If you had an opportunity to chat with your younger self, what would you discuss? What advice would you give? What would you do differently?
- Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today
- Travel more
- Save more
- Invest in a decent pension
Do you believe women are born with an adventurous spirit or it is something that can be developed due to circumstances?
- I do think women are different to men.
- I think nurture vs nature is a big influence in lives.
- I believe that if you give opportunities, there is so much to discover out there.
- If women live a sheltered life and have no opportunities as in many of the women I see here in Egypt, they can’t experience fully their lives.
- I do believe we in the West have so much we take for granted. Only when you travel and see others’ lives then you know.
You recently visited Ghana for a wedding, how was that? What’s different about a wedding ceremony in Ghana?
Ghana was bitter sweet for me. It was like being in the West Indies again. Lovely people and weather and not at all as I imagined. However, I was only there for a week.
It was also very sad visiting the slave dungeons in which quite possibly my ancestors were imprisoned.
What are some of the most memorable lighter times you have had in your chosen profession?
I ran a Comenius group at my school in the UK which allowed exchange between schools across Europe. I was able to visit Slovakia and the Czech Republic a few times and the highlight of our 3 year partnership was to take 15 pupils (3 of whom had never left their county) to visit our sister school in The Czech Republic. What an amazing week. Children who had possibly never met a foreigner before were communicating in ways they could. No English was spoken by the others. Children are children wherever they are in the world ( I’ve found that out too!) A girl who was a bit of a loner in the UK got my badge of friendliness as she was teaching another to count in English and do a clapping game. Along with my book BERa Award ( British Educational Research award that I mentioned before) These 2 things stick in my head as to my accomplishments in Education and my own self.
What do you feel you have bragging rights to?
Bringing up two sons who are well adjusted young humans.
We are forever learning and growing. Is there anything you would like to take the time to learn more about?
Life, people, why we are like we are.
I would love to do an Anthropological study one day.
What is the quality you feel best describes you?
Personable
What is the best personal learning experience you can talk about that may help someone who wants to work and live abroad especially in a totally different culture? Anything that may help them advance or prevent them from making a costly mistake…
- Do it
- Try to learn the language
- Make local friends
- Eat the local food
- Go to where the locals eat
- Travel as the locals do
- Smile at the things that annoy you ( Timekeeping)
- Embrace it as fully as one can without losing yourself.
You are very young at heart – how would your children and grandchildren describe you?
Adventurous
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me Andi! I have always admired you, your drive, your authenticity. Continued success on your journey and I hope you will make several visits to comewithgblog.wordpress.com and impart your wisdom. Blessings and much love to you always!
Come With G 