I'd never felt such a mixture of emotions before.

Was it possible to feel extreme sadness and euphoria at the same time?

This is how I felt when I left the community centre where I was teaching Kosovan refugees to speak English.

I remember walking into the room, shaking with nerves as this was the first time I had ever taught English as a second language. I'd been volunteering at the local college, helping adults with their reading and writing, when asked if I wanted to help the refugees.

My hands must have been trembling when I first shook hands with Emin. How was I going to cope? I couldn't speak Kosovan and what could I do to help people who had been through the atrocities they had? What did he think of me?

I felt terribly inadequate.

I remember going home the first night and watching the horrors of the war on television. The images of mass graves. Recalling the words that Emin used when he said he had lost his home and his life. I couldn't stop the emotions flowing.
I cried all night.

As the days passed, I soon learnt to communicate with Emin, using body language, rushing up to the flowers in a vase and saying bouquet, then rushing to a bucket to show the difference in pronunciations.

I used props to explain meanings of words - one day wearing a long skirt - and saying my 'skirt is long' - then hitching it up and saying 'my skirt is short' - this soon put a smile on his face and the sparkle back in his eyes.

It wasn't long before my hands stopped trembling and seeing Emin's smile would brighten my day.

I'll never forget the happiness I felt when Emin told me with a cheeky grin "You will make a very good teacher."

The day that we were told that our job was done and the refugees were leaving, I felt a sense of loss. I said my goodbyes to Emin and his family and to this day, will never forget his inspiring words "You will make a good teacher"

I now teach adults to improve their reading and their writing and I love every minute of it.
I hope that Emin's words have come true.