I have officially finished my placement at Fighting Words NI. My colleagues made my last day so special! In the morning, I had my last workshop ever and I was storymaker. The class was a group of P5s, and they were enthusiastic and imaginative. We ended up writing a fantastical story about a blue monster and a motorbike with pink flames. I won’t give too much more away, but you can see how it ends on the Fighting Words website. I got teary at the end when one student eagerly asked if he could publish his own story in a real book and another wrote on her feedback card that she was proud of herself. It was the perfect workshop to end on, equal parts fun and meaningful, and it embodied everything that I love about working in this format.

We were originally planning to have my goodbye lunch in the cafe in our building, but my coworkers surprised me by taking me to my favorite sushi restaurant, Kamakura. I got my usual, the smoked salmon and rocket roll, and we chatted and chowed. When we got back to the Crescent, Aoife presented me with a homemade chocolate raspberry cake and my family joined us for coffee. It was fun to watch members of my old and new home mix and mingle, laughing together and asking thoughtful questions. I left with an armful of beautifully sentimental gifts: a card and a book with lovely inscriptions from all my colleagues, a claddagh ring from St George’s Market, and a mini booklet with stories and teacher feedback from some workshops I’ve led and photos of our adventures together.

On the back of the booklet was a line from a story written in one of my recent workshops: “She had no map, so she decided to go by heart.” I think that about sums up the last 9 months. I had no guide for how to build a new life in a foreign country. I arrived last September alone and hopeful. I am leaving with a heart full of love and a mind full of new learnings. I had the privilege of working with people who welcomed me not just as a colleague, but as a friend. I learned from them, and from the joyous children who repeatedly bolstered my faith in creativity and goodness. I led workshops, went on field trips, attended networking events, moved countless bean cubes, and got published in the Irish Times. I hiked with friends, tried boxing, joined a choir, took spontaneous EasyJet weekend trips, and learned to love being alone. I discovered more about who I am and what I want in life and vocation. I am a changed woman!

Thank you to all of you who have followed along this journey! It means so much to me that you have taken the time to read my words. Thank you to the Lumos Foundation for making this incredibly formative experience possible. Goodbye for now, and see you soon, USA!