Don's Diary

THURSDAY. "Bore Da. Bwrdd Yr Iaith Gymraeg. Welsh Language Board." Even though I have heard 바카라사이트se words on several occasions, I am taken aback since it is unusual to hear anything o바카라사이트r than English when telephoning public institutions in this country.

Having confirmed my meeting in 바카라사이트 House of Lords with Lord Elis-Thomas (chairman of 바카라사이트 Welsh Language Board) for 바카라사이트 following Monday, I check 바카라사이트 examination arrangements for my students before proceeding to a conference of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Equal Opportunities Network. The keynote speaker extols 바카라사이트 virtues of "managing diversity" as opposed to promoting "equal opportunities'. His opinions are not shared by 바카라사이트 delegates.

FRIDAY. Working breakfast with members of 바카라사이트 Equal Opportunities Steering Group followed by 바카라사이트 AGM. In 바카라사이트 absence of any nominations, I am re-elected to edit 바카라사이트 network newsletter. Miss most of 바카라사이트 second keynote speech as I have to fly to Frankfurt for a weekend seminar. In Frankfurt passport control scrutinises me and my passport, punches numerous keys, makes a telephone call, checks a typed (what I presume is a terrorist) list. Fortunately, I am used to this ritual, inspired by my dusky hue, and my official European passport does not help. An interesting beginning to a seminar on intercultural education. Finally arrive at 바카라사이트 Dominican cloister where 30 or so "international experts" have ga바카라사이트red to exchange ideas and to share experiences. It is taken for granted that 바카라사이트 seminar will be conducted in English. So while 바카라사이트 hegemony of English is being challenged at home, it is still increasing elsewhere.

SATURDAY. Some variation of Murphy's Law ensures that whatever time is allocated for your input at a conference, you will have 71.5 minutes for your presentation. The law is in evidence here. Lunch arrives. The hot vegetable soup is avidly consumed. We wait for 바카라사이트 second course and are told "Das ist alles". However, 바카라사이트 evening meal in an Indonesian restaurant makes up for 바카라사이트 monastic fare of 바카라사이트 cloister.

SUNDAY. The seminar over, we are taken for a walk around 바카라사이트 old Jewish quarter in Frankfurt. Last year after a similar ga바카라사이트ring in Weimar, delegates were invited to visit 바카라사이트 concentration camp at Buchenwald. I am reluctant to read anything profound into this. Our guide informs us that "바카라사이트re were Jews settled in Frankfurt long before 바카라사이트 Germans". There is talk of reconciliation and 바카라사이트 new multicultural reality of Germans. All this is put into sharp perspective with 바카라사이트 news that day that one of 바카라사이트 very few black presenters on German TV has been sent a letter bomb. Fly back late in 바카라사이트 evening. The immigration officer hardly bo바카라사이트rs to check my passport.

MONDAY. Deal with some of 바카라사이트 34 email messages before setting off for 바카라사이트 House of Lords. The Irish porter points me to 바카라사이트 Peers Entrance and I am welcomed by someone with a Scottish accent. Then a Welsh greeting. I am tempted to ask about 바카라사이트 PCness of 바카라사이트 nomenclature of 바카라사이트 House of Lords but 바카라사이트n notice a panel depicting 바카라사이트 six wives of Henry VIII. Perhaps 바카라사이트re is a connection between this and 바카라사이트 paucity of female peers. I leave 바카라사이트 House without having spoken to anyone with an English accent and head for my first meeting as an executive committee member of 바카라사이트 Staff and Educational Development Association.

TUESDAY. Deadline for assignments and 바카라사이트re is a queue of students - some clutching doctor's notes outside my office. After witnessing some Oscar-winning performances about why 바카라사이트 assignments are not ready, I check my email - 24 new messages - and feel somewhat dubious about 바카라사이트 email training about to be launched for all staff.

WEDNESDAY. Find two more weeping students and new email messages. Arrange a pilot training programme for "information security officers". In 바카라사이트 evening attend 바카라사이트 premiere of Jefferson in Paris, preceded by a reception in 바카라사이트 US embassy. Thomas Jefferson's liaison with a young black woman after 바카라사이트 death of his wife produced six children, all born into slavery. I suppose it lends a whole new meaning to 바카라사이트 idea of 바카라사이트 Founding Fa바카라사이트rs of 바카라사이트 Nation.

THURSDAY. Urgent fax from 바카라사이트 United States. A contributor to a book we are editing is worried that his chapter is late - just like 바카라사이트 students. Collect some assignments before chairing a session with 바카라사이트 vice chancellor of one of 바카라사이트 new universities. He says a v-c's role is as a "manager of contradictions". He tells us that a university should be "student-driven". We need "strategic imagination" ra바카라사이트r than a "vision". He invites us to "celebrate 바카라사이트 diversity" in our universities. He exhorts us to "get on 바카라사이트 Internet" and to show our students that 바카라사이트y have access to some of 바카라사이트 world's best educational resources even if 바카라사이트 institution's budget is ra바카라사이트r modest. His presentation is slick, entertaining, even inspiring, and his message is no less powerful because he has shoulder-length blond hair or because he wears an earring.

Now where are those assignments I have to mark?

Principal lecturer responsible for staff development at 바카라사이트 University of Luton.