Chinese Delegation

So, as I'm walking in to work today, I'm told there is a delegation from Beijing in town and they want to speak to me about technology.




I'm thinking.... Sure, I can figure out some things to speak to Chinese officials about. And then oh yes, did he forget to mention that they want to see me in about half an hour?

So I spent half an hour answering emails and trying to figure out what I was going to speak about, while my co-workers figured out things they had to do so they wouldn't be around.

I spoke about my views of information technology and how we take non-computerized processes and digitize them. I talked about how we've built up my department. Best of all, the delegation spoke limited English.

If you've never spoken through an interpreter, it's worth going out of your way to find an opportunity to do so. It's a great way to hear your own jokes in a foreign language and see if they still deliver a good laugh.

I did fairly well and answered a number of questions and was rewarded with a business card holder with a panda on it. It works out since prior to this I've been using the box my business cards came in. They also took a lot of pictures with me.

I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to officials from the other side of the world and find out how much we have in common. It gives me great hope for the future and it's one of those things I do that makes my job so interesting.

My parting note to them was that when they visit again, in America, Fridays are dress down days.