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Discussing a meeting abroad
Ein Treffen im Ausland diskutieren

MEV Verlag GmbH, Germany

The first time you travel to a new place, perhaps with a new company, for an important meeting, can be daunting. See how our protagonists handle it!

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Use our list of useful phrases for discussing meetings and conferences in foreign lands. Find it here. useful-phrases

The scenario

Rahul, Tim and Nicola are members of the marketing team at a large software company. Tim and Rahul joined the company a few months ago so have never been to one of the annual company meetings while Nicola has been with the company for some years so knows what to expect. Read on and "listen in" to their discussions over lunch one day.

• Tim: Rahul, have you been invited to the meeting next month? You know, the team building exercise on Costa Rica...
• Rahul: Yes, sounds a bit too much really, not sure if I´ll be able to go or not...
• Nicola: Rahul! You have to go, it´s not really an option, you know. And anyway, the meetings are great fun, too. It really is a good chance to get to know everyone on the team here and to meet most of the teams from all the other offices. Don´t chicken out!
• R: Hmmm, well, I don´t know, not sure I really get what it´s all about or why we do it, I´m not chickening out it´s just?
• N: OK, listen, pass me the ketchup, please and let me fill you in on what really happens and what it´s all about. Essentially it´s great PR - our annual team-building exercises are the envy of all the other software companies, you know! All the top software engineers want to come and work for us as we´re a fun company... also, it strengthens the corporate feeling, the idea is to make people feel part of the team, that their contributions are valid and valued...
• T: Yeah, yeah, I get all that corporate stuff, I remember reading about these meetings a year or so back in one of the trade rags, so tell us more about what really goes on.
• R: Yes, I suppose I really need to work out what I´m going to do. My manager said I didn´t have to, obviously, but maybe I should?
• N: Are you worried about your leg? Really, it won´t be an issue, they always make sure that everyone can take part in just about all the activities, they have different levels of physical input and you´ll be fine.
• R: But you know, even travelling long distance can be hard for me, I don´t like flying and it´s hard with this leg, it gets uncomfortable.
• T: Mate, I can´t imagine... but you know, Nicola says you´ll be fine, so just check out the travel details with the planners and try and come along.
• R: So Nicola, OK, assuming I do make it, what can I expect?
• N: Right, I think it´s Costa Rica, isn´t it?
• T: Yup.
• N: So, I haven´t been there before, but I know the annual meeting was held there before I joined and people still talk about it... it´s a beautiful place and I think there´s a sort of treasure hunt in the rainforest. We get put into teams and have to follow various clues, it´s fun. That takes a couple of days and the rest of the time we chill. There are a few meetings, of course, some training, but lots of time to explore and hang out.
• T: Sounds cool. But hey, I just thought, what about jabs? Do we need stuff like that? Do we need to take malaria tablets, I hear they can really mess with your body, and what about insect repellents, bet they have some huge bugs out there!
• N: No, don´t worry, there aren´t any shots! I think I heard about dengue fever but you really don´t need to worry ? where we´ll be staying, they make sure there aren´t mosquitos and the health care in Costa Rica is excellent should anything go wrong. Also, the company provides first class health cover for us, so your fears are totally unfounded!
• T: Hmmm. OK. Well, how about the food? I´m not too keen on messed about stuff, I go for the simple things myself.
• N: Again, don´t worry! Where we´ll be staying the food will be excellent, it always is. We always go to places where they can cater to any special dietary requirements, too, so if you need something different you just have to ask.
• R: Yes, good point, I mean some people might not be able to eat pork, for example, or might have food allergies - peanuts or something.
• N: Well, you wait. This time next month you´ll be happily reminiscing about what a great time you had and you won´t be able to wait for next year´s jolly!