| I'd had a full week and was dead tired. All I looked | | | | it was appropriate and when it wasn't. They are all |
| forwarded to was 5 pm, a few beers and the | | | | adept at anything to do with mobile phones and |
| weekend. Teaching young Emirati/Arab ladies about | | | | modern technology generally, but the intricacies of |
| human resources and business communication in | | | | appropriate business communication we had to cover. |
| English was always going to be a challenge given their | | | | At the end of the lesson they bade me "have a nice |
| varying levels of English comprehension. Trying to find | | | | weekend sir", and I returned to my desk to |
| a meeting of minds with anyone can be a challenge, | | | | complete the last bit of paperwork, prepare for next |
| let alone those who speak English as a second | | | | week and enter attendances before leaving. Although |
| language. But occasionally I knew I was getting my | | | | I had managed to get through the last lesson, I stil |
| message across and that these ladies would benefit | | | | felt stuffed. |
| from the knowledge and skills they were learning. | | | | For some reason or other I went straight to my |
| Most of our classes had a touch of humour and fun, | | | | mobile phone, which I leave in my desk set to 'silent' |
| some good teamwork with those with a better | | | | while in the classroom. Usually I forget to check it |
| command of English helping their colleagues pick up | | | | until hours later in the evening. But today, I decided |
| the nub of my messages, and a good rapport | | | | to check my messages. And there it was. No. It |
| between us, me as the expatriate Australian who | | | | wasn't notification of a huge lottery win. It was much |
| had come to help (and brought with him a strange | | | | better. My daughter in Australia had sent me an SMS |
| accent); them as the willing learners. We took time to | | | | message that simply said, "I love you dad". Nothing |
| do some serious learning, but have a bit of fun in the | | | | else, just "I love you dad". |
| process. The last day of the week is a low key day. | | | | I was puzzled. Nobody ever tells me they love me. |
| We revise what we have covered in the previous | | | | As I fought back tears (unsucessfully), I reflected on |
| week and set the scene for the coming week. | | | | how very lucky I am to have a lovely daughter who, |
| Everyone was tired, but somehow we hung in there | | | | for some reason or other, had decided on the spur |
| and got through the final hour. | | | | of the moment to tell me what she feels. It |
| It's very satisfying knowing that you are helping the | | | | mattered not to me why she said it, only that she |
| next generation of people who will make the United | | | | said it. I thought, "I love you too", switched the |
| Arab Emirates even greater than it is. While I teach | | | | mobile back to "loud" and finished up the remaining |
| them human resources, they covertly teach me | | | | work before driving home. |
| about the fortitude it takes to come back day after | | | | My tiredness remarkably, had vanished. I felt elated, |
| day and struggle to learn unfamiliar topics in a | | | | like a million dollars ... I was The King of the World and |
| language that they only partially understand. Each has | | | | everything was wonderful. That's the Power of Love. |
| developed coping mechanisms. It takes a special type | | | | Mix it with the immediacy of an SMS message and |
| of courage and dedication that I have come to | | | | you have a powerful combination. |
| admire very much. I often wonder whether I could | | | | All of us want to love and be loved. It's part of the |
| do it. | | | | human condition. With the power of SMS messages |
| Anyway, we had been discussing SMS messaging and | | | | and the written word, you can change lives. When |
| how it might, or might not be used in business; when | | | | was the last time you told someone you love them? |