Au Revoir

Dear OIS:

Au revoir in French means "until we meet again or until we see each other again." So I'm not saying goodbye but "au revoir."

I wanted to thank everyone in the community for your support of our school and programme. You are the most engaged families and community I've ever worked with across 6 schools in Asia and the US. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I have moved back to the US early due to everything happening with Covid19 but had planned on moving back at the end of this year. Saying goodbye virtually is not what anyone planned, and I have to say it's the hardest part of this time. No hugs. No face-to-face explanations.

I want you to know that I appreciate you. I appreciate the parents who worked so diligently alongside me for the IB authorisation process. I appreciate the parents who took time to learn in the parent workshops and book clubs offered. I appreciate the discussions we've had and the queries about curriculum and teaching philosophy. I appreciate your passion for education, your belief in your children and in us. I appreciate the way you embrace celebrations and jumped in to help at our school. I appreciate that you wanted more and that you weren't afraid to ask for it.

I will be teaching next year in the US, grade 5, at an IB world school in Chicago, Illinois. I'm looking forward to getting back into teaching and practicing what I preach. :) My husband will be teaching MYP at the same school, and my daughter will be at a university in the same region (although still 5-6 hours away). We wanted to be back in the US to be closer to my daughter and our extended families.

We will miss everything about living in different countries and opening our eyes to new ideas, new food, new cultures, new people. I think experiencing the world has made us more accepting of differences, open to change and kinder toward everyone. My hope that everyone will continue to be able to have that experience--to get a global perspective and to grow from it.

I thank you. I thank India for allowing me to take in such a vibrant culture. I thank OIS for giving me the opportunity to work in a dynamic, innovative environment, and I thank you and your children for being the sunshine every morning and what I will miss the most.

Until we meet again. 
~Ms. Kristen