Well, the storytelling at the Christmas Market went well. Despite the organisers not expecting me on the first day and people continuing to chat over coffee while I was trying to entertain them on the second, I also got some lovely feedback from complete strangers.
I was so, SO delighted that friends came to support me, too. To look around the room and see familiar faces made me feel so much more comfortable.
The Storytelling continues. I have now told at Monkey's playschool and have plans for a friend's primary school class. There are also some story café events coming up - so I'll be there too.
I have also added a new string to my bow. I am now the proud holder of a TEFL Certificate! I am certified to teach English as a Foreign Language. The course, at Kingston University, was a very intensive and fun-filled three days. It included skills which will cross over into my storytelling - I need to develop some school workshops to support the stories.
With Mouse turning 3 in just over a year (already!!!) I have to build up some kind of earning potential... I am hoping that the Storytelling, Book Selling and English teaching together will allow me a decent income doing work that's flexible enough to work around Monkey & Mouse while at the same time not relying on me learning Finnish well enough to work in Finnish!
My Finnish language lessons are ongoing... I do feel like I'm learning and I do get fairly good exam results but I am not practising and with a primarily english speaking social circle I don't really have to.
I used to be a person who watched with scorn TV programmes about families relocating abroad without learning the language. Now I have become an immigrant who can't communicate with the locals.. oh dear... note to self... must try harder. Hmmm sounds familiar ;D
