Evelyn returns to her roots

These last days, weeks and months we all knew Evelyn was leaving. Evelyn was going back to her roots. Today it is almost a fact. On a fourth July she will leave Belgium and go back to her beloved homeland: Ireland, Northern Ireland.

I got to know her some twenty years ago. She gave me, not my first English lessons, but a kind of a different perception of the Shakespearian language.
I had her for two years, as English teacher. Then I stopped for more or less eighteen years, and two years ago I took again with my English courses. To my great pleasure, with her again.

It is quite difficult to qualify someone and I am sure that in spite of my present knowledge of English I would lack vocabulary to emphasize her dedication, willingness and professional approach. She has never taken the easy profile of a lesson. The material and books in accordance to the level were there to give us some listening and comprehension exercises but the real kernel of the level was prepared by herself according to our mean daily tasks, according to the daily news and changing actuality. Giving us a really useful (usable) vocabulary in our daily tasks: meetings, answering by phone, email, letter, introducing visitors, … we have discussed articles concerning from child wellbeing survey to the American elections.
Her grammar exercises were adapted year by year incorporating new aspects of the European evolution.

She used to organise every year a trip to Canterbury where plenty of her students participated.
For two years she has organised also a stay in Portstewart for a group four students where daily English, contact with locals and cultural visits were on the agenda.

The love for her country has been always present in our classroom. There have been always some posters from her area: Portstewart, Dunluce Castle, Antrim coast, … Her dream, today, is to be able to continue teaching English to people. She intends to organize a kind of custom-made courses with a small group of students (two to four) where there will be morning courses and cultural activities in the afternoon and/or evening or vice versa. Having contact with locals and living for a while in an Irish atmosphere.

I participated, last year, in one of her English practicing summer holidays. I spent a week with three other persons, Today friends, in Portstewart. I have kept a very nice memory of those days.

In this last course every student presented his country, his family and hobbies.
To help Evelyn one’s, I prepared for her a video montage that I want to share with you in this article.

It is divided it in three parts because of a volume limit.

The first part gives a glimpse of Ireland in general, based on the facts that everyone seems to know about Ireland: starting with the shamrock and associated to the green colour; St. Patrick ’s Day known everywhere. Even rivers become green for that Day; The Guinness, well known abroad; No a single point in the world without its Irish pub; The Riverdance, three companies performing all over the world.
It continues with some views of Belfast from Yesterday ; rural, peaceful, poor, … the Titanic builders, the biggest ship was built in Belfast; Belfast lying in the shadow of the Black Mountain and its Cave Hill. The troubles period: Protestants against Catholics, barricades, violence. Belfast Today, live, modern, international …





The second and third parts contain mainly views of the Antrim coast and Donegal with parties and excursions where I participated. Coast and inner country, Evelyn activities FFS (family, friends, students)

I do not say goodbye to you, Evelyn, but “Hasta la vista”, see you soon; “au revoir”, and be sure I will come to your lovely Antrim area again.

Some pictures of our last party can be seen here