‘Thirteen years ago, we had a day trip to Mallorca. We arrived on a cruise ship and explored the area around the Cathedral. We said one day we would be back, and here we are. We are staying in Camp de Mar for two weeks this time and we are loving it. To wake up to blue skies and sunshine at the end of November is a great bonus. We are very happy to be Humans of Mallorca, and we will return, we know that already. What a glorious island.
I am James and my wife is Kathy, we live in Reading in the UK. I was in property in my career, now I am considering my options as I have retired. As for Kathy, no-one will let her retire, she has taught half the county Chinese, and the county don’t want her to stop.
Our story, the boy from Gloucestershire and the girl from China, is a love story. We have been married for forty years, it all started when a Chinese nurse was celebrating her graduation with my flatmates, and I was invited to the party. Life was easy for me; I was born in the UK. Kathy had to leave the country after graduation as the UK were not employing foreign nurses in 1983. She went to Canada, they were very welcoming, but it was not where she wanted to be. The UK was where her heart was and her future life. Bureaucracy and paperwork followed and eventually, with the intervention (don’t ask) of Tate and Lyle, a work permit was granted.
Life thereafter was retraining as a teacher of Chinese and being in demand from schools to official projects. The ability to speak Mandarin and Cantonese was, and still is, an important skill.
Family life followed and a beloved son, and now a future with more travel and adventures. The sacrifices her geologist parents made to get the family out of China during the cultural revolution is always respected. Life in Hong Kong and then nursing and teacher training in the UK underpins the love and respect due to her parents sacrifices for her. She used the opportunities they gave her, and she is grateful.
To travel and experience this beautiful world is a blessing and I know that we will return as Humans of Mallorca often’.
