Bruce is back on the Forum

[Bruce]

Greetings International Forum Members,

My name is Bruce Finlayson and I wrote on the Forum three years ago
but had to break off suddenly because of work and movements.

Torsten has been trying to convince me to get back onto the Forum
for sometime now. As we worked together at the weekend again
I decided that there would be no better time to return as this.
We did some Interpreter work together and Torsten mentioned
my name with a further link ... see Torsten's comments and my answer
at the following Topic thread: Resources for consecutive interpreting training?

I look forward to being of any kind of assistance in helping you improve
on your English Language learning. Some members who I wrote to
back then are:
Naufragis, Jailbird, Karina, thinker, Spiderman, FrankU, Kievstar,
Koko, pressman, Larissa, Andreana, hurricane_sh, Olya, terminator, pupil,
Elena, Ariadna, hanygeorge38, englishuser, Rahel, and Francisco.
... maybe you are still there.

Meanwhile I see that Torsten, Slava, and Alan
have been able to recruit the help of some very talented people in:

Linda Arlia, Caroline Binda, Charles Harper (Mister Micawber),
Daniela Encheva, Conchita
... and probably a few other very active members
who I am sure I will be writing to.

So, I look forward to your questions.
Best Wishes, Bruce.
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[Che Gevara]

Hello Bruce
Where you from ?
I know 1 guy - Mark Finlayson
not much chanses but may be you know him ?
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[Bruce]

Hallo Che Guevara,
The Finlayson family is from Scotland.
My folks come from the Inverness area.
Near Loch Ness the home of "Nessie" the famous monster who
nobody can catch. So you know a Mark Finlayson.
That?s interesting. Is he also living in Georgia.
That?s a long way from home for him, if so.
The Scots have emigrated to all parts of the world, so it would
not surprise me. The Scots have lived as far away from home
as China and Hong Kong. Bruce is also a Scots name.
I?m not sure where Bruce Lee got his inspiration from or
perhaps his father to use that name.
I await your reply with interest. Bruce.
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[Che Gevara]

Hello Bruce
Mark lives in Moscow and in London..,not many scots here,I only know British embassador..
I've read about Scotland ,I admire Your Country..
_________________
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[Englishuser]

Hi Che,

May I ask you how you got acquainted with the British Ambassador?

All the best

EU

[Bruce]

Hi Che Guevara,

If Mark Finlayson is travelling between London & Moscow he is probably involved in Negotiating, Sales & Marketing.

It is curious to note that a lot of Scots like myself are involved in Sales, Marketing and Negotiating which extend to Diplomatic and communication type jobs.
I think it stems from the fact that most Scots have to leave their country to find a decent job because there is not a lot to offer at home.

That applys to our Celtic brothers and sisters - the Irish of course.
If you move to another country to get a job and your livelihood depends on it, you learn very quickly how to sell yourself and your skills.

For Scots and Irish the first move is usually down to England and then later somewhere else around the world. It?s also interesting to note that Canada is like a second home to Scots people, as a very large number (circa. 750,000) left Scotland and settled there (in the last two centuries) and established businesses, founded institutes and generally build up the land starting around 1746 until today.
One of the largest Banks in Canada is called Scotia Bank.
The Irish have also made their Celtic influence felt.
It will come as no surprise to note that Canada is split between the French and the Scots.
That comes from the stable friendship which has endured from when the French and Scots were fighting against the English.

In the USA, you will note a dominance of Irish and German influence. Most noticably through the choice of President who is often of Irish or German descent. Examples - Irish : Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, Kerry (only candidate) etc. and German : Eisenhower & Bush.
I?m not sure about the background of Johnson, Carter, Ford & Nixon but they are all probably directly of an English (Angle-Saxon German) descent. Roosevelt is also probably German-Dutch (Deutsch).
Anyway, I thought I would just give a small insight into some historical roots.
As far as Scotland is concerned, thanks to Mel Gibson?s Hollywood film called "Braveheart" their has been a great focus on the history of Scotland once again.
Even inside Scotland itself the people have woken up to a new revival of clan meetings and Celtic culture.

Che Guevara, can you give me some historical information about Georgia
I really don?t know that much. Maybe famous people, buildings and events in history.
I think it is very important that all our readers exchange cultural information about their country.
Before the Berlin Wall was taken down I think we all had simple stereotype pictures of what a person from a certain country looked like.
The clothes and eating habits are usually the first noticable symbols of culture from any country.
I do know that Scotland is pretty well known for the Whiskey, Haggis, Cakes & Biscuits, Kilts, Clan Tartans, Bagpipes, Highland Games etc.
Please tell me more about Georgia.

Speak soon, Bruce.
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[Che Gevara]

Hi Bruce
Mark has a Russian wife ,so sometimes he in Londond,sometimes in Russia.

Republic of Georgia (pop. 5.000.000;)is a country to the east of the Black Sea, most of which is located in the South Caucasus, while a portion of the territory lies in the North Caucasus. A former republic of the Soviet Union, it shares borders with Russia in the north and Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in the south, area 69,700 sq km (26,900 sq mi).
The official language is Georgian, one of the oldest languages in the world.
Since Russian was the official language of the former Georgia Soviet Socialist Republic, a great number of Georgian speakers are also fluent in Russian
The Georgian alphabet was invented in the 5th century
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city.

