DragonTales Winter 2007

The Alumni Magazine of HKIS

HKIS’s 40th Anniversary Reunion Brings Nostalgia Home

Also in this issue:

Bob Christian remembers...

Alumni Profile: Bert De Guzman ’86 Remembering Hong Kong the fate of the Star Ferry

Vol. 9 • Winter 2007

Registration • All Day • HS Entrance Please present photo ID to enter

Campus Tours • 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. • Registration Desk Sign up at the registration desk to gape in awe at the fantastic new music rooms and science labs. Follow a student ambassador or take a self-tour with maps provided at the registration desk.

Homecoming 2008 January 8, 2008 Check out the Homecoming Blog at http://dnet.hkis.edu.hk/alumni

Barbecue Lunch

12:20 p.m. – 2 p.m. • HS Cafeteria Collect your free lunch ticket at registration.

Meet Your Teachers

3:20 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. • HS Plaza

Featuring Marty Schmidt, Janet Taylor, Wil Chan, Zella Talbot, Jerry Markin, Doug Baker, George Coombs, Christina Manville, Pauline Bunce, Mike Goymerac, Linda Anderson, Bill Stork, Sue Harvey, Rosann Kao, Mike Baker, Greg Ladner, Daniel Ma, Jeff Steuernagel, Vienna Chung, Tash McCarroll, Bill Leese, Ken Fowler, Justin Hardman ’99, Shi Jing Wang, JJ Leese, Amy Vlastelica ’02, Chris Buxton, Dee Mulligan, Annette Fang, Patrick Diehl, Bill Jordan, Eric MacDonald, Bob Hewitt, Christina Vanover, Susie Heinrich-Jabal, Loretta Kang, Katharine Manuel Janie Grant, Norbyah Nolasco, Lauren Fine, Ken Rohrs, Anne Street Allan, Peter Dratz, Terry Quinn, Jeanne Anne Quinn and many more…

Your teachers will be thrilled to hear your stories of life after HKIS.

Alumni vs. Faculty Basketball • 4:30 p.m. • HS Gym The challenge against faculty remains formidable. Sign up on the Homecoming blog at http://dnet.hkis.edu.hk/alumni/

Homecoming Happy Hour • 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. • Insomnia Insomnia, G/F Ho Lee Commercial Building, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong.

Free appetizers for all. Cash bar. Stop by this laid back balcony bar in Lan Kwai Fong and mingle with alumni from the past 40 years. If you’d like to purchase a copy of the history book, come on over.

Alumni Dinner • 8 p.m. • The Annexe RSVP by email to: alumni@hkis.edu.hk Please be reminded that you will need a valid photo ID to enter the school premises.

The Annexe, 4/F California Entertainment Building, 34-36 D’Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong.

There’s lots of great food, drinks, and catching up to do here. Don’t miss this one!

HK$ 300, includes dinner and one drink. Please pre-register.

Wyndham Street Crawl Yes, the action has moved north of LKF!

DragonTales is published twice a year by the Office of Institutional Advancement of Hong Kong International School.

Vo lume 9 • W IN T er 20 07

Mark L. Sheldon Director Sylvia Evans Deputy Director

4 6

DragonTales Editors Reena Khubchandani James Manning

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Vice-President Rohini Balani Chotirmal ’89 Treasurer Sam Devnani ’90 Members Lincoln Chan ’88 Robert Dorfman ’72 Justin Hardman ’99 Ken Rohrs (faculty) Chantal Teodorovich ’92 Joyce Yin ’89 E-Board Members David Christian ’69 David Kohl (former faculty)

Designed and printed by Impressions Design & Print Ltd

Alumni PROFILE Bert De-Guzman ’86 and Derek Kwik ’86 – Seeing is Believing

16 Alumni Board President Kenneth Koo ’79

Alumni News Class of 2003 reunites in New York City 40th Reunion Del Harnish meets the ‘70s gang Alumni and new faculty storm in at Stormies

Loretta Fung Development Coordinator Anna Gomes Administrative Assistant

Message/ANNOUNCEMENT Richard W. Mueller, Head of School Mark Sheldon, Director, Office of Institutional Advancement

Karen Li Public Relations Manager James Manning Communications & Publications Manager

CONTENTS

CAMPUS News High School Hosts Service Summit 2007-08 College and Career Night

19

FACULTY NOTES

21

FEATURES Larry and Carol Eichert Rediscovering Hong Kong A Conversation with Bob Christian

32

FACULTY PROFILE Pat Klekamp

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CLASS NOTES

Message from the Head of School

Dear Alumni,

I

n June this year we had the pleasure of welcoming back 150 alums and their families for the 40th Reunion. Some re-

Returning alums remember the past, while glimpsing the future turning alums had not visited Hong Kong for many years and were surprised by the pace of progress and change, both within the city itself and our school and campuses.

Some remembered HKIS as having just one school building with 650 students in Repulse Bay. Though they had followed with interest our expansion through the years to four divisions on two campuses, they were pleasantly surprised by the scope of development and modern facilities. Many of them commented on the positive energy of our students, teachers and staff. This energy has always been a unique and important part of the HKIS spirit. It is as much a part of our school as our unique mission of educating the next generation of globallyminded, compassionate leaders. Our 40th Anniversary year impressed on me how we have grown yet still preserved the best of what makes HKIS so special.

The new school year in August opened with 2,640 students, representing some forty different countries. We had more class space for returning students as Phase I of our Master Facilities Plan (MFP) was completed over the summer months. The additional space provided room for expanded music programs, science labs and language classrooms. This also allowed the Head of School Office and other offices to

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relocate to the recently completed 6th floor extension of the Middle School.

The view from my new office on the 6th floor overlooks Tai Tam Harbor. From my desk today I can see the blue sky and turquoise sea framing the green mountain range known as the Dragon’s Back, a truly spectacular view that we enjoyed with returning alumni during a Friday evening gathering at the Middle School.

Returning alums also toured both of our campuses and saw all the latest additions.

In the High School, they explored the new structures and additional floor space that have been added to address shortfalls in science, music, art and drama teaching space. We also briefed them on plans for future MFP projects, including a new Middle School building, a Center for Science and Technology, a Center for the Arts, and new construction at both Lower and Upper Primary divisions.

We are mindful that those returning for the reunion represent just a small fraction of alums all over the world. Our alumni are an integral part of both the heritage and the future of our school, and we want to maintain and strengthen our links with you. If you have new ideas on how we can improve contacts or ideas for new events and programs, please contact our Alumni Office at email alumni@hkis.edu.hk. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Richard W. Mueller Head of School

Announcement

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n November 1, Mark L. Sheldon joined HKIS as Director, Office of Institutional Advancement. Mark is a long-time Hong Kong resident and joins HKIS with a wealth of fundraising and

Mark Sheldon

is Appointed Director, Office of Institutional Advancement institutional advancement experience. He was most recently affiliated with the Hong Kong-America Center at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Before this he was a Director of the Yale-China Association’s Hong Kong office, based at New Asia College, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

and a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. He is active in exchange and professional organizations in the fields of philanthropy, Asian and Chinese studies, and international education.

Mark has a son, Garth Sheldon-Coulson, a 2007 graduate of Swarthmore College with honors, now a research fellow at the Stanford University Law School. Garth was a student at HKIS from 1993-2000.

During this period, Mark was an active participant and parent in several aspects of the school’s life and development, including being a member of the Institutional Advancement Committee of the Board of Managers.

Mark is excited about being part of the HKIS community and welcomes Alums contacting him. His email is msheldon@ hkis.edu.hk. His direct line is (+852) 31497212. n

Until recently Mark was an Honorary Lecturer in the International Asian Studies Program of The Chinese University. His areas of particular interest include philanthropy in Chinese societies, Chinese and Hong Kong politics, China’s regional foreign relations and comparative education. Mark is highly qualified with a BA in Political Science and an MA in Political Science and Chinese Studies.

In Hong Kong, he has served for many years on numerous educational and community bodies, including the Trustees and Assembly of Fellows of New Asia College, and Board Committees and community programs of the Hong Kong International School. From 2000-04, he was President of the National Alumni Association of his alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University,

Mark and his son Garth Sheldon-Coulson

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Alumni News

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ome of us had not seen each other since graduation day four years ago.

For others, casualties of the come-andgo of expatriate life, had made it 10-12 years. Nonetheless, whatever the distance traveled since our last encounter – in time or space – the Class of 2003 reunion in New York City proved that some things don’t change. The camaraderie and shared memories that can be forged only in Hong Kong were proudly on display. Friendships, it is fair to say, were reborn, and we left with new memories that will likewise last a lifetime.

Reliving the good ole’ days of basketball in the Middle School amphitheater.

Back row (left to right): Garth Sheldon-Coulson, Jason Strasser, Mark McDougall, Tyler Hosford, Joseph Yasso, Nathaniel Root, Dave Erickson, David Brown, and Gary Fisher.

Front row: Joshua Coyle and Yoony Park. (Photo credit: Mark McDougall)

Dimsum, dinner and a night on the town unite the

Class of 2003 in New York City Back story: There had been an HKIS reunion planned for June in Hong Kong, and a number of my class had been thinking of attending, including me. Upon talking with friends, however, we soon discovered that a trip to Hong Kong was cost-prohibitive for most. Alexis Drutchas, an alumna who had left HKIS in middle school (I believe), had the idea of a States-side reunion. Somehow it fell to me to organize it.

