There's always next time

So the other day I had to give what they call here an exposé. No, it's nothing dirty, it's a presentation of some topic related to the class. It seems to me like a way for professors to get away with not doing as much work, since the student talks for 10-20 minutes and answers questions and criticisms after. There are sometimes two per class.

In any case, I had to give an exposé about a really cool book about the relationship between economics and political systems. I was totally into it and knew the book backwards and forwards. Unfortunately, circumstances were working against me:

1. It was in French. A conversation in French is nothing like giving an analytical speech about some esoteric topic.

2. I was the first person to go in my class. Not even any French kids went first. I chose this book because it sounded interesting, but I can guarantee will never again be the first to do an exposé.

3. No one in the class had any idea what this was supposed to be like. The exposé format in this class isn't like in every other classes in that I was supposed to lead a discussion, and with two other presenters the same day we were supposed to fill up two hours.

4. The professor decided to interrupt me a number of times. His remarks were extremely relevant and very incisive, but after he provoked a 15 minute-long discussion of a theoretical "market" for tyrannical leaders in anarchic early-20th century China and Italian history, I was slightly off my notes.

It was pretty frustrating. This things will get better, but this counts for like 40-50% my grade. I had no idea I would freeze up as much as I did. In English at least I can find something to ramble on about until I find my place again, but this was torture.

Anyway, it's done, and I learned a lot about how not to do these things. The French girl who went after me was just awesome, but she was essentially reading her presentation. Whatevah.

Off to Thanksgiving dinner now. Hope they know how to do it right.