Hi Reader,

My baby is growing up fast (don't panic Mum, not a real human but my business), and turned 2 this month!!

It feels like I've been managing MLC forever and also just a few moments, time has a strange way of creeping up on us.

From on outside perspective, people often focus on what I’ve gained from living abroad, learning languages, building my own business, and creating a life where I can work from almost anywhere. The freedom. The travel. The flexibility.

And while those things are real, they only tell half the story.

From my perspective, I can tell you that I’ve also given up a lot.

I’ve missed family events, said goodbye to routines and familiar places, and traded the certainty of a monthly salary for the unpredictability of running a business. I’ve had to rebuild friendships, navigate unfamiliar systems, and learn how to be comfortable with uncertainty.

Learning languages has probably been the most rewarding and humbling part of the journey.

There’s something amusing about spending your day helping professionals communicate confidently in English and then finding yourself unable to remember a simple word in Spanish.

But learning German, French and Spanish has given me far more than language skills. It’s given me a deeper understanding of different cultures, friendships I would never otherwise have made, and genuine empathy for anyone communicating outside their native language.

Looking back, many of the things I’ve gained came directly from the things I gave up.

I gave up certainty and gained freedom.

I gave up comfort and gained growth.

I gave up familiarity and gained a much bigger world.

And despite the challenges, I wouldn’t change it.

2 years of MLC, more than 10 years of teaching and traveling, it's is a privilege I am grateful for.

What have you given up that ended up giving you something valuable in return?

Tip of the month

I know you're ready to learn more idioms,Reader! These are all related to giving up

Throw in the towel: To admit defeat or give up trying. "After losing so many games, he decided to throw in the towel."

Call it quits: To stop doing something, especially because it’s too hard. "We called it quits after hours of playing football."

Cut your losses: To stop trying to fix a bad situation. "After failing the test twice, he decided to cut his losses."

Drop out: To stop being part of something. "He dropped out of the race because he was tired."

Wave the white flag: To surrender when you realise you cannot win. "She waved a white flag to prevent further arguments"

July 2026

If you've read this far, thank you. I've been writing this newsletter for a year and am grateful that you're here for the journey!

Meg

P.S I will be launching a new type of coaching very soon.... get a sneak peak here!

Fully certified Business English coach

“Megan is an excellent teacher! Our classes are so dynamic that the 50 minutes pass too quickly. Having lived in different countries and loving to travel gives her knowledge of other cultures and languages which enriches our conversations.”
​Joao, Brazil