people file into the room all wearing a uniform of patterned brown clothes (plus 3 kids wearing a more traditional looking costume.)
Mr Bustle is soon replaced by the Vice Consul of the local Indonesian Consulate as it becomes apparent that none of them understands his translations. I finish my rather disjointed presentation hoping that the teachers will be up for coffee sticky rice and a quick tour. Not so. The delegation have long lists of questions and no-one but me seems to have a clue how to answer them, so I end up giving explanations answers about topics as diverse as the school day, to school planning and recruitment policy, administration structure, and all sorts of other things that I have very little knowlege about...still we seemed to have got away with it and after 1 hour of this we have a short tour round the school, followed by inevitable photo taking.
I must say that Indonesians are a lot more touchy feely than Thais, with lots of arms being put around me, and having me link arms with the children.
I then had a very nice chat with the Bangkok Cultural Attache to Indonesia, before they all left to continue their whirlwind tour.
Despite it being completely un organised we pulled it off rather well. Though I might have to brush up my knowlege of the schools history if I'm to attempt that again.
Posted by LDMA at October 8, 2004 01:11 AM