Oh hello there, 
The past few months have been a wee bit crazy - I finished a job, left Japan, started an exciting new job (for a day and a half) and then went straight back into lockdown again in New Zealand! 

That's what it's all about though right? The twists and turns, the ups and downs.... 

So, I put this post together today to share with you the adventure I have created for us to go on for the next year and beyond as part of The Empathetic Educators Experience where we can share more about how we are moving through the journey of life together. 

Let's go......

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.....