Well – it’s done!!! The presentation went pretty well! We sent a transcript (which I edited) from the minutes of the meeting to Prof. Bogliolo so University of Urbino students could have a look at what actually happened. Again – the transcript meets disclosure regulations. Anyway – I’m just happy it’s over. I was really nervous, and just had to concentrate on the information. Mrs. Finch from the Marketing Department asked me a good question, and I responded with a really long answer. I think I sounded defensive. In the end she came to talk to me in the corridor (we have coffee machine at the end of our RD department corridor – just next to the Marketing corridor and the Accounting corridor. There’s another one on the other side of the floor where Marketing and Accounting meet the other RD department (hardware development)) and said that she really wasn’t offended and that she appreciated what I did. Actually, she’s really nice. I wonder if she’s married? Heh heh. I write Mrs. because I don’t know whether she’s married or not. Come to think of it, how do you address people by title here? It’s easy to slur things when you’re talking, but when you actually write it you notice the differences.
Anyway – I’m babbling. The important thing is that Frank said he was pleased, and that I could take up public speaking for a living! NO WAY!!! I’ll admit – we went out and “got plastered” yesterday evening. Frank told me that this presentation was partially a formality, but a formality that convinced the board to give more money to the RD departments and support the future development of the project. I almost got sick. That bastard laughed his head off as I turned green from nerves. Aaaah, the stabilising power of beer and buffalo wings! (those spicy chicken wings that look like they came from a dinosaur). Heh heh. I don’t think an Italian company would have let an intern give a presentation like this. Anyway – that Frank has certainly pushed me since I’ve been here. It’s been great. He should come to Italy and work for the University of Urbino!!! Is there any money for that? heh heh. I’ve got to get serious about what comes next for me. I’ll keep you posted!
The expression of the day is “cool under fire” – it means to keep calm and thinking straight in a stressful situation. You would say something like “Wow – that was a really tough audience, but the speaker was really cool under fire.” (”Fire” indicating the questions and comments as if they were bullets – a true American expression!)
Happy Easter Everyone! (I’ll have more to tell after the long weekend – heh heh – we’re going to Minnessota for the weekend. Who is “we”? heh heh)
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