His Majesty's Secret Service

Today I enjoyed a lunch consisting of a three-course meal prepared by a top Austrian chef and served by His Majesty's very own restaurant staff.

The group of waiters and waitresses in question have come to our college (at His Majesty's request) to train in Á la carte service techniques rather than the buffet set-up currently in place at the palace. They are taught general English skills as well more specific restaurant vocabulary and also receive training from our practical department on service techniques.

Every Wednesday, they serve lunch to the teachers in one of our small restaurant rooms. The waitress for my table was Shahzanan who was excellent. I quizzed her on what it is like to work for the Sultan and she said that initially it was quite daunting being in the same room as him but added that they are not allowed to talk when serving food to the Sultan and his guests and so the nerves soon go. (As an aside, many Omani girls find His Majesty Sultan Qaboos devastatingly attractive).

I don't teach this group but their usual teacher was on holiday this morning so I stepped in to deliver a lesson which had them role-playing as staff and customers in a Mexican restaurant (the chosen theme for this week). They seemed to enjoy the lesson, especially Amal who decided with a not-so-subtle addition to my board doodles that she would be my new girlfriend.