Meal invitation

[skyep]

My collegues at work have arranged a farewell meal for me next Friday. I'm getting a bit nervous/ emotional about it. I am typically the type of person who enjoys just being in the background. How do I handle it? I have accepted the invitation obviously, it's very lovely of them all to do that for me. I don't want to be emotional, I would like to be confident enough to handle the day, it's awkward really.

[haysi06]

Have a word with your manager or a friend who can have a quiet word with your colleagues to explain that whilst you are happy and grateful to them for the meal, that you dont want any big fuss. If it is usual to make a big presentation where the spotlight is on you, perhaps you could ask that they dont do that on this occasion. If it is usual for the person leaving to make a thank you speech - let them know that you are not comfortable doing so, maybe someone could do that on your behalf and you can just smile and nod:)

Good luck and enjoy your meal.

[beryllium]

Just enjoy it !!! :D

[weeal]

awww skyep, thats realy nice of them isnt it but not everyone likes to be in that situation, Im the same. I recently left a job and they shoved me into a crowd of people for a presentation type thing and I just froze and never said a word. They all drifted off soon after. I was literally brain dead with nerves. It left me feeling stupid.

If you can get away without making a speech, maybe you could see it as a pals night out and just enjoy it.

Good luck, hope you enjoy it. They obviously will miss you.

[skyep]

My stomach is in knots, thanks anyway x

[beryllium]

skyep....

Surely these work colleagues know you, or are they the 'any excuse for a party' type???

I take it you know them? so sit next to the person you feel most comfortable with and chat.... or do you never talk at work???

and..... what is wrong with showing emotion anyway?.... :)

[bigmamma]

How wonderful skyep , at least if it's a meal you will be sat at a table , like a rabbit caught in the headlights with nowhere to go ..............awwww sorry , hee hee
No , try not to worry , if they know you well enough they will not make you feel uncomfortable and you will have a great time.
When I left Australia my work place had a wonderful leaving do and so did my sons school and so did the church , I also prefer to be in the background so I was dreading it too but they went well.
The unit I worked in went one farewell scarey step though by getting the Canberra radio station to ring me at work to say my workmates had written in and the station was giving me a weekend meal and stay , I was on the spot to talk live .....omg !
xx

[skyep]

Yes, they know me, I know them, it's still a big deal. It's wierd, one to one great, social situations crap!

[legend758duo]

when i left scotland
in march last year .
we had a leaving night.
it was in livi at the chicago rock cafe.

they laid on a buffet .
then we all got really drunk.
then about 30 of them got on the dance floor and sang on the karaoke
leaving on a jet plane.

ive got to say there wasnt a dry eye in the house.

and a few of them have been over to visit me since .

: - )