Optimism

This has been a really busy week at work. Relentless. One thing after another. Paperwork by the shed load. Irritating meetings. Timetable problems.

But a star has been shining through this week that makes it all worthwhile. Our international students have arrived.

To meet them is a humbling experience. Thousands of miles from home, seventeen years old, full of expectation, dreams, hopes. They engage in conversation in halting English, unsure of protocols, trying so hard to do/say the right thing without actually knowing what that is. Confidence without arrogance. Here for a year and then into a UK university (probably). Lots from China, but plenty from the Middle East, a range of Asian countries and a few from states in Africa.

It is great to meet them. It restores my optimism levels.