Saying thank you.

Like most of us I was brought up to always  say ‘thank you’, to be grateful for others’ kindness and appreciate generosity, whether it was in gifts or deeds, or words; if someone has taken the trouble to give a gift, send a car, write a letter, help out, or just be there when needed, it is really important to say thank you. This is the way we have brought our children up too.

I volunteer at a local charity teaching English to people who are just leaning it; it’s great fun and we have students from all over the world – every continent except Antarctica… but of course, who knows, we may have new students from South Georgia when we reconvene in September! There is a great team of us, and it has come about that I’ve become the team leader. As well as me as a teacher there are three others, Betty, Debbie and Rose, and we have a great team of volunteer assistants who we call ‘the boys’, Phil, Mike and Barry. We work together really well, and week after week during term time, they all turn up as regular as clockwork, producing teaching materials, working with different groups, supporting and teaching.

At the end of the summer term I bought some little gifts as a mark of my appreciation for their support as well as all the hard work and weekly commitment; candles for the ladies, chocolates for ‘the boys’; one of the students, Emma, arrives early each week and helps me set up, arranging tables and chairs, white boards and the computer and TV for presentations, and getting the tea and coffee ready for break time. I bought her a nice potted plant, a lovely pinky red double begonia. At the end of the last meeting, after our party refreshments and final notices, I gave the presents out with much applause and cheers from the students, many of whom had brought little gifts too, chocolates and biscuits and cake to share.

Yesterday, I met the teachers and volunteers, and we had a sociable chat with tea, coffee and almond slices, to plan what we will be doing in September. I was surprised, and delighted, when I was presented with a beautiful plant which they had bought me as a thank you. I was so thrilled, touched and very grateful.

How nice it is to say thank you, and how nice it is to be thanked!