Endings and beginnings?

I have been back for almost 2 weeks now. I have not slipped back into my old routines but remain slightly distanced. My time away is still very much at the forefront of my thoughts. If I start to worry about small concerns I remind myself that I managed to cope being away for almost 5 weeks on my own so I can probably cope with most things now!

Although it is rather cheesy I have been thinking about this for my report as it sums up some of my feelings about my experience away:

H - hopeful that this will be a life changing event
O - optimistic that I can build on what I have learnt
P - passionate about the healthcare in the UK and what a great service we have
E - energised by my experiences to move forward

E - educational experience - I have learnt so much
X - "x" factor the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality - all participants have or develop!
C - co-ordinator, Arto supported us all along the way of our own journey
H - host, helped to make my time such a rounded experience
A - ageing - not an inevitable decline but another positive stage of life
N - new opportunities, I am sure this will be a springboard for these
G - grateful for this fantastic opportunity
E - excited by the possibilities this could lead to

Overall, this has been the "life changing" experience. Our Finnish co-ordinator Arto advised us on our first day in Helsinki that our lives would be changed. I did not expect it to but I have been proved wrong! It's not often I openly admit I am wrong but in this case I was! I hope that I will be able to maintain some level of this change. I do not want to be completely different but there are some elements that I hope to keep. I am sure that my time on the HOPE Exchange Programme is a springboard to new developments both personally and professionally - bring it on!!!

I think it is time now for the end of Tampere Tales. It has been an amazing journey. and I hope that you have found it interesting too. Thank you for sharing my journey and especially to those who posted comments - it was great to have your support and interest while I was away. Although this is an end I do hope that there will be new opportunities that arise from it and who knows where it could lead to.

The End?