Dear Mammy and Daddy, 

Can't believe while writing this we are going into the final three/four weeks of 2020. 

What a year it has been!
December 2019 - Had an MMA fight, got a concussion, lived to tell the tale and went home for Christmas for the first time in 2 years <3.
Jan 2020 - Explored Japan to see if we wanted to move there.
Feb 2020 - Decided to apply for jobs in Japan.
March 2020 - Got jobs in Japan. 
COVID STRUCK 
April - July 20204 - In limbo, quit jobs, sold our belongings, Didn't know if we could enter Japan (scary, changing, challenging times).
Aug 2020 - Leaving NZ and Rob behind, moved to Japan, not knowing what the future would bring.
Sept 2020 - Started a new job, in a new country with new cultures, customs and languages. 
Oct 2020 - Rob got his visa and came to Japan <3.
Nov 2020 - Permanent Residency of New Zealand got accepted <3.

Dec 2020 - That brings us to now, getting ready for 2021 reflecting on the year just gone.....

Dear Mammy and Daddy, 
So another week has gone by. Can't believe we are in the last week of November. 

Mammy you had your birthday - Happy Birthday another year younger...

Hope you had a lovely week of celebrating. 

Love this photo of us celebrating with Tobacco onions last Christmas - these are one of the long list of foods I miss from home!!

This week was actually one of the better weeks I've had in a while and I think it is because I am starting to see some light in the areas I have been finding tricky. 

So let's see what learnings and noticings I have had this week...

Dear Mammy and Daddy,
Like you say every time I speak with you "where did that week go?" 

<< This is just a wee photo from my amazing time at home last Christmas and with everything that is happening in the world right now I am so grateful that we got to spend this time together exploring our lovely home of the Emerald Isle. 

This was taken at the beach in Portstewart.... just incase you have forgotten, use are getting on after all 😛

This week has been an absolute rollercoaster, I suppose every week is for most people. 

The more it starts to feel like Christmas the more I am having days where I miss home more because Christmas time brings lots of memories with family. So, I am glad I have this wee space now to reflect on my week and write to you......

Dear Mammy and Daddy, 
So, I have been thinking over the past while how I can't believe it is coming up to 10 years since I moved away from the comforts of the home you created for me for so many years. The memories, the ups, the downs, the ins, the outs, all of them had a big part to play in the person I am today and I am so grateful for you and everything you have helped me achieve so far. 

The more time that goes by the more happier I am with my own personal life but a part of me feels guilt, worry and sadness for all the years I don't get to spend with you. So, I don't think anything will ever replace time spent with you in person but I wanted to take you on board the amazing journey I get to go on and create a space where I can bring you more into my life on a weekly basis. 

I have tried to write physical letters to you each week but that just doesn't seem to happen, so instead I want to create a digital letter to you where I share my experiences of the week.

​Don't worry mammy, this won't replace the phone calls and I promise I will still try to write physical letters but as part of Season 2 of Empathetic Educators, I wanted to write a weekly journal every Friday of the goings on of my process and what better way than to share them with you. 

​So here it goes.....