Lunanyan30さんの おぼえた日記 - 2017年9月6日(水)

Lesson 10 A Dinner Party with Strangers (5)
「見知らぬ人たちとディナーパーティ」（5）

「旅行中に地元の人たちと出会って、地元の料理を楽しむのは、素敵な事だと前回のVignetteで上田翔太が言っていましたね。旅行者向けのレストランでばかり食事をするよりもずっと面白そうです。グアテマラで食べた家庭料理からヒントを得て、この食事会ビジネスのアイデアが誕生しました。」

Summary
Ueda describes how the event coordinator worked on a major event at a big hotel, at which there was a sudden blackout. The client said he wouldn't pay. And the coordinator had to plead with him to do so. Ueda goes on to talk about the librarian's description of how libraries are becoming spaces for innovation teaching valuable skills.

Vignette

Grace: I can well imagine how stressful working as a police reporter in New York is. But tough can it be to work as an event coordinator?

Ueda: Well, he told us that he once spent several weeks on a major presentation with multiple projectors, screens, and speakers at a major hotel here in the city. Everything seemed to be going according to plan as the presentation began. But suddenly there was a blackout. All the multimedia devices had put too much of a load on the old building's electrical system. Then the client said he wouldn't pay for the production. The event coordinator had to plead with him to pay the bill.

Grace: What a nightmare. Who would you say was the most interesting person among your fellow diners?

Ueda: The librarian. She told us that although many people except libraries will go the way of the dodo in this digital era. They've found a new role as spaces for innovation. They're offering programs in technology, career counseling and college prep, as well as entrepreneurship. Those are all skills that people need to succeed in today's economy.

Collins: Who knew? I want to check out one of these dinners with strangers. They sound like a great way to sample unfamiliar cuisine and meet interesting people.