Author Archives: John Humphreys

So, it’s already looking and sounding complex but then I am starting out with the Duolingo app alongside phrase book and dictionaries, trying to follow Romanian and Italian in parallel. Serves me right, you might say… The personal pronouns: I, you, he/she, etc, already show similarities with the other Romance languages, Italian included, but notContinue reading “Learning Romance: getting personal with pronouns”

Romance isn’t what it used to be. And to be fair this blog maybe isn’t what it seems to be either. For those expecting lessons in love, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I’ve decided to try and learn Romanian from scratch and this’ll be where you’ll find my observations and reflections. And just to makeContinue reading “Learning Romance: Starting Out”

I’m sure I’m going to get run over soon: I just keep looking left before I leap into the road. And it’s cold! Sunny and cold, but cold all the same. It’s all relative. On the way to the airport, I kept thinking I’m going to miss that view, the mountains and the sea soContinue reading “Englishman Abroad: Post Script – Different Horizons”

Nearly done. To be honest at the start it seemed like it would feel like a long time but the internship’s gone so fast it seems too soon to end. It’s Sunday and my last weekend on the island of Tenerife, a little over 2000 miles from home. Yesterday was probably my last restaurant meal,Continue reading “Englishman Abroad: Parting”

It may come as a surprise to you, but everything comes at a price. A bit of careful planning can save a lot of pain, or at least inconvenience, at some point later, and make your stay a more pleasant one. So firstly cash and cards. A friendly tour operator recommended a Revolut card whichContinue reading “Englishman Abroad: Paying for Things”

Don’t be fooled into thinking your time as an intern should be work-work-work. It’s true you’re here to learn, grow and develop but a big part of that is what you experience outside of work. Play time is important too. For me the choice of where I’d do the internship was as much about theContinue reading “Englishman Abroad: Play… An Internship is for Life, Not Just for Business”

A whirlwind of a week. When you watch the weather forecast in a place like Tenerife it tends to be pretty similar most of the time, but there’s value in keeping an eye on what’s coming.  You never quite know but it’s good to be prepared. Planning for this week was no less important. WeContinue reading “Englishman Abroad: The Different Faces of Productivity”

Where HAS this week gone? All of a sudden, only three weeks in, and it really feels like I’m genuinely part of the team. Suggestions considered, appreciated and at times put to use – or at least explained why it’s not the best idea. Likewise I’m actually contributing usefully to a wider range of operationsContinue reading “Englishman Abroad: Progress!”

So, a third of the way through the internship it makes sense to look at what some might call ‘problems’ so far. Apart from those relating to work, I’d say you can classify these as to do with Living, Logistics, Leisure, and Language. Yes you’ll notice I like aLLiteration. Sorry… Live with it! In termsContinue reading “Englishman Abroad: Problems, Challenges, Opportunities”

It seems to me that it’s people that make the experience. That’s what genuine hospitality is about after all – a welcome, not a greeting, a table at a restaurant, and not a hotel room. It’s the people. Those you meet, those you take along with you, those you listen (or read) when you tellContinue reading “Englishman Abroad: A Peep at People (or a focus on folk)”