48 Hours to Go!

The British are coming with perfect timing! It turns out that our British counterparts from the Langdon Community are scheduled to arrive at Logan Airport a few hours before our departure to the UK. We are all planning to be there to greet Alison and Selena to welcome them for their month in Boston before we hop on our own plane. However, I like the way Dafna said it in her email, Best laid plans- we’ll see. Snow storm predicted.

Aside from all that, as I write this I believe we’ll be arriving in Manchester in about 48 hours. We received some exciting news about our arrangements while we are there- and I have to share this one detail that my brother-in-law practically flew out of his seat at dinner last night when I mentioned it.  On March 12^th, we are attending the Manchester United vs. Liverpool match- so if you have the Soccer Channel- Matt and I will be there!

It was a wild week finishing things up at the office to leave my caseload behind for a month.  At 5pm Friday, I was looking over the longest things-to-do list I ever had and checked off every item.  As I drove home, I was struck with another part of this whole experience that I could have never anticipated. I have received the most amazing show of genuine enthusiastic support from my friends and family through all of this anticipation.  I am eternally grateful for this rare feeling of honor and camaraderie.  Thank you everyone for your backing and your blessings.  For now, I’m going to say “Cheerio!”

 

...a little more background info on the trip...

This all began one day last fall when I checked my mail and the colorful flyer on the International Ambassador Program opportunity to go to the UK for a month was in my hand.  I knew I could never do it, I could never leave for a month!  I thought it was an incredible concept, I only wished I could be that person who was free enough to go for it.  The flyer detailed the opportunity arranged between TILL, Inc. and Langdon Community in Manchester, UK to each have two employees participate in a month long work exchange program.  Two staffers from TILL could win the ambassadorship to visit and work at programs serving people with disabilities in Manchester and London by submitting a series of essay questions.  The winners would plan to gain and share information on the provision of services in the United States and England while exploring their objective to expand the knowledge base of the field of developmental disabilities.  It all appealed to me- even the part about entering an essay contest.

I found that I was carrying that flyer with me everywhere, even though I knew I had no interest in doing the trip myself.  I talked to a couple of encouraging friends about it over the next few weeks who really thought I should do it.   I came to the point where I actually considered doing it and the great timing of the whole thing... and suddenly I wanted to go.  I mean- I felt it in my belly- I really wanted to go!  I set to work on my essay questions and submitted my application to the Professional Development Committee.  At the time, it felt like I was waiting patiently for the news, now, it seems like it's all gone very quickly. December 1st the announcement came: Matt Guidi and I were chosen to represent TILL.

So now here we are- only one week to go before Matt and I begin our adventures and two staffers from the UK will come to work for TILL for the month and experience life in Boston!

More information about our agencies can be found at:

www.tillinc.org

www.langdoncommunity.org.uk

1st Meeting

Dafna, Theresia, Matt and I sat down with Allison to ask questions and share information at our kick off meeting for the UK trip at the TILL offices this week. I was so excited to be talking about the big trip that I felt nervous.  This trip is coming up so fast and it's unlike anything I've ever done before.  We are all flying out on March 1st.  We will go directly from the Manchester Airport to the Head Office of Langdon Community on Monday morning, March 2nd! 

Matt and I are planning to get right to work on our designated work-trade assignments for the month.  We will be in Manchester through March 17th, when we will move on to London for the remainder of the month. We are told that we will likely be doing a combination of individual support work and day program staffing.  Dafna and Theresia are staying in the UK for a week with various administrative objectives for our International Ambassador program.  While all this is going on, we will all be celebrating Purim like never before!