As a part of the honors retreat to open the school year, I attended a Profession Networking Dinner. This was a multi course meal which we as students of the Cormier Honors College were accompanied by many of the professors of the school. As the night approached I dressed in a nice business casual dress and prepared for the etiquette dinner.
Before this experience, I would not be able to tell you which fork to use or how to eat soup correctly, but with the help of an outstanding host, I can now explain the reasoning behind these topics and many more. The most prominent take away I received from this experience was to always follow the lead of the host or hostess. They are the individual who leads each item around the table. They are to offer to the left and proceed by passing right.
This experience not only was beneficial for the dining area, but also in the business area of life as well. Our hostess for the night reviewed the rules for dressing yourself in any circumstance whether it be business casual or professional.
Now knowing these many topics on a deeper level, I am more comfortable with handling a dinner not only as a guest but also as a hostess. The night was smooth and required little effort because as I learned that night, as long as there is proper planning, there is little room for error. This being my first attempt at an etiquette dinner, there were some actions I did not quite understand the reasoning for doing, but I now am more willing to attend these types of events.