All of this communication – indeed, every bit of communication that took place in organizing the event – happened over Facebook.

The Planning Committee included Garth Sheldon-Coulson, Katie Dratz, Alexis Drutchas, Candace Ho, David Lane, Alexandra Liveris, Yoony Park, Erica Schlaikjer and Jason Strasser.

We conducted a vote and late-August was revealed as the best time for most. New York seemed ideal as a location, both for its centrality and its amenities and nightlife. Many of our class currently live there, so it was possible to arrange room and board for everyone who didn’t have other arrangements. People descended from across the country and the world. Many came from as far away as California, and one, Jena Ward, came from New Zealand!

In total, some 45 members of the Class of

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By Garth Sheldon-Coulson

What better way to remember Hong Kong than har gau and Tsingtao?

Left to right: Helen Ho, YaChin Chang, Kathlyn Elliott, Stephen Grove, Chad Meyer, and Katie Dratz (Photo credit: Erica Schlaikjer)

Left to right: Helen Ho, Derek Bao, YaChin Chang, Joshua Coyle, and Candace Ho (Photo credit: Erica Schlaikjer)

Left to right: Joshua Coyle, Mark McDougall, and Joe Yasso

Left to right: Mallika Mathai, David Brown, Alexis Liveris, Tina Assi, and Stefanie Wong

(Photo credit: Mark McDougall)

(Photo credit: Erica Schlaikjer)

2003 attended over the three-day period.

The schedule began with a dim sum lunch, homage to our roots. Games of basketball and soccer ensued, bringing back dear memories of lunch-time competition in the Middle School amphitheater, Saturday leagues, and countless after-school hours practicing for A, B, and C grade teams. A formal dinner reminded us that yes, we were adults now. And (because what reunion would be complete otherwise?) we were sure to schedule time for a wild night on the town.

Not quite the MTR, but close enough.

Left to right: Mark McDougall, Tyler Hosford, Joe Yasso, Yoony Park, Kyle Jenke, and Gary Fisher (Photo credit: Erica Schlaikjer)

I would like to send my personal thanks to everyone who attended. For me, seeing my classmates was particularly sweet. Though I left HKIS after ninth grade, HKIS and the Jason Strasser and YaChin Chang (Photo credit: Erica Schlaikjer)

Left to right: Garth Sheldon-Coulson, Jena Ward, Michelle Hur, and Yoony Park (Photo credit: Jena Ward)

people who shaped me occupy an incommensurable place in my life-story. In fact, the reunion may have been all the sweeter for those of us who were wrenched from the community by forces beyond our control. After all, Hong Kongers are special and HKISers even more special. In some small sense, to be among HKISers again is more than merely to come home. It is to be understood. n

We’re only a click away!

Check out the new and improved Alumni website at http://dnet.hkis.edu. hk/alumni/ Featuring…state-of-theart design, interactive features, blogs, class pages and much more…Use the Online Directory to search for classmates, mentors for college information, career information, events, reunions, homecomings and news about HKIS.

Front, left to right: Jena Ward, Candace Ho, Erica Schlaikjer, Emily Theil, and Helen Ho. Back: Thomas Barnes (Photo credit: Erica Schlaikjer)

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Alumni News

Friendships renewed at the 40th Reunion

By Sylvia Evans

T

he year-long 40th anniversary celebration ended with the biggest reunion ever in the history of HKIS – the 40th Reunion.

Almost 300 people gathered in Hong Kong from June 14 – 19, 2007 to celebrate and reminisce all the wonderful things that make HKIS a special place. Student alumni, former and current faculty, staff and administrators, and families participated in various events that the Alumni Board and school had coordinated.

The reunion started with Welcome Cocktails at Rive Restaurant (Park Lane Hotel) on the evening of June 14. Everyone had a great time meeting old friends and laughing at the yearbook photos that were placed on each name tag. During this event, Dottie Mache was presented with a 40th anniversary medallion recognizing her and her husband’s (Joseph Mache) vision to found an American school in Hong Kong – HKIS. Friday’s Back-to-School event started on the Repulse Bay campus, the more familiar campus to most of the reunion attendees. The group was entertained with a lion dance on the Upper Primary playground before touring the campus and having lunch in the cafeteria. An afternoon cocktail reception at the Tai Tam campus gave reunion attendees the opportunity to mingle with current faculty and staff. In the evening, the graduation ceremony was held for the senior class of 2007. Bob Christian gave a warm and insightful graduation speech and personally welcomed the 200

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graduating students to the alumni family. Bob was also presented with a 40th anniversary medallion during the ceremony.

The Saturday Night Bash was the signature event for the reunion.

Held at the renowned Hong Kong Country Club in Deepwater Bay, it was an evening of music, dancing, food and friendships. During this event, three medallions were presented: David Kohl (High School art teacher 1973-80) for his design of the HKIS logo, Doris Rittmann for her and her husband’s leadership at HKIS (David Rittmann was the school’s longest serving headmaster from 197796), and Ken Koo ’79 for his leadership and vision for the Alumni Association.

Other reunion events included the Thanksgiving Service at the Church of All Nations followed by a faculty lunch at the American Restaurant in Wan Chai and an Old China Hands session, which was a time for people to share their personal HKIS and Hong Kong experiences in a group setting. Sadly the reunion came to an end on June 19 with dinner at the famous Jumbo restaurant in Aberdeen. Jim Handrich gave heartfelt remarks as he remembered his 24 years at HKIS on the eve of his retirement. The reunion ended with renewed friendships, rejuvenated energy for HKIS, and new memories to last us until our next big reunion – our 50th anniversary! n

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Alumni News

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Del Harnish meets the ’70s gang O

n October 11, 2007 President of the Alumni Association Kenneth Koo ’79 planned a reunion with visiting former faculty member Del Harnish. Del was at HKIS from 1971 to 1975 and served as Chair of the High School Science Department from 1972 until 1975. Del and his former students dined at the Summer Palace Restaurant in the Island Shangrila. Present at dinner were Mark Kwok ’74, Mike McCoy ’75, Tara Whitehill ’75, Mark Wallis ’76, Sandra Koo ’78, Brent Smith ’78 and Ken Koo ’79.

Del is living in Lincoln, Nebraska now.

Ken’s words bring the dinner alive when he says, “…It’s a great feeling being the youngest alum for a change! We shared a lot of

’70s’ memories of HKIS. What made our school so special during those formative years, the joys, the sorrows, the inspiration…We talked about how we are truly still walking a lifelong HKIS path decades after we’ve all left school. Views of HK past and present were exchanged. Our experi-

encing the ’67 riots, Typhoon Rose, the Kotewall Road landslide, JV basketball and Southorn Playground “atrocities”!

So many memories trawled up…The visit of my sister Sandra and her husband Brent was a surprise.

Del has not seen any of us since he left in ’75! So suffice to say it was an emotional, joyful and very meaningful evening for all!”. n

Alumni and new faculty storm in at Stormies O

ver 40 alumni and faculty welcomed new faculty members to HKIS as they arrived this fall. The Welcome to Faculty Happy Hour on September 20, 2007 was at the Crow’s Nest in Stormies, Lan Kwai Fong. A host of young alumni from 2000 surprised us when Henru Wong, Susanna Wong, Fai Yeung Lai, Michael Au and Trisha Yeh joined. Administrators included High school Principal Pat Klekamp, Head of School Richard Mueller, his wife Claire Mueller, Associate High School Principal Greg Ladner, Athletic Director Scott Johnson and a host of new faculty. The Alumni Board was well represented and had a few good laughs with the crowd – with Joyce Yin ’89, Lincoln Chan ’88, Justin Hardman ’91, Chantal Teodorovich ‘92, Sam Devnani ’90, Rob Dorfman ’72 and Kenneth Koo ’79. n

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Alumni News

Announcement

20 Year Reunion for Classes of ’88 and ’89 It’s time to celebrate the 20 years since we left HKIS, and the memories of those wonderful high school days!

Our reunion will take place in San Francisco over the weekend of August 8, 2008. Plans include: Friday, August 8:

Welcoming Happy Hour

August 9 - 10, 2008 San Francisco www.hkis8889.com

HOTEL ROOMS! A block of rooms is being held for our group at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, for US$149/night (queen bed) or US$159/night (2 doubles) (40% off usual price). Please call the hotel’s reservation line at 800-227-5480, and book your room by May 1, 2008. Please reference the “Hong Kong International School Class Reunion Rate”.

Sunday, August 10: Dim Sum Lunch

“LOOK BOOK” We will be putting together a Class Look Book for everyone to send in details since they left HKIS. We will email the form, then please send it to be compiled (include any pictures) for the book, which will be handed out at the Reunion Party.

Location: San Francisco – Sir Francis Drake Hotel

450 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 US

415-392-7755 www.sirfrancisdrake.com

WE NEED PICTURES! We need your help to put together an awesome slide show. Please send pictures from high school and your life since then to the following:

Saturday, August 9: Family Picnic at Golden Gate Park at Noon

The Reunion Party at 7pm (Dinner/Dance)

BOOK NOW! Cost for the Reunion Party on Saturday night is US$130/each – this includes two hours of open bar, DJ/band and a buffet dinner, as well as slide show and various keepsakes/class directories. Please send your checks (payable to Pauline Lewis) by JANUARY 31, 2008 to Pauline at 327 Helmuth Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22304

Class of 88: hkis88@gmail.com Class of 89: hkis89@gmail.com Please email Angela STICH Easterwood (angeast@msn.com) if you know of any person whose name we need to add to our contact list.

WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO AN AWESOME REUNION WEEKEND!

Class of ’89, 24 years ago!

Help us fill in the blank names.

Respond to alumni@hkis.edu.hk

Photo courtesy: Christine Cheng ’89

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We Want Dear Alumni,

You!

HKIS is on a quest to find our many lost alumni. We have over 3,000 alumni who have moved without providing us with their contact details or email addresses.

We urge you to help us by taking a quick look at the list of LOST alumni from your class on the alumni website http://dnet.hkis.edu.hk/alumni/. If you see names of classmates with whom you are in touch, please send us their email addresses or let them know that they are on the lost list.

We will contact them and ask if they would like to be ‘found’ and reunited with HKIS. The Alumni Office is very respectful of the privacy of alumni. We are also proactive in updating our database so we can be in touch with you and keep you in touch with each other.

Please help your Alumni Office!

HKIS wishes all alumni, alumni-faculty and friends

a Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season!

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Alumni Profile

Bert De-Guzman ’86 and Derek Kwik ’86 – Seeing is Believing Alumni raise funds in an ultra-marathon crossing the remote rainforest of Brazil’s Amazon jungle.

By Bert De-Guzman

I successfully completed the 200km race, which was in reality closer to 250km according to the GPS devices of several competitors.

ground for stability. Sliding on my rear would have shredded me to bits from the thorns, branches, spikes, etc. Forget about any MP3, you need all your senses. I had to concentrate on every step for holes or spikes or sharp thorns or bees or ants.

Every racer fell and slipped multiple times, getting ankles snagged or stepping awkwardly and stumbling, or jamming toes against stumps (good shoes help but after the 20th time, bruises will form).

It’s hard to convey how tiring it is to move quickly in the jungle. I can comfortably cover a 12-mile route on normal ground in about 90 minutes. In the jungle, it took me over 6 hours. The fastest guy took close to 3 hours to cover that same distance, and he does it for a living. The climbs are so steep that I was often using my hands. In many places I had to use my knife to stab the dirt and haul myself up. The descents were just as steep so I had to go down backwards, again using my hands on the

Often I was moving sideways but again on slopes so the inner ankle of one leg and the outer ankle of the other leg was constantly stressed. I was climbing over or under obstacles, getting lost and having to retrace steps. With only 45 racers, we each ended up alone on much of the route. Another unforeseen challenge – lack of sleep. I averaged only 1 to 3 hours sleep per night.

I didn’t realize how noisy a jungle is and how uncomfortable a hammock is. There were also multiple creek crossings, river

T

hanks for your generous support and emails of encouragement, which helped tremendously. I owe you guys an update so here goes…

Water-crossing

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crossings and swamp crossings. In many swamps, I was thigh deep in muck and worried that my shoe might not be on my foot each time I pulled out.

During the survival tips session prior to the start, we were shown an innocent looking blade of grass which was used to slice a piece of meat clean in half. We had to cross sections of this type of grass, as well as pass over vines with inch-long thorns. Everyone sustained painful cuts and scrapes all over their ankles and back lower legs. We had heavy rains on 2 nights and for 8 hours during the long 87km route, which turned many of the hills into mud slides. I picked up ant bites, bee stings, hornet stings every day. The high humidity, rain, creeks, rivers and swamps guaranteed that I was always damp. My feet got badly blistered and from day 3 onwards, I was on a regular diet of pain killers to keep the swelling and pain in check. I also became an expert at taping my feet to further neutralize the blisters.

“… from day 3 onwards, I was on a regular diet of pain killers to keep the swelling and pain in check. I also became an expert at taping my feet to further neutralize the blisters.”

Getting up each morning and having to put on damp clothes, and force painful feet into wet and muddy socks and shoes was getting very old by day 3.

On the plane back to the US, my feet swelled up like balloons and I had to walk through customs and transit areas in socks since my feet would no longer fit into my shoes.

I got pulled aside by US Homeland Security agents before reaching the passport counter…I guess if anyone fits the profile of a guy from Brazil who might overstay his visa, it was me in my loose pajama-type outfit, plastic bag for a carry-on, and shuffling in socks! Once they saw my passport and heard me speak, it was fine but then I was detained for 10 minutes because they wanted to hear about the race.

I lost a total of about 12 lbs, but have been busy gaining it back. Right after I crossed the finish line, there was a buffet spread, and I had 4 heaping plates of rice, beans, roast chicken and steaks, and guzzled 8 cans of coke. After living on beef jerky, instant noodles, animal crackers, peanuts and water for 7 days, I just couldn’t stop eating and drinking, and this craving continued for the next 5 days in New York.

I downed 3 to 4 extra-thick vanilla milk shakes per day, along with burgers, fries, pancakes, steaks, pizzas, whatever I felt like.

This race carried a higher-than-normal element of danger. Other adventure races take place in more open space like a desert, so rescuers can use binoculars to spot runners in trouble and reach that runner in a jeep or fast vehicle. In the jungle, you’re on your own. With only 45 runners, you

all space out so if you get into trouble, you lie there alone until a runner behind comes along. Might be 10 minutes or 35 minutes or longer. When that runner does pass, he can’t carry you so all he can do is continue to the next checkpoint and report it. It might take him a few hours to get to that checkpoint, and then take the soldiers another hour or so to find you (they know short-cuts but they still have to find you). Then they have to carry you out. In sum, it’s easily several hours from injury to treatment. Some racers did pass out on the trail, and it took a while before they were carried into a checkpoint for an IV drip.

Out of 45 racers, 21 failed to go the full distance. Among the adventure racing community, this race is considered to be one of the toughest. There were about 10 guys here who previously completed the more famous Marathon Des Sables (MDS), a 248km race through the Sahara which attracts some 700 racers every year. Every single one of them said on day 2 that this race was far more grueling.

Still a long way to go

Blister management

No matter how many charity blankets you wrap around it, these physical challenges always have a “ME” factor buried somewhere within. Anyone who does these races and denies it is lying. So yes, I took away a sense of satisfaction.

More importantly though, close to US$7,500 was raised for Seeing is Believing, thanks to you guys. While there were many times when I was starting to believe this was tough, it was at those moments when I would come across a village. Observing the level of poverty of these Amazonian villages and the struggles that these people have to endure as part of their daily routine, I got reminded of just how easy I have it. I was masquerading in hardship with my expensive technical gear, and in a few days would drop the costume and go home. For these folks, hardship was inescapable. Just like the people who are blind and in need of surgery to gain back their eye-sight and means to survive, they are the real tough guys and have my respect. n

Steps to the finish

At the finish

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Campus News

High School Hosts Service Summit 2007-08

By Reena Khubchandani

Alumni Service Seniors at College and Career Night O

n Thursday October 4 Lauren Fine (for the HKIS Guidance Counseling Team) and the Alumni Office hosted an Alumni College and Careers Fair in the High School cafeteria.

A stalwart at Mother’s Choice, Vivian Ip ‘94 takes questions from the audience

O

n Wednesday, September 19th approximately 150 HKIS high school students who are involved with service clubs, Humanities in Action, Service on Saturday Program, the Service Leadership training program, or simply Grade 12s looking for ideas for their Senior Projects, gathered together for the inaugural Service Summit.

David Begbie ’94 from Crossroads International, and an actively involved alumnus of HKIS gave a powerful keynote address to the students about how students can make a difference in today’s world.

Other alumni participants were Vivian Ip ’94 of Mother’s Choice and Michelle Hoeppner ’94 from Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation Alumni and community representatives from NGOs provided 45-minute work16 DragonTales

David Begbie ’94 delivering the keynote address

shops for the students. The purpose of the workshops were: To present information about the work of the NGO, including any personal stories that the representatives may have about their work; To help student service leaders brainstorm and develop strategies to raise awareness and funds for NGOs; and To provide a venue for students to connect with NGOs regarding future involvement with the organization and projects that the students can take on.

By all accounts the day was a big success.

Students had the chance to meet directly with community advocates to engage in dialogue about their own interests and dreams about contributing to social change in our community. n

For juniors and seniors this was a great opportunity to meet with alumni of a host of Universities and Colleges and ask questions about their college experience. For seniors, it helped with researching schools to make final decisions, while for other grades, this was an opportunity to get a head start on the college research process.

HKIS Alumni were very excited to share their different careers and professions with students and especially to share insights into their unique career paths. n

Victor Yeung ‘97 didn’t wear his doctor’s coat as directed, but did a great job representing the medical profession, Hong Kong University and Johns Hopkins University

Joanne Chow ‘99 represented a very popular Syracuse University and the field of public relations and marketing

Rick Johannessen ‘92 got off a long distance flight, dashed to Tai Tam and had one of the busiest tables of the night! He spoke with students as an Executive Search Consultant (headhunter) and advised them about American University

Victor Tsang ‘83 was all smiles as he spoke about the University of San Francisco and unravelled the mysteries of wealth management

Amy Vlastelica ’02 spoke about the noble profession of teaching while representing Boston College

Ben Stanley ’02 advised students about Lewis and Clark and advised students on careers as a headhunter

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Campus News

The Bob Christian Alumnus/ Alumna of the Year Award You are invited to nominate a member of the community for the Bob Christian Alumnus/ Alumna of the Year Award 2008.

