FionaMcBlog

2006-07-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

We work most of the time. In fact, my partner Rod is also in ELT as he is an EFL trainer and training/ development manager for an ELT publisher. So most of out free time (when not moving big kids' stuff to and from University or giving big kids lifts to the airport) is spent discussing teaching, training, books etc.

This is me at work by the pool in Dubai last month with other hard working teacher trainers (I'm thinking: I should be working on my ICT course webquest)

But we occasionally do other things.....

We're not so good at skiing... ....apart from Sophie

I'm looking very glamouous as I get ready for kayaking and coasteering

2006-07-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Back home in England I have a complicated family life. I have three grown up children.....

Leon who graduated last year and is travelling around the world - current working as a geophyicist in the wilderness somewhere in Northern Australia, Kieran - who's a chef - after spending the previous year in Australia, and Donna, who's studying English and Cultural studies at Uni and is just off Inter-railing in a week or two.

Here they are with my Mum, stepfather and my partner Rod in our back garden.

At the moment Donna is at home with us and Rod's two grown-up children (who have me as their step-mum) Sophie.... also at Uni

and Adam....on his way to Uni

We are moving to Reading in three weeks time....to a bigger house

2006-07-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hi, This is me, taken earlier this year in Sudan. I went there to do some teacher training - you can probably guess which one is me. (hint: I'm the one that's been dressed up and hennaed with green fronds sticking out of my head). I am passionate about travelling and meeting teachers from other parts of the world.

Things heating up a bit later on. Despite all the problems in Sudan, the teachers are incredibly welcoming. They never miss an opportunity for a party.

I was amazed at how positive they are about teaching, despite the fact that many of them teach classes of up to 120, have few resourses, not even desks are available.

Things that interested me about Khartoum

The white and the blue Nile meet here and they actually are different colours.
Despite the strict Islamic laws, it is very pleasant to wander along the Nile and see all the courting couples!
The music is fantastic. As well as traditional music, a lot of the teachers had adapted traditional English songs like '10 green bottles' and given them a real African feel.
People have a nostalgic idea of the South as being full of fruit, flowers and wonderful animals like elephants and giraffes. Sadly they do not seem really aware that the civil war has destroyed a lot of this, and that the elephants have headed further south across the border.
We has plenty of good food - all kinds of fish from the Nile, bean butties for breakfast, Kebabs - but no alcohol.