真不好意思

My boss sent me to Jiangdu to represent the Consulate at a publicity festival. While I was there I gave a speech which the hosts had ... uh ... thoughtfully written up and handed me the day I arrived. I made some edits, and worked with the translator on when I would pause for translation.

Though the contents of the speech were sufficiently bland, for me the day was most notable for a mistake I'd made just before I was supposed to give my speech -- I walked to the wrong end of the stage. When I got to the end, and saw there was no podium, I had to walk all the way to the opposite end while the 900 people in the audience watched and waited.

It was a very embarrassing situation, and I said as much. "真不好意思," I began, and then continued as if nothing special had happened.

The event was featured in the local news, though thankfully any mention of my mistake was left out.