Hasta Leon

 

Finally I am at the start of this journey, a physical journey to a different country, language and culture and a metaphorical one to a potentially new mid-life career; I have been waiting for this journey for the best (and worst) part of two years. They say that good things come to those who wait… well, I have been über-patient! At this point, close now to the departure date, I admit to a bundle of conflicting emotions, excitement, eagerness, trepidation, anxiety. Lots of (concept-checking) questions and thoughts swirl around in my overactive mind.  They will retreat, once I set off. The first leg, later this week wrenches me from the family farm in Northern Ireland “back home” to Cardiff, then onwards to Kent, (almost the full complement of home nations within a week).

I am looking forward to seeing my fellow teacher tutees and UKLC tutors face to face. It is a funny, surreal thing meeting people for the first time through a laptop screen, thumbnail portraits in 2D, but we have been steered confidently and professionally through the initial awkwardness by the marvellous UKLC team, whose enthusiasm and optimism is infectious. We are an eclectic bunch of individuals, a mixture of ages, experiences, backgrounds and interests but “in diversity there is beauty and there is strength”. I get the feeling that working together as the Class of 2022, we have a lot to gain through this unique experience.

Hasta luego..

 

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