I think you're broadly correct. The issue is identified in these two sentences for me:
> I slowly explained that I’m a social entrepreneur promoting global change through the concept of ‘hackathons’ where attendees work together and find solutions to community issues within a tight time constraint... We spoke two totally different languages
I'm sure that's the case. The office wanted to know what she did, She offered something that sounded like am elevator pitch - it failed to give them the reassurances that they needed to make an easy judgement about her work status. Add a paper-work mix up on top of that, and I'm not too surprised they popped an X in the box and went to get a coffee.
> I slowly explained that I’m a social entrepreneur promoting global change through the concept of ‘hackathons’ where attendees work together and find solutions to community issues within a tight time constraint... We spoke two totally different languages
I'm sure that's the case. The office wanted to know what she did, She offered something that sounded like am elevator pitch - it failed to give them the reassurances that they needed to make an easy judgement about her work status. Add a paper-work mix up on top of that, and I'm not too surprised they popped an X in the box and went to get a coffee.