International Women's Day 2008

A greeting on the eighth of March.

My first as an employee. As a student the day had meant buying a flower for a classmate. In an office it turned out to be a coordinated operation with an unwritten protocol that everyone except me appeared to know.

Somebody organises. Everyone contributes. The flowers are bought in the correct quantity, which is odd-numbered. There are words said, briefly, by whoever is senior and least comfortable saying them.

I got several details wrong and was corrected without unkindness, which has been the general pattern of my education here.

To all the women marking today: a good day, and my thanks.