The downside of International teaching and international life? Friends Move On, We move on.
We said many good-byes at the ACS end-of-year luncheon. This is an annual event, complete with wine and beer liberally served in the Lower School gym by waiters bearing trays. Well, I needed it.
What caught me by surprise was the realization that 30 people were leaving. A few retiring, but most are heading out for new adventures, to new places in the world. I was asked to "say a few words for Lucy," my colleague. I didn't get the email until 2 hours before the lunch... and just figured I'd wing it. But with an hour to go, I knew that wasn't enough. I wrote my "words," one per sign: Energetic! - Leader - Friend - and British-American.
Arij, Susan and Sara helped me hold them up.
The Brit-American was last, and supposed to be the funny one... because I explained how I'd spent a good deal of the year mulling over the question of which nationality was really Lucy. She has dual citizenship, but grew up in Colorado as a kid. She seems much more American than British to me... for example:
She clearly speaks with an east coast American accent = American, right?
She pronounces words like yogurt as /yah-gurt/ and vitamins as /veet-a-meens/ = British. And she visits her grandparents in England... more British. I was still rooting for American, but then a new element came along.
Lucy has played with the Lebanese women's football (soccer) team for two years in Beirut, and was their team captain this year. She is the only non-Lebanese player, and dearly loved by coach and teammates. In fact, they begged her to marry a Lebanese friend so she could play in the Nationals... she declined.
My Lucy conclusion? She is not only American and not only British (some, I admit), she is also Lebanese.
Last night I spoke with Ingrid about difficult good-byes. Her response: "Carolyn, we lose great people and close friends every year, but you will discover in the Fall, that new people come in, and they fill the empty places. We welcome them in, we do it every year. But you keep in touch with those who have moved away, and surprisingly, you see them again. It is incredible. Think of it this way; now you have friends all over the world."
Rola shared a quote on email this morning, and it brought tears again, but this time happier ones.
We said many good-byes at the ACS end-of-year luncheon. This is an annual event, complete with wine and beer liberally served in the Lower School gym by waiters bearing trays. Well, I needed it.
What caught me by surprise was the realization that 30 people were leaving. A few retiring, but most are heading out for new adventures, to new places in the world. I was asked to "say a few words for Lucy," my colleague. I didn't get the email until 2 hours before the lunch... and just figured I'd wing it. But with an hour to go, I knew that wasn't enough. I wrote my "words," one per sign: Energetic! - Leader - Friend - and British-American.
Arij, Susan and Sara helped me hold them up.
The Brit-American was last, and supposed to be the funny one... because I explained how I'd spent a good deal of the year mulling over the question of which nationality was really Lucy. She has dual citizenship, but grew up in Colorado as a kid. She seems much more American than British to me... for example:
She clearly speaks with an east coast American accent = American, right?
She pronounces words like yogurt as /yah-gurt/ and vitamins as /veet-a-meens/ = British. And she visits her grandparents in England... more British. I was still rooting for American, but then a new element came along.
Lucy has played with the Lebanese women's football (soccer) team for two years in Beirut, and was their team captain this year. She is the only non-Lebanese player, and dearly loved by coach and teammates. In fact, they begged her to marry a Lebanese friend so she could play in the Nationals... she declined.
My Lucy conclusion? She is not only American and not only British (some, I admit), she is also Lebanese.
Last night I spoke with Ingrid about difficult good-byes. Her response: "Carolyn, we lose great people and close friends every year, but you will discover in the Fall, that new people come in, and they fill the empty places. We welcome them in, we do it every year. But you keep in touch with those who have moved away, and surprisingly, you see them again. It is incredible. Think of it this way; now you have friends all over the world."
Rola shared a quote on email this morning, and it brought tears again, but this time happier ones.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
Dr. Seuss.
Looking forward to the HELLO'S back home; one week to go.
Dr. Seuss.
Looking forward to the HELLO'S back home; one week to go.
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