Preface

In 2002, I took a job as Head of School for the New School of Collaborative Learning International School in Beijing, China.  It was a three-year contract that could be extended indefinitely.  I retired from the Greeley Public Schools.  My husband quit his job.  We arranged for one daughter to live in our condo.  Another daughter took our dog.  We set up automatic bill pays.  We packed up.  We moved.  We spoke three words of Chinese – ni hao, xe-xe,  and wo yao (hello, thank you, I want).  We knew Gengis Khan, Mao, and fortune cookies. We walked into a period of confusion, anxiety, fear, missteps, learning, accepting, engaging, and hard-earned accomplishments.  We made some fine new friends, both American and Chinese, we learned the basics of a new language and culture. And we affirmed that there is no place like home, no matter how intriguing the place you are living!

I was fortunate to have or to hire some excellent teaching staff.  Some had been at the school for several years, some were new transplants.  They were a part of the international school community of educators, an adventurous group who taught for a while in one country and then moved on to the next.  During my tenure, three of them moved on.  I wrote them a light-hearted going-away poem to celebrate their time with us.  I realized much later, the poem was a reflection of my husband and my experiences in China.  It was an expression of the many challenges we faced during our stay.

Fare Well

You set out on a different path.  You came to China; learned new math.                                                                  You brought us knowledge – precious jewel,  And joined the team at our New School.                                                    The students said, “You’re really cool!”

You walked the river’s length and more.  You took the bus to every store.                                                           Faced frightening times with calm and poise;  Shared students’ triumphs, pain, and joys;                                                 Unveiled new worlds for girls and boys.

You trekked ‘cross country, kids in tow.  You taught the students; watched them grow;                                     Brought wit and wisdom, wrote and drew; Put on the colors gold and blue;                                                                        Listened, graded, counseled, too.

And now you leave for far away;  Kuwait, Eugene, or old Bombay.                                                                            To you, the best we all relay;  Good thoughts to speed you on your way,                                                                             And hopes to meet another day.