There are many moments in ones life that you simply can not remember for love or money, and that is a good thing really, otherwise I think things could get rather full one’s brain….Especially mine!

However there are also certain that you know that you will never forget……and this trip certainly contained enough of those.

Dragonfly Training has been working in Jordan for some 16 years. For this whole time we have been working with ISHRAQ and the ever wonderful Dr Umair Alhijazi. Plus over the last few years, his wonderful wife Muna Alhijazi. However we had never actually met. Whilst I had worked in Qatar, Kuwait and Dubai….for some reason, I hadn’t sent myself to Jordan.

More Fool Me!

So in the great company of Alun Rees (Head of International at Cardiff and Vale College) and Nadeeke Illeperuma (my fellow Director at Dragonfly Training and Sri Lankan by birth, language and culture but an Honorary Welshman for the last 12 years) I finally righted this wrong, and set off to Jordan.

Highlights of the trip

- The meeting with His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh of TAGUCI in the TAGlobal Headquarters.

There are some people who are just utterly inspirational to you. People who fit into this category for me are usually musicians (think Bob Marley, Joe Strummer, Bruce Springsteen) as well as the odd figure like Barak Obhama, or Laurie Lee. But this was the first person I have met, in real life, that absolutely floored me with his humility, intelligence, integrity, foresight, calmness and care for others.

Most of you won’t know him, but his life story (from Palestinian Refugee to one of the UN’s longest serving members) is well worth a few minutes of anyone’s time.

Nadeeke and Mahmoun Abu Al-Sebaa. The Assistant Dean of TAGUCI

- Business meeting with Mahmoun Abu Al-Sebaa , The Assistant Dean of TAGUCI to discuss the spread of BTD in the MENA Region.

You also know when you are going to like someone and it took me about two minutes to decide that I will like working with Mahmoun Abu Al-Sebaa. His cheeky grim and twinkle in his eye belay a huge intelligence, a real eye for detail and a drive to get things done. But…he makes me laugh. A lot.

Umair had spoken highly of him. I can see why.

- The meeting with H.E the Minister of Higher Education

This goes really well.

She is new to the post, so its tricky for her, but Umair, and Mahmoun guide us through the meeting with skill and charm and I think

- The incredible Graduation Ceremony for our first cohort that graduated from Jordan

The absolute pinnacle of the trip.

- Official ceremony of inauguration of BTD in the MENA Region including contract signing for media purposes.

Alun Rees, Head of International at Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) and I

This event was covered by Media Representatives from various news agencies in Jordan and resulted in myself and my colleagues appearing on TV there, as well in various newspapers and more modern media outlets.

It was once again, incredibly moving to see all our hard work bearing such fruit. The programme is now very well imbedded in Jordan, thanks to our esteemed colleagues in ISHRAQ and TAGUCI; so having this ceremony, with His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh of TAGUCI in the actual TAGlobal Headquarters caused me a few a few tears.

The graduation ceremony was excellent, his Excellency spoke eloquently and I managed to blurt out just about the right thing, but I got far too emotional and rambled a bit.

Why so emotional? Well mainly the graduates themselves. They were just some of the nicest, most dedicated, hard working, intelligent women (one man only sadly) I have ever met. Plus….to see pretty much all my professional career’s work in one place - made me so proud of them and myself.

- Field visits to varies school in Jordan.

I always like visiting schools in different parts of the world too see whats the sane and what’s different to schools back at home. The schools in Jordan were very similar to our own. The staff were incredibly welcoming.

- The visit to the British Council.

This is always a bit of ‘a curate’s egg’. As I have met with British Council representatives in many countries in the world over the years, and each time we have had very productive conversations……that have led to……absolutely nothing. This visit was no different. Mahmoun gave a fantastic speech, they seemed to totally ‘get’ what we were trying to do (ie help bring increased standards to Jordanian teachers as well as improve their job opportunities) and they said all the right things. But there was no discernible outcome.

Muna and his excellency allowing TAGUCI to accredit the programme

- In the company of ISHRAQ, we had another eduvisit to the Dead Sea; the lowest spot on earth with therapeutic water properties.

Sadly my back wasn’t up to this. A few too many hours working on a computer and driving to too many schools over the years have resulted in a few disk intrusions. So, very sadly, I had to sit this trip out, and basically stretch. So whilst Nadeeke and Alun covered themselves in mud and crawled on top of water - I pushed myself into all sorts of uncomfortable positions and looked very strained/strange doing it.

At least I felt better afterwards….

- The legendary Jordanian Hospitality.

Jordan is known to be incredibly welcoming, and many would argue, ‘the most welcoming of the Arabic Speaking Nations’ and all I can say is…..if you can find a nicer nation of people, then I am off to visit there right now.

My love of the people, culture and food of the country grew day by day.

My colleagues Alun Rees and Nadeeke Illeperuma.

There are a few Venn Diagram intersections here.

Alun and I are both Welsh and Rugby Players (he played for Bath Rugby back in the day - one of Britain’s top sides) and Nadeeke is obviously a fellow Director of Dragonfly Training. Nadeeke and Alun share a similar sense of humour and shall we say a more realistic view of life…rather than me, who gets carried away a bit.

Both of them are great people to work/travel with.

Our First Graduation Ceremony in Jordan

The British Teaching Diploma (BTD) in Jordan – It’s on the move.

‘Opportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child’, Is academisation the end of truly self-improving schools?