We are pleased to announce the inauguration of

The Bob Christian Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award

Please send in your nominations and a brief explanation, before April 21, 2008 to:

The Award will be presented once during the academic school year, either at graduation as the Award recipient welcomes the new class of alumni, or another appropriate occasion. It will be presented to an HKIS alumnus or alumna whose contribution to the HKIS community and/or the larger Hong Kong community or the world exemplifies our Mission and/or one or more of our Student Learning Results (SLRs). u Academic Excellence u Spirituality u Character Development

HKIS Alumni Office alumni@hkis.edu.hk

u Self-motivated Learning u Contributing to Society u Chinese Culture

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Faculty Notes

Nancy Kronenberg and Jim Handrich stopped by the Alumni Office on November 23, 2007

Faculty Notes

J

im had been in Shanghai for the Master Cup Tennis Championship and stayed with former HKIS friends. His ticket to the championship was a retirement gift from HKIS. A week later, Jim arrived at HKIS for an unusual wine-tasting party. At the Celebration Ball in May, one of the auction items was a ‘wine-tasting with Jim Handrich’. Fierce bidding ensued after which the wine-tasting event went to the highest bidder for HK$100,000!

Jim attended the Holiday Basketball Tournament and met with Ranjan Goswami, Tim Chen ’92, Kenneth Koo ’79 and many others. He had Thanksgiving dinner with Bruce and Wendy Kelsh.

Nancy was on a Thanksgiving visit to HKIS from the American School in Japan where she is High School Assistant Principal. Nancy taught French for 17 years at HKIS before becoming HS Associate Principal working alongside Jim. Nancy was instrumental in starting the elementary Mandarin program at HKIS with Jim and Tammy Hui. During her trip to Hong Kong, Nancy visited many HKIS colleagues and friends and the Alumni Office.

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Alumni Services: The Alumni Office at HKIS has as its goal to maintain and strengthen relations between HKIS and its alumni, ex-faculty, ex-staff and ex-administration.

To this end HKIS provides numerous services to its alumni free of charge. Alumni Services include:

Communications: Alumni Website Online Directory Bi-Annual Alumni Magazine E-newsletters Overseas Reunion Support The first twenty years at Hong Kong International School were a time of social and educational experimentation. A church-based K-12 school set in idyllic hills overlooking one of the most beautiful tropical beaches in the world provided the setting. Overseas and locally hired teachers led academic activity and befriended students with determination to help them succeed. Students from several world cultures accepted the challenge and expectation of high academics while having good times creating their own fun and enjoying the diversity that Hong Kong offered.

Families experienced bonding adventures and wrenching situations.

Distance from the homeland wore on some more than others.

Next door, there was a Cultural Revolution happening that walled in the 400 square miles of the British enclave. Yet there were beautiful isolated beaches, campsites to utilize, trails to hike, bays to sail, concerts to attend, music to play, gourmet food to eat, and a world to explore.

Free Lifetime email

Events: Annual Homecoming Hong Kong Happy Hours Overseas Reunions attended by the Head of School and Principals College and Career Nights Welcome Celebrations for Graduating Classes Networking Lunch for Seniors

This book is a compilation of their stories, in their own words, arranged by topics so important to school-age kids – food, entertainment, adventures, friends, family, teachers, and school – in good times and bad.

Head of School Lunches

Reading this book will verify David Pollack’s premise that children raised in this type of setting develop their own culture – The Third Culture Kid. They survive and thrive. Enjoy the rich stories from this golden age.

It can never be duplicated.

Alumni Resource Network

To order go to www.spiritpress.org or email chinadave@comcast.net Price US$20 plus US$5 media-rate shipping in the US; available for HK$150 at the Dragonshoppe

20 DragonTales

Alumni Board Bob Christian Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award James A. Handrich Service Leadership Endowment Alumni Scholarship in Memory of David F. Rittmann

Feature

So What Are You Doing Now?

Larry and Carol Eichert T

here is a life after HKIS. Being in Hong Kong for 17 years, we weren’t sure how we would adapt to life back in the US. The most enjoyable part of retirement is that life is not run by a clock. We can sleep in if we choose, or get up and see the beautiful sunrise over our pool and the lake beyond.

Morning coffee, the daily paper and Sudoku are the ways Carol begins each day. Larry loves Free Cell and Solitaire on the computer after his breakfast.

Best of all there are no bells or chimes each hour and there is no schedule to which we are tied. We attend meetings only if they are associated with activities we have chosen. If we choose to go to Disney, we just do. If we want to travel we do, if we want to stay at home and relax, we can.

Yet there are many opportunities for personal involvement. We both are active in several community programs. Carol is the chairperson of the “Helping Hands” program. This organization provides services to persons in need. They supply equipment such as walkers, crutches, canes, cribs, car seats and playpens. If adult care is needed, they give a ride to the doctor’s or do shopping for shut-ins. Preparing baby gift baskets for young mothers or sending flowers to those hospitalized are other ways they use their helping hands.

They meet the needs of neighbors in the 700-plus-home golf community of Stoneybrook. Helping Hands also has fundraisers, afternoon teas and auctions to raise money for the group.

With Larry as the auctioneer last year we had sufficient funds for a whole year’s needs. Larry still does some science curriculum consulting and program evaluations.

He is involved in Stoneybrook as a member of the Compliance Committee, a group responsible for overseeing community wetlands (Larry’s specialty), common areas and individual home owner’s landscaping, plus general community maintenance.

We both participate in exercise programs at the recreations center four days a week. This is a necessity because the evening events at the clubhouse and on Stone Harbour Loop always have ample food and spirits. In addition to the community programs, we are both involved in church. Larry is on the steering committee for the building program and Carol is active with the ladies’ lunch bunch. Remember how Carol used to love going to Mr. Ming’s, the jeweler in Hong Kong? Well, now she makes her own jewelry in beading class once a week. Larry loves it because the cost is quite different.

Carol and Larry at the Clubhouse New Year’s Eve Party

Entertaining is still a favorite with us and we have small dinners, big buffets and pool parties. Our Chinese New Year Party has already become a tradition. This year we had an Easter Sunrise service around our pool and then breakfast followed. Our friends asked if we would do it again. At Christmas we have an Open House for 65 friends and neighbors, another Florida tradition.

We often fondly remember the many NHS Thanksgiving Thank You Dinners we did in Hong Kong – the cooking, the carving and the clean-up. Does that spark memories for some of you?

Our pool that we keep at 88 degrees. It’s always ready for a swim, day or night!

Behind it is the lake where a big alligator used to live, but he hasn’t been around for the last several months

On Thursdays, Carol does One Stroke Painting and is having fun making greeting cards and painting gift bags.

On cooler evenings both Carol and Larry ride their bikes around Stone Harbour Loop and watch the sunset over the golf course.

Our evenings include Dining Out Club, Stoneybrook Pot Luck and Bingo once a month. We enjoy playing cards with our neighbors and friends, though here it is 2,500 or Hand and Foot, not Pinochle like we played in Hong Kong. Television has so many commercials that we spend more time reading than watching TV. Larry’s favorites include Collapse, Next, and the Orion Mystery. Friends gave him The World Almanac for his birthday this year. Carol is hooked on Patterson novels.

Since our time is our own, we take off at a moment’s notice. With Disney being just and hour and a half away, we have been there 13 times so far this year with our season passes.

This weekend will be our second trip down to Fort Myers for the murder mystery dinner train. Going just a few miles west to watch the sunset on the gulf is a great way to spend an evening. Eating at the Banana Cabana for mango and macadamia nut encrusted grouper is a great lead up to the sunset on the beach.

Attending plays and concerts, visiting Mote Marine Aquarium or Ringling Museum of Art are other wonderful ways we spend afternoons and evening in the Sarasota and Tampa areas.

We have cruised to the Caribbean and will be going again in January. St. Augustine was an exciting two-day get-away with friends to see old local history.

We travel to the Chicago area and to Texas to see family. We have also been to see friends in Florida. Ones you might remember are the Temmes, the Pierces, the Rasmussens, DragonTales

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Feature

Rediscovering Hong Kong

By James Manning

Bird life around the lake is magnificent.

A local resident, dressed as a sandhill crane, coming to our front door expecting a Halloween treat

Ruth Chang, the Wirgaus, Zita Thompson and, most recently, Jim Handrich.

The newest Floridians are the Elliotts, who we hope to get together with the rest of our HKIS Alumni sometime in early November.

We have flown in the states to see friends in Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. In Minneapolis, the day before the bridge crashed, we had dinner with Gina Maltese Preciado, Anna and Tom Maakestad, Nancy and Bob Kroonenberg and Shirley Miske and her husband – many are HKIS former faculty. Out of the states, we recently spent a week with the Temmes in the Grand Caymans.

We love traveling and we love company. Our Bradenton house on Florida’s West Coast is always open. You are certainly welcome.

Let us know when you will come so we will be sure to be home. Just e-mail us at carolandlarryeichert@yahoo.com or call at 941714-7863. Our guests have included several HKIS former students who stayed with us during spring break at Yale, and visits from faculty and friends from Hong Kong. In the winter we enjoy hosting friends and relatives from the northern States and Canada.

