Friday Night in Migrant Learning Centre

Newbattle Abbey College have generously enabled a pilot project this year. The project is that the Scottish Qualification Authority will accredit some students from the Migrant Learning Centre of the Thinking Classroom Foundation in English, if they meet the required standard.

Tonight (and earlier today as you saw) we visited 2 classes in the MLC. These are Burmese migrants who are learning English and aiming for Scottish accreditation so we showed them this photo of Dr Thein Lwin organising their learning at Newbattle Abbey with Depute Nora Fitzcharles.

Then we taught them about Scottish life and ways, which ended in more Scottish Dancing of the Gay Gordons and the Dashing White Sergeant. We showed some videos of our Kilts n Longyis ceilidh last September. It was a great laugh and THEN....

... right at the end one of the students said that we should read a lady's English homework. She had written a full adn moving account of her love for Burma and her wishes for the future. This lady has recently come to Thailand, having spent 3 years in prison. She has come out of Burma to tell her story, which was humbling and shocking.

And this is the essence of this trip. The juxtaposition of fun and laughter in exchanges of culture with the sad and painful experiences all the Burmese people experience, whether it's because they can't go home to see family they love or whether it's the sense of hopelessness about Burma's future.

We are so honoured, students, by your kindness to us tonight. You are so generous to us daft Scots and we salute your courage. Jesu chin barry!