Official Religion is Christianity ( Orthodox ) ,for 15 hundred years
Ethnic groups: Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census)

The culture of Georgia has evolved over the country's long history, providing it with a unique national culture and a strong literary tradition based on the Georgian language and alphabet (it was invented in 5th century)

Most writers per man, are from Georgia ,Wine was first invented in Georgia.
Georgia's culture was greatly influenced by Orthodox Christianity and the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, which promoted and often sponsored the creation of many works of religious devotion. These included churches and monasteries, works of art such as icons, and hagiographies of Georgian saints. As well as this, many secular works of national history, mythology and hagiograpy were also written.

Our culture suffered under the rule of the Soviet Union during the 20th century, during which a policy of Russification was imposed but was strongly resisted by many Georgians. Since the independence of Georgia in 1991, a cultural resurgence has taken place.

The Country's main problems have been the secessionist revolts in the outlying Georgian provinces of Abkhazia on the Black Sea coast and South Ossetia in the north.
That’s because of Our Russian “friends” But I think they’ve forgotten that, the nation's history has been a constant struggle for survival, interspersed with brief interludes of peace
So, we don’t want war, but we are ready for fight to live in peace…

I've uploaded many pictures of My Country here:

I want to talk about my country Georgia and show some pictures

and there is some information about Georgia..
hope you like ..
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[Che Gevara]

By the way British Ambassador in Georgia is from Scotland-Donald Maclaren

http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hma20g209520x20127uj3.jpg

Is he famous in Scotland ?
_________________
Bombing for peace is like f.. for virginity

[Che Gevara]

Bruce
I have 1 question,could you please answer me :
I have a friend,he wanted to work in the UK,cause he's salary's very small,he wanted to find a better one so he contacted some employers in Britain..
He had a job interview,he received job offer,signed and sent it back..
The Employer promised he's going to work in the UK very soon,long time passed but no answer,he contacted this employer she said that she forgot to send his documents to the home office ( to get work permit there ) she finally delayed this process very much and finally my friend withdraw he's application..
He contacted 2 more employers later ,he received job offers ,but again very unserious answers..
I'm just interested whey do they have to promise,send job offer e.t.c if they're not going to hire the person ?
I'm just interested do thing like that happen often in the UK?
_________________
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[Bruce]

Greetings Ch? Guevara,

Sorry, to keep you waiting so long with an answer.
I have been away in Switzerland and am now back in Germany.
Forgive me if sometimes I don?t write immediately.
Because of my interests and work I have phases where I travel
and don?t have easy access to a computer. Then I just have to
catch up with answering questions on the Forum.

OK, back to your question.
Your friends situation is not typical of the English mentality as such
but I have heard of such coy (shameful, deceitful) handling of potential
employees before. It may be to do with a simply stress situation which
an employer is dealing with. He/she may have made all kinds of
advertisements to catch a specific potential employees attention,
just like a fisherman. When an appropriate person is found they
(the company) are usually "over the moon" with joy and relieved that
the stress situation is resolved that they just forget everything else
and carry on as if everything is "hunky dory" (in order) with the attitude
of "I?m alright jack" and give some lame excuse about not pursuing
your friends initial contact to save face, instead of being honest and
apologetic. That also goes for job seachers who take the initiative to
contact a company about a job. At first the company may be "flattered"
or a bit "unsure" when a person calls or writes "out of the blue"
(out of the blue sky - like an UFO) that they will at first give positive
overtones not wanting to insult somebody who could be very useful to
them. Later when they have more information and have established that
a person is "not up to scratch" or the quality of person they want then
they will let them fall like a hot potatoe knowing that said person has no
considerable power or weight to retaliate at such a disrespectful action.
I?m sure ... Napolean Hill ... "would turn in his grave".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Hill

http://www.naphill.org/

This is ... sad to say ... sometimes just business. I would be interested
to hear from our American Forum members, if that is not a typically American
businessman behaviour!? In the land of a performance only orientated society
where "the Dollar is King" and "there is no such thing as a free lunch" and where
you can often be asked "brother can you spare a dime?" the comments of a real
American citizen would interest me. Two cities in "the States" that I am familiar
with are New York and Los Angeles. New York I do know is definitely only for
successful people or "people who are trying to make it" ... business, career and
money-wise that is. In Los Angeles city centre (where nobody lives - except hotel
guests and the homeless) I was confronted my many hard cases of beggars and
homeless.
But getting back to the original question and answer.
I think the situation your friend experienced can happen in just about any country.
There are many companies who are very noble in there dealings with potential employees,
customers or sales people etc. etc. because it is company policy and
part of the CI = Corporate Identity, Ethics and Mission Statement.

You just have to live the experience unfortunately.
On the other side it depends also on how your friend approached the company.
Nothing against your friend. I mean the way the company perceived him/her.
That is also a big unknown ... like a black hole.
For example - you do not know if the company analysed handwriting, voice print,
head shape (phrenology), birthdate typography analysis etc. etc.
If, such a company did do that they would also have the means to afford a noble
reply to your friends letter. No, I think the company in this case were just
too damn lazy and disrespectful to get back to your friend or even recommend
other companies that might be able to use his skills.

I hope my answer will clear your mind Ch? Guevara and that of your friend.
Best wishes, Bruce.

P.S. I have written your chosen avatar name correctly according to the Spanish.
I assume your avatar has been taken in honour of "the" Ch? Guevara.
If you want me to spell it like your version ( Che Gevara ) please let me know.
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[Che Gevara]

Hello Bruce
I didn't have access to internet either,cause I spent 2 weeks here



Thanks for your answer ;)
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Bombing for peace is like f.. for virginity