Interpreter Sam

Abstract

On this pleasant Monday morning, Sam was anticipating a visit from his supervisor, Dave, who had just returned from a weeklong management school. Customarily, this level of training was held off-site, usually out of town at an exclusive resort, the type of facility at which you'd stay at your own expense only for a special occasion or once-in-a-decade vacation. Sam had heard that these extravagant surroundings were necessary to ensure that attendees would not have the slightest worry about their accommodations and could concentrate fully on their training. Recreational activities were an important part of every day's schedule to provide opportunities for team building and to promote good health—“Work hard, play hard” was the mantra. Sam had attended a management school in one of these country-club settings only once, and his claim to fame from that experience was being escorted from the golf course for erroneously thinking he could walk the cart path for exercise. The resort's management, ever vigilant and safety-conscious, could not risk Sam's being struck by an errant shot or a runaway golf cart. Knowing the driving skills of his colleagues for both golf balls and golf carts, Sam willingly accepted the invitation extended to him to get out of harm's way.