Hi Hey Hello, 

How do we set up sustainable systems to retain teachers? 

This is a wee bit of a prelude to the next blog post focusing on this week's theme of Systems. 

The full blog post will be in this week's #EEEMagazine coming out on Friday with Guest Blogger David Lee. 
 
I wanted to do this intro post because we started Season 5 of Empathetic Educators this weekend with Karl C. Pupé (@actionheroteach). 

While preparing for this session, I was rereading his amazing book - The Action Hero Teacher. Such a great read! 

And while reading it, it sparked a connection in my brain after finishing Season 4 discussing School Systems and before continuing Season 5 focusing on Perspectives that I want to share with you.....

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, 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.....