After the meeting, we were invited out to the “Fish Market” for a going away dinner primarily with local hire staff. Over the past three years, we have taught with many foreign hire staff as turnover has been somewhat high and it is local hire staff that has been our constant. Again it was another evening of great food (the mezes are the best in Alex), great company and wonderful memories of the past three years. It is very hard for us to describe or explain the impact this experience has had on us personally as well as professionally. The staff opens their hearts to us and truly make this wonderful country just like home for us. It is said that one is not the same after having seen the sunset on the other side of the world. The highest compliment that we have received is that we have become Egyptian – and those of you who have visited this wonderful country know how special that is.
Wednesday I taught my final class at school. Actually it is semester finals week and my last class is a service class in which I have one student, a young lady (Alaa) whom I have had for the past three years. To say she is a special student would be an understatement. In all of my years of education, I don’t know if I have had anyone quite like her. Towards the end of class, Pat came over along with our good friend Denny. Alaa took over (as she has often done in class) and showed a video she had made for me. In education, you often do not know what impact you have made on a student’s life but on Wednesday she gave me that opportunity. Early on when she took my class three years ago, I was the teacher and she was the student but as time passed, there were many times when she became the teacher and I became the student as she shared her fascinating culture with me. Tonight Alaa graduated along with 12 other outstanding students. Graduation at Schutz is indeed a special event. Four students give speeches and all did a wonderful job focusing in on the teamwork and togetherness that characterized this class. Although small in number, they have certainly left a lasting impact on our school. They will be missed.
Graduation is special for other reasons as well. We were reunited with several staff who retired last year and came back to celebrate the class of 2009. All of these former staff members had worked at the school for several years and truly represent all that is good about the school. I think also because we are such a small school, graduation is perhaps a little more meaningful as you really get to know the students and their parents and they are very appreciative of all that teachers do.
