Hellos and Goodbyes

And so, that was Iona!  It certainly was an experience I will always remember.


Sunset on my last night on Iona :)

Yummy goodbye breakfast :)

Goodbye to good friends




 As in any community, everyday activities become quite formallised and it was no different with the "goodbye" process.  We each have a formal review with the staffing coordinator where we reflect on our time on Iona.  There is then an opportunity for saying farewells at our final dinner, and people make and sign leaving cards for each other.  We also had a leaving service where each person leaving had the chance to share something special.  Finally, on the morning we depart the rest of the staff stand on the pier and wave as the ferry leaves:

Really, the whole experience is full of hellos and goodbyes...each Friday is "goodbye" to the guests leaving then "hello" on Saturday as the next week's guests arrive. Then every Wednesday morning is "goodbye" as volunteers leave and "hello" Wednesday afternoon as their replacements come.  I felt ready to be leaving so the goodbye didn't hit as hard as it might have otherwise.  Still, I will miss the routine and friendships of community life.  What I won't miss....sharing a room!!! I slept for 10 blissful hours on my first night back here.  Ahh, life's little luxuries! 

I seems I will be saying some "hellos" to little people next week as I start work as a P1/2 teacher.  It's quite exciting and I'm grateful to be going into something that will help me keep a good routine.  I will be teaching at Beauly Primary three days a week from now until October as a P1/2 teacher, and then Thursday as a RME (Religious and Moral Education) teacher.  Monday is a planning day then it's all happening!  I probably should be feeling nervous or something but am really looking forward to the challenge. 

Here are some final pics of my time on Iona.  I hope you have a wonderful week and if you are in a cold part of the world, (unlike me at the moment...haha) stay warm!