Hi Chris,

Thanks for the update on your presentation. I found it really difficult to take adequate notes when a speaker had such a limited time. Most of them only have 12 minutes and if a lot of material is presented during that slot, boy, the short hand is not so easy to read when you get home.

Not unlike our Lowell, I too am a people watcher and each year I pay very close attention to the style in which orals are presented. It really is a mixed bag, with a lot depending on the subject. If the subject is very interesting and the materials put together well, you pay little attention to the speaker. But if the subject is rather dry, then the speaker becomes more a point of focus. So why am I telling you this? I think you know.

I always role play before a public event. I imagine vividly that I am there, where ever there is going to be and see myself as though it were the day in the future. As you know, I am rather soft spoken, so it is difficult for me to be loud, but I learned, I can do it when necessary. So now I am role playing before my visit to the State Assembly. Thus, by the time I get there, I shall present myself exactly in the way I wish, because I will in fact have been there already in my minds eye.

I already asked all of the protocol questions so now I won't be like a fish out of water, but more in tune with everyone else. I don't like being out of my comfort zone.

I'm glad you had this opportunity to do your oral presentation and perhaps now there will be more in store in the future.

Petra