Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2009-07-29 13:03:19 - Graham Ellis
"Can't wait to hear how you're getting on". "Keeping an eye on your blog". A couple of messages from folks wondering how I'm getting on with my Lua course in Guadalajara, Mexico, this week.
The answer will be brief. I'm enjoying the course, the delegates are getting a lot from it (THAT is the important bit), but I'm exhausted at the end of the day because there's so much different and there is more adrenalin and less autopilot than usual.
The group size is around 30 ... an during practical sessions, I'm rushing around. And I'm having to be pulled off topic far less - almost being cruel and saying "I WILL answer but for everyone", and making sure that I do so later. The translation service is interesting to work with; my words are being translated as I say them, and are fed back in Spanish into my headset so that I know when to slow down. 1 word in English seems to become 3 in Spanish. And I have to restate any questions I'm asked so that the whole audience knows what I am answering. I have to admire the lady doing the translations (pictured below) - her multitasking is excellent, and she's coping pretty well with while as a keyword that must not be translated, and while in conversation that must be!
The training room is new ... the network not connected ... no whiteboard and just a flipchart that is too small for everyone to see. No aircon. One loo (and that didn't fill at one stage, so I had to ask for a bucket!) between 33 of us, and I have the Mexican equivalent of Delhi Belly. And the hosts are - well - falling over themselves to be helpful and hospitable, to the extent that it's overpowering.
But - hey - I am enjoying the course, the challenge, the subject. Lovely group - I knew this one would be different when I took it on, and it sure is. But in spite of my few grumps, I'm glad I took it on. It is working very well!.
The answer will be brief. I'm enjoying the course, the delegates are getting a lot from it (THAT is the important bit), but I'm exhausted at the end of the day because there's so much different and there is more adrenalin and less autopilot than usual.
The training room is new ... the network not connected ... no whiteboard and just a flipchart that is too small for everyone to see. No aircon. One loo (and that didn't fill at one stage, so I had to ask for a bucket!) between 33 of us, and I have the Mexican equivalent of Delhi Belly. And the hosts are - well - falling over themselves to be helpful and hospitable, to the extent that it's overpowering.