Timing

Before I talk about my latest faux pas, a word about the E4BT (English for Business and Technology) conference in Brunei.  It’s a unique mix of terrific teaching ideas from South East Asia, an abundance of exotic food and Brunei hospitality – all coming together to make it the friendliest conference I’ve ever known. Truly heart warming. It may become a biannual event so if you get a glimmer of a chance, go for it! 

And you also get treated to Ritual (intentional capita R). There’s an opening ceremony, a closing ceremony, and a farewell dinner and lots of food in between.  Amongst other things, the opening ceremony includes drums, honoured guests, a very honoured guest, a gong, speeches, fresh flowers, a prayer, lots of press and a master of protocol.

I totally screwed up on the protocol. I  mistook my cue and leapt up and spoke ahead of time, throwing the whole order of events out of sync. Ah my. Dismay and consternation. Unknowingly I’d usurped the very honoured guest position and caused embarrassment left right and centre. Argh! And the irony was – I was speaking about ‘politeness theories’.

Notes to self: ‘Take it easy’. ‘Wait, wait, and wait until you are sure you have been called upon’. ‘Go say sorry – thankfully people can be very forgiving’. ‘E4BT is definitely one to return to if you can.’