Experts on Their Own Turf

It's complicated this black and white thing. We see it where it's not and its not where we see it.The mind plays us and experience affects the way we view the world and each other.

So back in Uganda donors met in our office once every month; representatives from IMF, ADB, the embassies and government officials.
The office assistant would get frantic each time; coffee, tea, cookies, cake. Our best cups and plates were laid out. We held our breath until they left 2 hours later. 

These very important people holding very important meetings! 

Even though I knew each member by name I didn't view the individuals as more than the organizations they represented.

I was pleasantly surprised to attend a photography club meeting with the IMF representative of a few years ago. "Oh my goodness!!" I thought "He is human? He likes other things in life? We can sit together in a session like equals? I could actually critic his work?" And tell him, "hmm, a better angle would do. I think you cropped the picture too tight. Yeah! The lighting was too harsh. What lens did you use again?"

Perhaps it was my perspective back then but things do level off on the other side. When one is the other's "home ground".

I'm reminded again of a country manager who made everyone shake in their boots. Drivers run for duty, they stayed late while their humble families waited their return.
It was rather strange to see him wait for the train at the metro, he stood anxious like everybody else. He would probably nudge or be nudged as he made his way in the door. He would pay the bus/train fare except this time there is no conductor.

Now that would be a sight for our drivers and office assistant to behold. It would probably help them relax and realize we are all human.