https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_consumption_in_Russia
What is interesting is the challenge of working with a translator. First, I may speak for say 30-seconds. Often, not always but quite often, my various translators will take several minutes to then translate what I have just said.
This is especially true for the Serenity Prayer. It takes me about 15-seconds to quietly say it. It will take the assembled multitude of Russian members maybe a minute to say the same prayer.
Back to the lag in time from when I stop speaking and my translator begins.
I can lose-my-train-of-thought during a normal conversation. Then here I am, standing before a meeting, silent, not knowing what my translator is saying, all the while having to remember where I left off so I can resume talking about the same thing.
My mind can, and does, wander.
"Let's see. What was I saying?"
Then the real issue : Is what I said being transmitted to the members?
I have actually had this happen.
I'll not forget it. It was about the Fourth Tradition. I was asked if a member in a meeting who was obviously drinking, should be allowed to remain in the meeting.
I said that in Tradition 4 a group has a right to take a group conscience and, as a group, decide how to handle this issue.
I went on to say no member should ever be allowed to totally disrupt a meeting.
In the group, there was a member who speaks English. I expressed my above opinion. My translator translated what I said.
The English speaking member said aloud : "That is NOT what he said!"
My translator got up and almost walked out she was so upset at having been taken-to-task over her translation.
Bottom Line : It remains one grand adventure.
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