Our engaging talk with Catherine Jennings

During the final decade of the twentieth century, although having an ideal teaching post, within walking distance of her home, Catherine Jennings decided to spread her wings to pursue a position in the United Arab Emiratus. Meaning for it to be a short stay, this move turned into the adventure of a lifetime, spanning some thirty years. Marrying her husband, who was employed in the oil industry throughout the Middle East, left the couple raising their young family in many countries, moving, sometimes at short notice, to places like Egypt, Vietnam, Ecuador, or France, to name but a few. As romantic and fascinating as hearing about Camel racing in Dubai, buying a chicken or eating duck tongues in Beijing, the remoteness of an Abu Dhabi Desert or visiting the Volcanic Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, known as Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, sounded to the Ramblers Group, while listening to Catherine's rendition of her beautiful story, there's a thread of challenge and disappointment that runs through it. Survival and making new friends depended on learning complicated languages such as Arabic, Mandarin and French. Being robbed of personal belongings wasn't an expected or pleasant experience. Finding school placements and settling small children into new cultures had its challenges. Climate variations from air pollution, excessive humidity or high altitude, such as in Quito which stands 2850 metres above sea level, all had to be contended with. Catherine shared mementos of those special times with us, such as fresh water pearls, art and craft work, together with photographs of interesting events. Thanks to her generosity of time and attention to detail, we were transported to destinations most of us will only ever read or dream about.

Author: Pauline Mahon