It’s a busy life but a wonderful one.

We are grateful for the gifts God has given us, the warm memories we have of our life in Hong Kong and the good health and blessings He has brought us to enjoy in our new life in Florida. Retirement is great.

Good bye for now, there are places to go and things to do. n – Larry and Carol Eichert 22 DragonTales

Many alums returning for the 40th Reunion this summer were greeted by a Hong Kong that they struggled to recognize. DragonTales reports…

H

ong Kong’s skyline has been an evolving tapestry of new, taller and brighter buildings for as long as most people can remember. For its residents, the frenetic day-to-day pace of development goes relatively unnoticed. But leave for some time, then return, ‘the out with the old, in with the new’ infrastructure phenomenon that so characterizes the city leaves many struggling to recognize the Hong Kong they once knew.

Some downtown areas proved unrecognizable to alums making their first trip back to the city for a number of years to join the 40th Reunion in June. And the view from Central across Victoria Harbor to Kowloon had changed beyond recognition amidst a sea of new buildings propelling the Tsim Tsa Tsui skyline and beyond ever upward.

Many more stared aghast at the miracle – or reclamation – that has brought the Kowloon and Hong Kong peninsulas ever closer in recent years. “Viewed from the Peak, it looks more like Victoria River than Harbor,” commented one alumna over welcoming cocktails.

International Finance Center II, sprouting from what used to be Victoria Harbor

“I find it amazing that one of the world’s tallest buildings (the 88-storey International Finance Center II) can sprout from what I remember to be the Victoria Harbor,” said David Christian ‘69.

The transportation infrastructure is an area where Trish (Gilhooly) O’Neil ‘70 has noticed quantum leaps in improvement. “The network is amazing now. When I first lived in Hong Kong in the mid-1960s, there was no Mass Transit Railway [underground train] or tunnel connecting Hong Kong and Kowloon.”

David Christian’s visit to Hong Kong in 2002 was his first for twenty-seven years, so he was amazed then by some of the larger scale projects like the new airport and Aberdeen Tunnel. “But this time I traveled farther into the New Territories and was surprised by the incredible growth around Sha Tin and Yuen Long. It’s unbelievable how these satellite towns have grown into cities in their own right, supported by improved transportation networks.”

The General Post Office Central no longer sits on the harbor front

During their visit for the June Reunion, the Christian family purchased Octopus cards [a rechargeable smart card widely used as payment system for public transport]. We were impressed with the efficiency of the system and the clarity of the directions.

“Trips that used to take several bus and a ferry rides are now accomplished much more easily and quickly,” said David.

Trish, a frequent visitor to Hong Kong – she has been three times in the last year alone – said for all the positive progress, it’s a shame that the city’s heritage is paying a price. “I was upset this time to discover the Star Ferry Pier in Central had been torn down.”

The pier was toppled earlier this year to make way for the “Central to Wan Chai Reclamation Project”. It was replaced with a gleaming new structure, complete with air-conditioned waiting areas and look-alike clock tower, some 200 meters closer to Kowloon on land reclaimed from the sea. Progress to some. Tantamount to sacrilege to others, including Trish. “I miss the old pier,” she said. “It had character. I always stay at the Mandarin Oriental, and pretty soon I will be able to walk to Kowloon if they keep reclaiming the land.”

Locally, the demolition of the pier did not pass quietly. In its final days, the site around the pier became ground zero in the battle between the government and conservationists. Around its scaffolding clad façade, a bitter struggle between police and protesters ensued in the full glare of the world’s media.

As the last remnants of the old Star Ferry Pier were being removed, the protestors, fortified by increased public grassroots’ support, quickly regrouped to fight for the next landmark on the reclamation’s hit list – Queen’s Pier.

Hoping to quell further unrest, the government announced that Queen’s Pier would be spared a similar fate as the Star

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Feature

Ferry Pier. It was to be dismantled pieceby-piece and rebuilt on the harbor front once reclamation work had been completed.

Though a compromise, this did little to satisfy the conservationists who wanted the pier left where it was. Once again, a lengthy public standoff ensued between police and protesters. But as was the case with the Star Ferry before it, Queen’s Pier lost. The protesters were removed and the pier is being dismantled as this story goes to press.

One silver lining for the conservationists, is that the empathy their cause attracted among the public stirred, if not shook, the government to rethink. As the last protestor was removed and scaffolding erected around Queen’s Pier, the Home Affairs Department promised a more sensitive approach to heritage preservation. For the first time, the government made public an internal government list of 496 buildings that were being monitored based on their age, distinctive characteristics and ties to historic events.

While the loss of some of Hong Kong’s heritage might be philosophically viewed

Could we be in Disneyland? The new Star Ferry Pier close up

as the price of progress, thankfully there remain fine examples of where old exists alongside new throughout the city. Such as the Legislative Council Building, St. John’s Cathedral in Central and Wong Tai Sin Temple, to name just three. And of course, the jewel in the crown, Victoria Peak remains immovable – even if the view from it continues to change.

The view of the Kowloon Peninsula from directly opposite the Star Ferry’s new Central terminal. The building in the background under construction will be Hong Kong’s highest once completed

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As David Christian noted, “We stayed in Wan Chai and I loved the combination of the old and the new. I watched an evening soccer game at Southern Playground, and it could just as easily been 1973. However, our favorite bakery on Queen’s Road (Lee Kee) has been replaced by a row of furniture shops.

“A great way to get around is the tram,” said David. “It continues to be an inexpensive and comprehensive way to see both the new and the old Hong Kong.”

The old Star Ferry Pier, in the foreground reclamation is under way

Picture by Joseph K.K. Lee

Center picture is the exact spot once occupied by the old Star Ferry Pier. The replacement Star Ferry Pier is captured center left in this picture

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Feature

The tram still travels the length of Hong Kong Island, on the same tracks since commencing services in 1904. Many of the rackety double-decker carriages that service the 30 kilometers from Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan route today date back to 1930s.

He remembers Hong Kong as a city of great contrasts, this has not changed today. “Alongside a bustling hi-tech market, I saw a simple temple maintained by devout believers. While ornate luxury goods are sold at obscenely high prices, well made goods are still available very cheaply.

“Also, some of the smaller outlying islands (e.g. Cheung Chau, Lamma, Peng Chau) are less touched by change than Hong Kong Island. The ferry rides are fun and relaxing, and island settlements continue to have their own unique characters,” said David.

“Hong Kong still has the same incredible mixture of character and culture that made it special all those years ago,” said David.

One aspect most returning alums agreed upon, is that though much of Hong Kong’s heritage has gone, the culture and the soul of the city lives on.

“The unique and deeply seeded characteristics of Hong Kong are as strong today as

“I’m still not sure why Hong Kong hasn’t sunk right through the surface of the world with all the building, the concrete and the structures. This is the first thing that hits you when you return after some time, it’s unbelievable...

Bob Christian: Remembering Hong Kong “…When we arrived in Hong Kong in the mid-1960s, there were still many squatter huts, and families living aboard boats. This has changed. Driving from the airport you see modern apartment buildings blooming away, and the expressways, the expansion of the subway system, and so forth is just incredible. When we left in 1977, there was no MTR. As I recall, it came shortly after that. In fact, while we were still here they were digging the first tunnels… “… In many respects, there has not been

26 DragonTales

The Legislative Council Building is dwarfed by its more contemporary neighbors

I remember them while at school here,” said David. “Certain aspects of the city have been meticulously planned, and yet I saw fascinating improvisation and industrious effort just as I had decades ago – in small repair shops, in open air markets, in bamboo scaffolding.”

For Trish – the frequent visitor to Hong Kong – it is the fast and furious pace of the city she loves and keeps coming back to enjoy. “I notice changes with every trip. Alums you must revisit. Hong Kong is absolutely the world’s best city – best food, best shopping, best energy. There’s no where else like it on earth.” n

great change in terms of the outlook of Hong Kong people. Regardless of the economy, I have always appreciated that the people of Hong Kong have found a way to work and be employed, and most of it was legal…

six-year old grandchild with us and this was a treat for her. She sat up on the top deck and watched the world go by. She had so much fun. We then went over to Kowloon and walked through the flower market and Bird Street…

“… I used to get a kick out of the hawker patrols that would walk the streets checking traders’ licenses. You would see the ones that had not got their paperwork scuttling away with their carts. But the next day, they’d be back again, trading in the same place. The government managed this in a wonderful way, they had their rules, but they also recognized how important it was for people to work…

“…I recognized the Kowloon sports field where my own children had run many times. There are still a lot of memories. As I looked around, I could tell Hong Kong people depend on one another. They may run a shop selling flowers, and another is selling garments, but they buy from each other. One of the enduring strengths of the community here is the way so many independent traders work alongside huge business corporations. In the US, so many small businesses have been lost with the rise of huge malls. The joy that you see in the shopkeepers talking to each other, even when there does not seem any business – they’re happy...

