The positive first: work has been awesome this week. Best week since I arrived in China. I brought some enablement to my team here and the eagerness and passion for something new completely over-whelmed me. We had 4 workshops so I started my week in Hong Kong, back to Shanghai and then up to Beijing. Over 150 people enthusiastically throwing themselves in, having fun and learning lots of new techniques. I am actually feeling very optimistic about being here (and that is the first time in 3 months that I can say that!!)
The downside: Owen, Isabelle and Oliver have flown to UK for 5 weeks and I am left with Tetley here. I have never been apart from my children for so long and I am wondering how I am going to manage. Thank goodness for Apple Facetime – it makes such a difference to see them when we are chatting! The ex-pat community here all go home over the long summer break. At least the spouses and children do. There are homes all over our neighbourhood with just the working one left. I was at the pool last weekend and over heard a conversation between a group of men who had been shopping together, eating together and were now hanging out at the pool together……. a regular new boys club!
I will be heading over to the UK in August so it is not so long to be apart. And, it will be especially good if I can have a repeat work experience over the next couple of weeks too! For the first time, I think I am making some progress and having an impact. My sense of worth is returning and I am feeling positive and upbeat.
osiochina 