What a wild few months

Leaving one country where you have been teaching and preparing to go to another is chaotic and emotional. Things that need to be done before you leave a country:

  • Banking and last pay
  • Police clearance which needs translated to wherever you are going then notarized and legalized
  • Work visa cancelled and one month visa given instead
  • Shipping some of your things before you go
  • Spending or selling much of your cash from the local bank to travel with less
  • Many dinners and brunches to celebrate all the friendships. The most fun and heartbreaking part.
  • Making sure that people coming to fill your role have everything they need to take over (that includes the department head position i had as well as the sunshine committee, etc)
  • Meetings with the next school with email and online resources and tools

I should have been posting all along but I was very busy to pack and decide what goes and what i give away among other things. So this post will be more of a dump of photos with some explanation of the people here. Unfortunately I don’t have all of the pictures as sometimes we forgot to take them!

I’ve had a fair amount of tears. You make some great friendships when you are abroad and lean on each other often. It is difficult to say goodbye but we really like to say “see you down the road.”

Heidi and Elaine have been here for so much in our lives They are great friends! We had some amazing times and were very close mahjong buddies.
Claire on the far right was another travel buddy during the COVID times.
Kathy my wine drinking buddy who was always there to lend an ear and have some fun.
Melanie and I out for brunch.
And another brunch.
And at the top of the Canton Tower. We even did the death drop ride. So funny. When she screamed before they ever dropped us, the crowd
thought it was hysterical!
Bubble cars near the top of the Canton tower.
Such an amazing view of the city.
Some of the best of my dragonboat buddies. I would spend usually four hours a weekend paddling with them. So funny, kind, and thoughtful. I will miss all of them but especially these three.
More of some of the best people to paddle with.
Receiving flowers from my cross country team at the end of the year athletic ceremony.
I met Lily the first year in Guangzhou. She likes to meet foreigners in a variety of places and have brought together some really fun people.
I have amazing colleagues and school events
are still great get togethers!
The Macarena at the prom.
At the end of the year party i took a photo with all the people who are still left from our cohort.
At a tour of the new gym facilities that will be opening next year at the school. It will be an amazing addition and will miss Tamara and Joanna.

Of course I’m going to miss quite a few people namely my department and Anne who will be taking over as department head and breaking in a whole new group of teachers. She is amazing and of course I didn’t get pictures of the last afternoon together!

The last bus ride to school. This crew always is the first to arrive to await the bus. Always a great
to start the day!
I received some great gifts.
Vincent gave me a Chinese calligraphy saying that he painted: To leap with enthusiasm.
I was fortunate to see some former students come back and visit for graduation.
I will miss Bodie. He belongs to Dee Baker and often was in the school shop. What a support dog!
Darcie!
Zach and Alexis. I was fortunate to be around amazing educators.
I’m going to miss my kitties. BaoBao…
…and TsoTso. They have been in a good home for months and look pretty happy.
Last day, students did not want to go to the buses. They really love school.
We all line up to wave goodbye….
… And then we eat and have some drinks.
Only a little of them more i received.
I will miss this pool also. It was great therapy for my knee and such a beautiful view

4 thoughts on “What a wild few months”

  1. Remember it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later! And you will meet up with many of those folks again. I have been back from teaching overseas for 28 years and am still connected to so many friends – mostly due to social media but we get together f2f as well! They will be the only people you can share your stories with!

  2. Thanks for sharing your experience. We look forward to following the next chapter. The picture from your pool is gorgeous. It looks like you had some very nice weather as well. Good luck on the next venture. I hope your time in the states, this summer is a wonderful opportunity for you to revisit your kids and friends you haven’t had a chance to spend time with. See you soon

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