“…Most Hong Kong residents always seemed to find joy in working and taking care of their families, even if they didn’t earn much. From what I’ve seen this trip, I still have a good feeling that this still pervades. Hong Kong people are ready to work, and there’s been a gradual increase in how much they can take home in their salaries… “…Yesterday we took a tram. We have a

“…This is one of the things that has not changed, but otherwise the construction, the technology, the communication is overwhelming…it’s overwhelming.” n

Interview

A Conversation with Bob – The Early Years When HKIS’ first Headmaster Bob Christian returned to Hong Kong for the 40th Reunion in June, he talked to James Manning about the early years of our school and his life in Hong Kong.

The Genesis of HKIS There was no American-style education in Hong Kong in the m id-196 0 s. Hong Kong was the banking, communication, and travel center of the Far East. The American Consulate had mushroomed on account of the Vietnam War, which meant more and more American businesses were locating their East Asian offices here.

The war also meant that among Americans back home there was uncertainty about going to the Far East. So you can imagine the surprise when I came home and told my kids, “I’m getting transferred to Hong Kong, we’re going there this summer.”

With the tense political situation in Hong Kong, a decision was taken not to call the new school the ‘American school’, as many overseas schools had named themselves at the time.

That turned out to be a real blessing as it happens. As I look at the student body today, I see many Asian students in the school, even though many are American citizens. Having a large number of Asian students at HKIS was one of the early hopes and dreams of the school – we hoped HKIS would one day be truly international in nature, as well as in name.

I was brought over to Hong Kong, or given what is termed ‘a calling’, from the Lutheran Church, which was the founding group of HKIS. They had been operating rooftop

schools for Chinese immigrants to Hong Kong and had developed a good reputation with the Education Department. At that time there was a flood of refugees from China fleeing the Cultural Revolution.

So many in fact, that they could not build schools quickly enough to accommodate them. That’s why they [Lutheran Church] started these rooftop schools. They built such a good reputation, that when the concept of having an international, American-type school, backed by the Lutheran Church was raised here, the Hong Kong government was supportive.

The planning of the school started in 1965.

The Lutheran Church asked me to come over in 1966. What I was supposed to do was supervise the construction and spend a year gathering faculty, developing curriculum and those types of things.

However, with the influx of American business firms, led by Pan American Airways, which was flying military to and from Vietnam, a large number of families started to relocate to Hong Kong. This put pressure to start a ‘provisional school’ in 1966, a year earlier than had been planned.

Luckily, before I came over, I had ordered

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Interview

a mass of textbooks back in New York, which followed my arrival. We took a chance and decided to open a provisional school. I quickly found a number of teachers. Two young ladies came from the US, one from New Zealand, one from Australia, and a British teacher as well. We started HKIS Provisional School in a residential building on Chung Hom Kok Road near Stanley, while construction proceeded on our Repulse Bay Campus. In the provisional school, we had about 180 students and six teachers.

Life in Hong Kong I remember our students being really good kids. They were happy to be a part of this new school. Their parents were deeply involved. We had a little playground in the backyard. We used to walk down a steep path to the beautiful Chung Hom Kok Road beach. I remember our first Christmas was spent sitting on the beach in the blazing sun singing Christmas carols.

However, there were unsettling times too, especially when the Cultural Revolution overflowed to Hong Kong in the spring of 1967. I recall trouble suddenly broke out, so quickly in fact that our school buses returned to the school early just to get students home because we really didn’t know what it all meant. I had my two older children attending King George V; we were worried about them. Thank the Lord we were all fine.

28 DragonTales

I have to pay tribute to the British government. They handled the turmoil unbelievably well. It was a tense time and they did such a good job. I can still remember sitting up with a friend near the Peak, and we probably heard about 15 to 20 bombs detonating. This all got handled without injury. However, it did make it tough for us to recruit teachers from the US. The first eight people that we had extended appointments to turned us down.

We opened our official school premises at Repulse Bay in the second week of September 1967. The builders were still working on the finishing touches to the building as the first classes commenced. It was stressful getting everything ready in time.

I recall our architect Bill Wong pulled out all the stops and made it possible for us to open.

As I’ve often said, we had no idea how many students we’d open that school with – 350, may be 400, possibly more than that. We actually opened the first day with 630 students and virtually all new teachers. Few people knew each other. Yet there was such a good sense of school spirit and cooperation. Looking back, the community was so grateful to have the school.

One important task in those first years was making sure students adjusted well to school life. I could usually tell whether students would take full advantage of living in Hong Kong, or whether to expect some difficulties.

I know when we left New York my own children had tears in their eyes. But after about a month they said, “Dad, mom, this is the greatest thing that has happened to us.”

out alone. I have grandchildren that have never really been out the sight of an adult.

So it was good, that’s one thing we enjoyed about Hong Kong in mid-1960s.

There is absolutely no comparison between the Hong Kong then and today. These were the days of the ‘old Hong Kong’, where the English language was not widely spoken. I am personally happy we were here in those days, we saw the old, former Hong Kong.

Our children could get on public buses and go to the New Territories. We never had any problems, no fear about letting them go any place unaccompanied. And I can tell you that’s not true in America anymore. If you’ve got small children, you’re very careful in terms of letting them go

I remember thinking that we were in the lap of luxury when we arrived in the city, because our apartment had three bathrooms.

In our former apartment in New York City, I had three daughters and a son, and just one bathroom. So, there were neat things.

I remember after we moved into our apartment, I said, “I’m going to run down town and buy some food for supper.” I thought I was buying the equivalent of American hot dogs. But they turned out to be Chinese sausages! That didn’t go down very well, but we all laughed and smiled. n

Time-line July 1964:

March 1965:

September 1966:

September 1967:

A survey of 1,100 (mostly) Americans on whether an American school is wanted.

The Board of Missions of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod authorizes a grant and a loan.

HKIS opens its doors to 170 students in a renovated apartment building at 43 Chung Hom Kok Road.

HKIS opens a K-12 school in Repulse Bay with 630 students.

May 1963:

February 1965:

April 1966:

May 1967:

June 1968:

Drought which led to severe water rationing.

The Hong Kong Education Department approves a land grant and an interest free loan.

Groundbreaking ceremony in Repulse Bay.

Pro-communist riots in Hong Kong inspired by Mao’s Cultural Revolution in China.

First HKIS graduating class.

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Publication

HKIS’ History Book – Hong Kong International School: Celebrating 40 Years of Education and Service – was published this summer. This alumnisponsored, near-200 page coffee table book charts our school’s history from the very beginning through to today.

The HKIS History Book

The HKIS Alumni Board is credited as the initial driving force behind this book, while the Board’s Justin Hardman ’99 is singled out for special mention. Justin created a website on the school’s history for Homecoming in 2001, which sparked early interest in producing a book to mark HKIS’ 40th year.

We thank past and present members of our community - faculty, administrators, alumni, parents, students and friends for their commitment to this project. Without their memories, insights and photographs, this book could not have been written.

If you happen to notice people or events we have missed, please let us know.

Your submissions [as well as photos and archives] will allow us to continue to build on the book so it becomes part of a broader living history. With your help, in the future HKIS will be able to define itself with much more involvement of stakeholders than was possible while putting this book together. We plan to roll out this “living history” via a website version of the printed book. Please email your updates and pictures to alumni@hkis.edu.hk

If you would like to order a copy of the History Book online, please visit http://dnet.hkis.edu.hk/ alumni/ for more information.

30 DragonTales

Order Form Hong Kong International School: 40 Years of Learning and Service The book costs HK$200 [US$25.65] per-copy, excluding post and packaging*.

If you would like a copy, please fill in the order form beneath and send it with a check made payable to “Hong Kong International School� to the Office of Institutional Advancement, 1 Red Hill Road, Tai Tam, Hong Kong SAR, China. Alternatively, fax this form to +852 3149-7201.

If you have questions, please email oia@hkis.edu.hk * If you want your book to be mailed to a Hong Kong address, please add HK$38 per-book for post and packaging. If you want the book sent anywhere else in the world, please add US$9 per book. The book will be sent surface mail, so please allow up to 60 days for delivery.

If you are in Hong Kong and would like to pick up a copy of the book from HKIS, you may do so from the Office of Institutional Advancement, which is located in the Middle School in Tai Tam. Our office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. For inquiries, please telephone +852 3149-7822.

I would like to order Please send to:

Name: Address:

Email: Phone:

copy (copies) of the History Book.

Faculty Profile

A Day in the Life:

Pat Klekamp Pat Klekamp joined HKIS as High School Principal at the start of the school year 2006-07. Before joining HKIS, Pat was Executive Director (Head of School) and Principal of the Lutheran High School Dallas, Texas.

She has 28 years’ experience as an educator. Here’s what she had to say about her day:

I

am an early riser, typically I am up at 5:40 a.m. The first thing on my mind is usually breakfast. I keep it simple: some juice and toast, sometimes waffles or a muffin. After breakfast, I catch the elevator to work. Yes I have no excuse to be late living on the 8th floor of the residential block here in the high school at Tai Tam. Usually from the moment I arrive in the office until I leave it is non-stop meetings and administrative work. I like this though; it’s good to be busy. I am blessed with a great team of colleagues here at HKIS. I grab lunch whenever I can – crackers, cheese, grapes, nothing too heavy. I usually eat in the evening, between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m., and this could really be anything.

Whatever takes my fancy at the time. I am a snacker, and a fan and adequate consumer of chips and crackers. Chips are my real weakness. I am a chip-a-holic. Yes, I know they are not good for me, but…

Outside of school my hobbies include Pat Klekamp and family in 2006

traveling, sports and hiking. I like the outdoor life as it helps me to gain a greater insight into God’s will. My daily walks with my dogs Pat Klekamp and family in 1980 also give me plenty of opportunity for reflection and improved insight.

