Kat Across The Pond

Three days later...

Selection conference is over. And all in all, it wasn't really the ordeal I thought it would be. The selectors tried very hard to make it a relaxed occasion for everyone, which of course is wishful thinking. But they were really nice, the other people were really nice, and I enjoyed myself. Which is more than I hoped for.

Two out of three interviews went surprisingly well - no hitches at all from my point of view. The third one left me feeling like a plucked chicken. Feathers everywhere and quite sore. Ironically enough, that was the pastoral interview, which is looking at character, relationships and leadership and collaboration. I don't think I did myself any favours in that one and couldn't really get myself across at all. But then, two out of three ain't bad. Also, talking to the others, they seemed to have had the same kind of problems in that interview, so maybe that's just the way that particular interviewer works.

The group excercise was exhausting - two hours, discussing different topics, with a different facilitator every time. Not sure if I made any friends in that one either, because once or twice I couldn't help but throw controversial statements into it. Oh well if nothing else it livened things up ;-)

The written excercise was to write a letter to a long standing friend, Jane, who just lost her husband, Ted. After writing the letter, I suddenly thought I had been calling the husband Tom instead of Ted (I hadn't) - that would have been a bit of a pastoral faux-pas...

Oh yes I forgot to tell you that the place we stayed in was an old convent, absolutely fantastic to look at, massive, high-ceilinged chapel, and lovely gardens. However, the pipes in that house were possessed. The first night, I heard a gurgling in the pipes of the sink in my bedroom, so I thought I'd be clever and put the plug in to muffle the sounds a bit. Feeling very satisfied with myself, I went back to bed. A little later, I could hear gurgling wich got louder and louder, eventually crescendoing in a loud POP! and the plug flew out of the plughole. At that point I decided the pipes were demonised and I needed to lay hands on. I half expected Moaning Myrtle to come floating out and complain...

If you want to have a look at the website of the pastoral centre where the conference was held, click here

posted by Kat @ 10:49 am