Reflections as a Global Educator
It’s not often I get to stroll across Westminster Bridge, umbrella in hand, on the 1st March, St David’s Day and wearing a Martisor for the start of Spring. The Houses of Parliament, the river Thames, Boudica and Big Ben, all familiar and famous. Especially familiar for me on that first Wednesday morning of March… Continue reading Internationalism over isolation; how to live in an age of stupid.
“In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life; it goes on” Robert Frost I’ve decided not to go all out with New Year’s resolutions for 2023. If the 2020s has taught us anything so far, it is the sheer unpredictability of our global society and almost the fear of it… Continue reading Life; it goes on
“Remember then: there is only one time that is important – Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.” Leo Tolstoy This year seems less about time slipping by, and for many in our corner of Europe, it’s been more about time being frozen in… Continue reading Perception; Did we know we were happy when we were happy?
Don't it always seem to goThat you don't know what you got 'til it's goneJoni Mitchell “Big Yellow Taxi” There are a few well worn phrases, overused in education that exist in all staff workrooms & faculty lounges around the world such as “don’t smile until Christmas” or “when is the vacation?”. Perhaps the most… Continue reading Defining Global Britain in the 2020s? It is already here. In praise of the British Council
The first time I returned to the UK from my first ever visit abroad as a school boy, I made sure I stood on the ferry deck, in the rain and wind from the English Channel, to get my first glimpse of the White Cliffs of Dover. A symbol of “home” for anyone who calls… Continue reading “The return of the native”; reflections of an extraordinary academic year. (with apologies to Thomas Hardy)
This week, my 2am thoughts have been replaced from the fear of the 9th May with "Hey ho, let's go" but at least it is nice for once to see social media on Moldova featuring, mostly, the success of the country getting through to the final of this weekend's Eurovision. I wonder if the UK… Continue reading Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming
“I see Earth! It is so beautiful” Yuri Gagarin. When the Puritans of England banned Christmas Day, theatre & dancing in the 1640s, a ballad appeared, half mocking, half fearful, that the World everyone once knew, was now upside down in Cromwell’s England. It’s alleged that this ballad was also played when Cornwallis surrendered to… Continue reading “The World turned upside down”
I cannot remember ever being on school front gate duty staring up and down Beachley Road half expecting tanks to appear from the A48 as I found myself in Chisinau, this February looking out at the relative calm of Dacia Boulevard. Will those in the future ever believe some of the stories we will pass… Continue reading Books not Bombs; The future has to belong to our children.
“Let us not return to what was normal but reach towards what is next.” Amanda Gorman The lesson of the 2020s so far has been not to look too far ahead, not to expect too much and to maybe stop using the word “normal” for the time being. The 2020s have also been about showing… Continue reading What comes next in 2022?
Time, time, time See what's become of me I am still thinking of those Alaskan bears from November, who were gorging on salmon from the rivers, getting ready for a longer winter sleep and hibernation until Spring. The glorious Autumn has given way to a much colder December in Chisinau and after I have seen… Continue reading “A hazy shade of Winter; was 2021 all bad?”
Mail from Moldova 