Living in Tai Tam I get to often indulge my passion for walking, and then end up piling the pounds back on in my favorite restaurants!

My dogs are called P.C. (or Prince Chaz) and Bear. P.C. is an 11-year old blonde/ brown Sharpee Boxer and Australian Shepherd mix. So you can imagine he has loads of personality. Bear is a 7-year old Sharpee and Black Labrador combination. He is quite aloof, which I put down to him being abandoned as a puppy. He was rescued from the streets when he was just 6 weeks old.

My weekends never follow any set pattern. I like spontaneity. If I can spend some free time hiking I am especially happy. Whenever possible, I like to venture over to Shek ‘O where there is a fantastic Thai restaurant.

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At the moment I am reading Habits of the Mind, Leadership and 21st Century.

It’s about how critical thinking skills are essential in the 21st century and how we can help teach them to our children.

When I am not working, reading or walking, there’s nothing I like more than to switch off in front of the TV watching a good comedy or action film.

Key role models in my life are my parents and biblical heroes like Christ, St. Paul, etc. My most important relationship is with Jesus Christ. My pet peeve is seeing children or animals mistreated.

When I came to Hong Kong during the selection process for High School Principal, I learned firsthand about what a wonderful school HKIS is and how blessed we are to have such a rich and diverse student body.

I remember I was eager to learn more about Hong Kong, and a year and a bit later I can say that my learning has only just begun. Hong Kong is such a diverse city in terms of culture, people and food.

The weather is great – especially at this time of year. You get the cool November winds. Really refreshing. I still have an appetite to learn much more about this city. n

Class Notes

’69

Christy Wendell Christywendell@aol.com

Where are They Now?

at a private school, Loomis Chaffee. Sean will be entering 8th grade and will go to the local Middle School. Both boys have mixed feelings about the change but are looking forward to a new adventure.

David Christian: On October 17, 2007 I ran at a ‘Senior Games’ track meet here in Port Angeles, and I wore an HKIS cross-country singlet that I purchased at the Dragon Shop in June.

’80

Jonathan Lutz jonathanlutz@stanfordalumni.org Patrick Pang pepang@aol.com

Above left is a photo of the boys as well as, on the right, Duncan and I at Black Sand Beach in Hawaii. It was a bit blustery that day. The other two photos below are of my brothers and Dad. We saw them in early June for a family reunion.

Denise Wallis: My dad visited Hong

Steven and me, May 12, 2007

Kong this past Spring and sent me many photos of HKIS... brought back many memories as you can well imagine. Another exciting thing that happened this spring is I am engaged to be married.

’81

Mack Tilling and his wife of two years, Shanti, Mattie Tilling and his wife Robin and their two kids (Liam, 11 yrs and Isabell, 1 yr), Mr. Tilling and Angela, Duncan, Morgen, Ian (16) and Sean (14) Gillis

Karen Staniek-Gerhardt staniekgerhardt@online.de Anna Margaretta Agell agella@blazenetme.net

Morgen Tilling writes: As I sit among

boxes, bubble wrap and tape, I thought it time to let you all know that the Gillis family is on the move again. After five great years in Singapore, we are returning to the U.S. Duncan has taken on a new job with another division of UTC, which will take him to the main office in Farmington, CT. It will be nice to be near friends and family once again.

Ian will be entering 11th grade and has opted to finish off his final two years of HS

Mattie, Mack, Morgen and Mr. Tilling

Our e-mail address will remain the same so we can always be reached.

Hope all is well at your end of the world.

Not being able to make it in time for the DragonTales

33

Class Notes

HKIS 40th, we had our own reunion with Hong Kong in past summer. Karen Karr Nimarota and husband Peter, Shannon Sullivan and Karen Staniek-Gerhardt with husband Bernd and daughters Gianna and Leila spent three weeks reconnecting with the past. First off a whirlwind fiveday tour of Beijing, followed by 8 days in Hong Kong.

As many changes as there have been in the last 20 years, amazingly the feel of the place hasn’t really changed. You can still shop till you drop and bargain your brains out if you want, and there’s still some of the world’s best food out there.

Shannon Sullivan ‘82, Peter Nimarota, Karen Karr Nimarota, Karen StaniekGerhardt’s kids Gianna and Leila as well as husband Bernd and our guide Tina all on the Great Wall

The (Staniek-) Gerhardt family, the Nimarotas and Shannon Sullivan in Tian An Men Square

Karen Staniek-Gerhardt, Jim Herbein and Shannon Sullivan ‘82 at LAX in September

34 DragonTales

On the other side of the globe, Karen Staniek-Gerhardt spent a week in Los Angeles on business recently. Shannon Sullivan joined her there, and they managed to hook up with Jim Herbein, who lives north of L.A. Jim left HKIS after 10th grade to move to Connecticut before finally making his home in Southern California.

And finally, Anna Agell with her son Eric and sister Charlotte Agell ’77 had a fabulous lunch together with Ian Goepfert, ’80 at the Frontier Cafe earlier this year. We had a mini HKIS reunion and caught up on old times.

’82

Sheila Baker Gujral sheilamcneila@hotmail.com Hello Class of ’82 and beyond, It was great seeing so many of you this past year. My family and I went to Hong Kong for the big 40th bash in June and we had a fantastic time. While there were only a few from our class – Terence Anderson ’82, Tessie Bossany Massa ’82, Tim Hui ’82 – there were many others I had known before, and others whom I met for the first time. As I am sure it is reflected all over this edition of DragonTales, the community feeling was palpable.

The Saturday night bash at the Country Club was a particular thrill for me as in the past I had spent so much time at the club. I was showing my kids the two-lane bowling alley which is still in the basement and my daughter turned to me and said, “So you used to come here after school and hang out at the pool and bowl and play tennis?”

“No,” I responded with alacrity, “I ONLY spent time here on the weekends after I did my homework.”

My children were getting a lot of comments from faculty who knew me and who hinted that they had stories to tell. Having Dave Kohl give me the “Shack Award” at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant dinner didn’t help my case at all. Dave, you made me laugh so hard I had tears coming down my face – I thank you. I also thank Pattie Bossany Gordon ’84 for having us to their open house on Dragon Boat day. In the nine years we lived in Hong Kong, we never attended because I think we were often out of the colony already (I know, I know, but that’s what we used to say).

Another highlight of our visit was a trip to the American Restaurant where I made some new friends, caught up with Dave Kohl, and had a rousing game of pass-the-peanut. I had completely forgotten about that game until the nuts arrived and it was great to share that with my kids. I also had time to take my husband Gautam and the kids up to the Peak.

We had a great walk all the way around (that one crazy building downtown is as tall as the Peak!) and I got the guard at our old house to let us into the compound. I had forgotten what beautiful views I grew up with – the first five years of Hong Kong harbor and the last four years of Aberdeen, Pokfulam, and all the islands beyond.

Only living in Hong Kong can make you think that a New York minute is slow There were many changes up on the Peak and all over the region, but I don’t think all change is for the worse. While I certainly missed seeing Eucliff, the real Repulse Bay Hotel, the old Peak Tower, and even that McDonalds on the beach (they’re putting a mall there now), I found that much of the character is the same, albeit with more consumer purchasing power. It’s still the old Hong Kong to me and it looked fantastic, and I miss it and I am grateful to have had as much time there as I did.

I remember when I used to go on home leave from Hong Kong to New York, I would think that New York City was so spread out.

HKIS Class of ’82 – 25 Year Reunion in NYC Friday August – Sunday August 5, 2007 As soon as I got back from China (we spent two weeks in Shanghai, Beijing, and Xian before and after the Hong Kong part of the trip), I was at T-30 for our class reunion. Unfortunately I was left organizing it on my own and I was in a bit of a time crunch. I would like to thank Alison McKinnell King ’82 and Tessie Bossany Massa ’82 for meeting with me toward the end and letting me run various scenarios by them. I would also like to thank Lisa Pearce Gary ’82 and her friend Chuck Billen for coming in early, helping me out with every event, hauling things around for me, and just generally being there for me. I would also like to thank Dave Dewenter ’82 for being our A/V director.

His photo show was great, and really got things going. There is a link to it on our webpage at http://hkis82.com In attendance were Sheila Baker Gujral ’82 and Gautam Gujral, Tessie Bossany Massa ’82 and Greg Massa, Eileen Brennan Burkley ’85, Mary Pat Brennan Hinder ’81, Wendy Barry friend of Mary Pat’s, Nick ’82 and Dana Champeau, Roger ’82 and Katie Cormier and their two sons, Lisa D’Andrea Nunez ’82, David Dewenter ’82, John Dighton ’82, Bill Engelbrecht ’85, John Engelbrecht ’82, Ian Goepfert ’80, Laura Goepfert Stolp ’82, Cynthia Hamel ’85, Henry Hamel ’81, Margt Hamel ’82, Shaival ’82 and Jill Kapadia, Victoria Lion Monroe ’82, Cynthia McAndrews Evans ’82 and Jonathan Evans, Mike McCormick ’80, Alison McKinnell King ’82 and Owen King, Kristine Moden ’81, Patrick Pang ’80 and Therese Tree Johnston, Lisa Pearce Gary ’82 and Chuck Billen, Mike ’82 and Christina Roth.

