Anna Callen

Director and Administrator

Anna Callen is one of the directors of Go Beyond and oversees the administrative side of the holidays. She has lived in France for over 15 years and has worked in a variety of roles including teaching and administration. She currently works as a translator as well as doing administrative work for Go Beyond. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, baking, sewing and listening to music.

Anna worked at The Olive Tree International School teaching French and Spanish to children with challenging behaviour. In Bristol, England, Anna spent half of her working week working as Personnel Administrator for The Priory Hospital and the other half as a Translations Coordinator for the charity Tearfund.

She lives with her husband, Ian, and three children, Joseph, Jasmine and Poppy, in the Provençal town of Riez.

 

A Few Questions to Anna Callen

What motivates and inspires you?

I find inspiration in the simple things, for example, an amazing landscape will make me marvel at the world’s natural beauty and make me want to go out walking and study the wildlife; a piece of music combined with meaningful lyrics will provoke me to reflect on issues from a new angle as can a beautifully written passage in a book.

I am also inspired by some of the guests who come on our holidays, by their determination to achieve in areas or activities that they find difficult and, most of all, by their positivity. I am motivated by activities that lead me and those around me to feel they have achieved something important to them.

My sense of justice to see that people are treated fairly and have access to best opportunities is also a source of motivation for me.

A short video from Anna Callen

Anna Callen

What are your strengths?

I’m reliable, helpful and work well in a team.

What about your weaknesses, where do you need support?

Sometimes I am not very confident in my own abilities. I can be indecisive.

What is the highlight of working for Go Beyond Holidays?

Seeing an idea for a new holiday blossom into life. Hearing all the stories and testimonies of the fun and fulfilling times had by everyone who has come on the holidays, including staff – that’s the cherry on the cake!

Do you have any personal ambitions?

To spend more time creating objects that are either pleasing to the eye or useful, or better still, both!

Finally, if you were set adrift on a desert island which three albums, three films, three books and one luxury would you take?

Albums: Slow Dive – Slow Dive, LCD Sound System – American Dream, Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit.
Books: The Great Gatsby by E. Scott Fitzgerald, The Complete Collection of Inspector Morse by Colin Dexter, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.
Films: Donnie Darko, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Inception.
Luxury item: A radio so that I can listen to music, culture programmes and comedies.

Meet the rest of the team…