Mentoring with Angloville in Poland

This was my first time with Angloville and, despite a very thorough preparation package pre-trip, I was a little apprehensive about how an old git like me (64) would get along. Even though I was on an adult programme, I had visions of it all being a little too energetic.

I need not have worried. Not only were there other mentors who, like me, were not in the first flush of youth; but it also seemed like the adult participants really appreciated the depth of experience we brought to the table.

Let's start with the Angloville staff. All three, Marina, Ala and Lisa were highly professional in their organisation, demeanour and problem-solving skills. I never felt that I didn't know what was coming next and there wasn't a time when the programme didn't flow. I know how hard that is to get right, so 'well done' to them.

The venue, the Hotel Nosselia, near Warsaw, was also above my expectations. The staff were more than helpful with any requests, the rooms clean and of a good standard, the food, excellent, as my waistline will vouch for. The schedule left us with time to explore the beautiful grounds and the out of the way location meant it was peaceful and quiet at night.

The programme was less demanding than I had imagined, with the Polish participants doing most of the heavy lifting. I wasn't expecting to get breaks or the long lunch break. In the evening most of the activities were spontaneous and a result of how well we all got along. But there was no obligation to join in from either side, meaning that both the quiet types and those more inclined to burn the candle at both ends could do as they wished.

I organise conversation clubs with ESL students in my day job and also have a very varied range of abilities and objectives to deal with. This programme will help me enormously in preparing for the coming year.

As with any event of this nature, there are one or two things that will need a little fine tuning. It is not necessary to mention them here as they relate more to the Angloville structure rather than my experiences this week.

How to sum up? We had separate Whats App groups for admin during the week, but by the time we left many of us had shared numbers with our Polish participants. I would happily join another programme next year and only didn't sign up for a second one this summer because it clashed with my return to work date. I've made some good friends this week and I hope we keep in touch and see each other again on another Angloville adventure!