In just a few weeks, I'll be waking up in Holland. That's right; lightning struck twice. If you know me, then you know that two years ago next April I travelled to Cambodia to work at the International School of Phnom Penh. My experiences were detailed in the blog: www.twomonthsfromhome.blogspot.com. That opportunity came my way because of my good friend, Jim Canavan, who was the principal of the upper school.
Last spring Jim and his wife, Eveline moved their family to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, her home country. Jim is an administrator in the upper school of the International School of Amsterdam. Apparently one of the teachers in the lower school resigned mid-year, and the principal began the arduous task of finding the right replacement, which is no small thing. Finding the right person is hard. Finding the right person who can begin in January is nearly impossible. Long story short goes like this: the principal asks her administrative counterparts if they might know of someone who can fill the position until the end of the school year, and Jim told her my story.
When I retired after thirty years in public education, I did not imagine that in the first six years I would stay engaged in the profession to the extent I have. Even if I could have, there is no possible way I would have imagined the scenario that would lead to this. In 1976 I was hired by the Baltimore County Public Schools to teach fifth graders. Thirty-six years later I have been hired by the ISA to do the same.
My experiences in Cambodia were among the most interesting, the most exciting, the most challenging in my life. I described those experiences and my life at that time in the journal Two Months From Home. I anticipate that the next six months will be described the same way: the most interesting, exciting, and challenging ever. Like I did two years ago, I will chronicle my experiences in this blog.
The contract has been signed. The travel arrangements are final. Although there is plenty of anxiety and I anticipate I will face a number of things I haven't yet considered; I do know this much: in the first week of 2012, I'll be waking up in Holland.
Granddad and Anna
