Getting to Yes

So I agreed to co-teach a negotiation skills course at the Institute of International Relations with one of the Fulbright scholars. The course will meet on Wednesdays from 8:30-9:50 am and today was the first day. Considering I usually leave for work at 9:30, this was a bit early for me. I had eaten breakfast before my host sister and host mom were even out of bed. I think the class is going to be fun though. There were about 45 students there today and they’re all 20-22 years old. We introduced ourselves and then did a negotiating role-playing exercise that went over well. The more interactive the class can be the better. The students had a good sense of humor and a lot of them have done the Work and Travel program in the US or will be doing it soon. A couple had been to Maine and New Hampshire. The vast majority are interested in becoming interpreters and living, or at least traveling extensively, abroad. It might also be interesting to note that there were only 4 or 5 guys in the group and 3 of them sat in the back looking disinterested and gruff. This is pretty standard. Anyway I’m looking forward to getting to know them all better and I think it’ll be a good experience.