Today has presented some cross-cultural learning. My friend Sue, who transferred from Melbourne, AU about 3 months ago to be Program Manager of one of the leadership programs, invited me to join her in a lunch meeting with a human resources manager from the Australian part of the company. It turns out that Ozzies (or Aussies, to the less initiated) tend to be much more blunt and direct than Americans - at least in this company. I certainly got a taste of that. I can see the appeal of a more direct approach, since I tend to surface issues for straightforward discussion more than many people. The contrast that I saw, however, gave me a renewed appreciation for the U.S. custom of testing the waters before jumping into them. Sue assures me that this guy was off the charts -- making the flat statement that "the entire leadership team is crap" apparently would be seen as an extreme statement even Down Under. I'm reassured.

I'm getting to know my way around the Leadership Center much better. I had to go to the Audio-Video room today to get a digital photo taken. It's one of the coolest places I've ever seen. They have video cameras set up in all the program classrooms and can record at a moment's notice. They can pipe what's happening in one venue into the others or even into the lodging rooms if appropriate. They have equipment that would make a rock recording studio look modest. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen, and I'm dying to show it to Julia, my techno-chick. Don't get too excited though, Julia. Around here, you never know if Security is going to put a speed-bump into your plans.

I'm excited about Miriam's visit. It will be such a treat to spend uninterrupted time together, and it will be my first chance to see much of the city. Gateway Arch, here we come.

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