4 Years Helping Internationals through our Alternative Language School!
It was 4 years yesterday that Blue Noun Language Hub ‘officially’ began (we’re so alternative, we’re a hub, not a school!)
It’s funny, I had planned a whole day of navel-gazing and wisdom-giving (AKA my Linkedin marketing, but I got an urgent message saying that we have new Ukrainian arrivals – and could I use the Blue Noun Language Hub connections to help them settle in, begin meeting locals in the community – and get toys to the kid ASAP?
So I did that instead.
I reached out to the Blue Noun Hub
I posted about new Ukrainian arrivals in our local community.
By 6 pm that evening the new family had a bike, a football, assorted toys, a kite and clothing delivered to their door. (All day today I’ve been receiving further offers of help).
Such drawing together to ensure this new family feel secure, welcomed and not lacking essentials is Highland Hospitality.
(Not the whisky-advert-twee portrait of Scotland).
(Really, don’t settle for that as ‘seeing Scotland’).
I couldn’t be more proud of any place than I am with Strathearn and Perthshire today.
What I was Going to Say Was…
Even though I think we’re all a bit better off for silence on Social Media, unfortunately, even an alternative language school has to show up and be visible.
And 4 years really does mean a lot to me. It’s been a massive achievement in so many ways.
So here’s what I wanted to say.
What 4 Years Means to Us
A business anniversary means a lot to the business founders because it’s a tangible number to place against the storms weathered, contracts won – and the many times of showing up when it’s hard for personal reasons (𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘢𝘢𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘦, 𝘔𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘺).
It’s proof of dedication to a dream that a younger, more energetic version of yourself first imagined, and that you have been constantly reaching for ever since.
But a business anniversary means almost nothing to anyone outside of the business.
So what? you may ask.
Who cares?
More than anything else, for me, it means working like this for 2 years!
What 4 Years Means to You
The ‘so what’ are the 4 years of our alternative language school helping internationals with English skills through a sustainable, kindness-led business model which has benefited my local community in a thousand tiny ways.
‘So what’ involves rescuing a beautiful, historic building and turning it into a ‘hub’ (one important part of regenerating the Crieff town centre).
‘So what’ is providing small income opportunities to local artists which help keep their creator dreams alive.
Then ‘who cares’ are all my international English learners.
Being obsessed with their ESL English is like being obsessed with the keystone in a piece of architecture: for everyone who isn’t the stonemason, that would be entirely missing the bigger picture.
I’m happy being their stonemason. I know my client’s careers and lives are extraordinary and impactful. I also know my teaching skills help them be splendid, reliable and impressive every single day.
