Starting somewhere new is exhausting. Being inducted into an existing organisation is exhausting. Assimilating systems, processes, finding your way round the building and a new city and learning names of people in the organisation is exhausting. And doing all this while juggling home and work and remaining positive and upbeat is… yes you have guessed it … exhausting. I broke out my I’ve Got This t-shirt this week, the day before the students came back. This t-shirt from one of my ex-colleagues from my lawyering days brings me joy to wear it – as I hope it does for other … Continue reading Beginning Again

Since landing 11 days ago, Martin has had his apartment turned into home. His ladies have returned. The apartment which was spotless when we arrived rapidly deteriorated. 4 suitcases needed unpacking as did 20 or so boxes. The last box has now been unpacked… but on going to open a can of coconut milk last week I found that the tin opener had not come with everything else. Nor indeed had my baking trays, cooking racks, oven gloves, garlic press, lemon zest grater, tennis racket, badminton racket and binoculars. They are languishing in our house in boarding and so now … Continue reading Shining Shenzhen

August 2023 1st August sees many international educators post on the professional networking site of LinkedIn that they have jobs at pastures new. I was among them, changing my title from “On Sabbatical” to House Mistress, College Counsellor and Life Skills teacher at Harrow International School, Shenzhen. The changing of my LinkedIn was exciting but daunting. It realised that the 4 suitcases packed full of clothes, toothpaste, contact lens solution, deodorant and mementoes collected along the way of our 7 months was really real and that our amazing time in the UK was at an end. Only 4 Starbucks mugs … Continue reading Endings and Beginnings