On Friday night, we had a cocktail reception at Blondie’s, a sports bar at 79th and Amsterdam on the upper west side. Pat Brennan Hinder ’81, Wendy Barry friend of Mary Pat’s, Nick ’82 and Dana Cham-

peau, Roger ’82 and Katie Cormier and their two sons, Lisa D’Andrea Nunez ’82, David Dewenter ’82, John Dighton ’82, Bill Engelbrecht ’85, John Engelbrecht ’82, Ian Goepfert ’80, Laura Goepfert Stolp ’82, Cynthia Hamel ’85, Henry Hamel ’81, Margt Hamel ’82, Shaival ‘82 and Jill Kapadia, Victoria Lion Monroe ’82, Cynthia McAndrews Evans ’82 and Jonathan Evans, Mike McCormick ’80, Alison McKinnell King ’82 and Owen King, Kristine Moden ’81, Patrick Pang ’80 and Therese Tree Johnston, Lisa Pearce Gary ’82 and Chuck Billen, Mike ’82 and Christina Roth were all there having a great time.

Many of us were staying at the Lucerne, a lovely boutique hotel which was across the street. There was a lot of catching up to do and we were all in agreement that we all really do look marvelous. After dinner, Lisa, Chuck, Gautam, and I went to a barbecue place for dinner. What were we doing taking folks from Oklahoma out for New York City barbecue, I don’t know, but that’s just what we all wanted at that particular moment. On Saturday, everyone did their own thing during the day.

Lisa, Chuck, Gautam, and I went out for lunch and then for a nice stroll through Central Park. Since I was a kid, I have loved Central Park, and it was great to take Lisa and Chuck around – through the Ramble, to Bethesda Fountain to watch street acrobatics, up into Belvedere Castle to see the view of the Great Lawn

and the Shakespeare Theater, and to the rowing lake and the bandshell. It was a truly beautiful day.

On saturday evening, we had our big banquet at China Chalet down on lower Broadway. The owner is the father of some good friends of ours. My husband Gautam officiated at his daughter’s wedding – no, he’s not a minister, but it’s a long story. They provided us with a truly sumptuous banquet. In fact, we didn’t even finish the last two courses – Mary Pat Brennan Hinder ’81 wisely packed up a bunch of the fruit in tupperware and we got to snack on the bus. Dave Dewenter’s ’82 great photo show was playing on a big screen, tunes from the ’70s and ’80s were playing over the sound system, and drinks and conversation were flowing.

We finally got on the open top doubledecker bus for our “tram party” about an hour late for our tour of Manhattan. We went by Ground Zero, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Lower East Side, and ended up at the Bowery Hotel, (a barely discovered at the time new hotel) with a great bar and lounge area. We stayed there for quite a few more hours.

And it wouldn’t be a trip to New York without a celebrity sighting – we glimpsed Paris Hilton leaving the lounge area. Hey remember our sightings of Fred Durst and Ice T at the 20th Reunion at the Palms pool in Vegas?

DragonTales

35

Class Notes

and the sidewalks were so wide and there was so much space everywhere and people just ambled down the sidewalks. Only living in Hong Kong can make you think that a New York minute is slow.

but as I can not be there please give my best wishes to all and tell all of them I am sorry for not being there.”

time this year on my account. While out there, I saw Chris Christie ’83 and met his wife. She was really great to talk to and I am very happy for them both. Don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy.

A little over a week after the reunion, Alison McKinnell King had her second child, a boy named Peter McHugh Monsen King.

Carl Dorf ’82

Linda Reizman Cox ’80 wrote in, “I’m so bummed that I’m going to be missing you guys. I’ll be there in spirit though. Wish I was there.”

Peter McHugh Monsen King

Gary Coonan couldn’t make it, as he and his wife Ruth had their first baby a few days before reunion – Anastasia Danielle Coonan.

Janna Dieckhoff Flanders ’82 had a last minute work complication which stopped her from coming to the reunion, but I did get her to participate on the phone for an hour during the banquet. I’m so sorry you couldn’t come, Janna.

Steven Piccus ’82 had a board meeting in Tokyo that Monday morning so he also had to drop out. Carl Wollebek ’82, Bill Millaway ’82, and Bill Bossany ’82 also sent their regrets.

A few weeks after the reunion, I had a chance to get together with Shannon Sullivan ’82 in New York. Ironically, she had been in Hong Kong during our reunion so she couldn’t join us. She is doing great, looks fabulous, and it was great fun to reconnect with her.

Anastasia Danielle Coonan

Umesh Saraf ’82 wrote in from New Delhi, “Really wanted to be there for the reunion.

Please convey my best to all and will attend the next one for sure. Please convey to all that if they come to India, please let me know, I will be happy to assist them.”

Carl Dorf ‘82 wrote in from, we’re not sure where, but it’s all very intriguing, “I would love to be there but the present situation at work keeps me from attending. I can’t really discuss it as that would be out of turn.

I was really looking forward to attending 36 DragonTales

Sheila Baker Gujral ’82 and Chris Christie ’83

One last alumni sighting. I was recently at a NJ Clean Energy conference and was speaking with our mayor and another town council member, as the town of Maplewood is at the forefront with its environmental programs. Somehow the fact that I lived in Hong Kong came up and someone said, “Wait, there’s someone else in Maplewood who grew up in Hong Kong.” I said, “It must be Henry Hamel – he lives across the street from me.” “No, it’s someone else. Wait! There he is!” And I met Bob McCoy ’73 who is the Chair of the Maplewood Environmental Advisory Committee and Coordinator of Maplewood’s Climate Protection Initiative. You can see him on Youtube if you search for “Maplewood global warming.” He’s doing great work.

It’s been a busy few months so I had a lot to write. Please check our class website for more alumni updates, links to reunion photos, and some short Youtube videos – we are at http://hkis82.com.

’86

Christine Wong yellow.nyc@gmail.com Sheila Baker Gujral ’82 and Shannon Sullivan ’82

As I write this, I just returned from my husband’s 20th reunion at Colorado College. He certainly put in enough reunion

Derek Kwik: I participated in my most difficult ultra-marathon in the remote rainforest of Brazil’s Amazon Jungle recently.

With a backpack of food and survival gear and a hammock to sleep in, I ran 250 kilometers in 6 days. Although, I am the first

Chinese person to have run across the world’s four most extreme deserts: Gobi (highest), Atacama (driest), Sahara (hottest) and the South Pole (coldest), nothing could prepare me for the challenges that I would encounter in the jungle.

Angela Dinglasan (Robbie’s wife), Robbie Dinglasan ’86, and Derek Kwik ’86

The Amazon rainforest is home to one third of all species in the world and my greatest fears met me on land and in the winding rivers: mosquitoes (which do not know the meaning of repellent), overwhelming numbers of fire ants, leeches, tarantulas, scorpions, ticks, snakes, wild pigs, jaguars, piranhas, caimans, sting rays, electric eels and bull sharks.

Combine that with the difficulties of getting lost, poisonous plants, dehydration, trench foot and stifling humidity and you will begin to understand the enormity of this challenge.

The great news about this event is that one of my closest buddies, Bert de-Guzman ’86, also participated. Bert is one tough individual who was recovering from a knee injury just weeks from the start line.

On my return from the Amazon, I launched my first motivational book titled, KWIK FIX. My book is an inspirational piece that surmises that too many people avoid doing things because they are scared of failing. That’s the wrong approach to life. You have to take calculated risks to succeed or you will never get better.

All proceeds will go towards my charity, the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (SPCA). One of the greatest opportunities I have been given is a voice to inspire others. Recently, I gave motivational talks at HKIS’ Sports Awards Banquet, Deloitte & Touche and the Hong Kong Police Force.

I was in Shanghai recently and had the opportunity to catch up with Robbie Dinglasan ’86. I haven’t seen him in at least five years. Both he and his wife moved from Manila to Shanghai a couple years ago. If anyone wants to reach me, contact me at ktderek@hotmail.com

Bert De-Guzman: In October, I did this 7-day, 250km race in Brazil’s Amazon jungle to raise money for a charity called Seeing-is-Believing. This charity helps blind people who cannot afford the simple surgery to restore their eyesight. The race was further special because Derek Kwik ’86 was participating as well. The last time he and I went camping was in 8th grade in the New Territories. Neat experience overall, and my wife Denise was my biggest supporter.

See page 12 for Bert’s account of his adventure.

Suzette Stephens: In 2001 I married

My family this summer

My mother, daughter and I on Mother’s Day this year

Tom Coleman: I’m living in Char-

lotte, NC with my wife Kim (married just over 10 years now) and our three daughters Meghan (9), Lauren (8), and Kaitlyn (6). We’ve been here in Charlotte for just over five years now. I recently changed jobs (October 2006) to go to work for Oracle Corporation as an application salesman.

My client is the USAF. Selling to the US Government has been quite an interesting learning experience for me. As there are no Air Force bases too close to Charlotte, I’m on the road quite a bit which is certainly a drag especially with young children at home.

Leo Salas, from Venezuela. We spent five years living and working in Panama, Borneo and Papua New Guinea. On June 12, 2005 our daughter, Camille Sophia Salas Stephens was born. In 2006 I received my PhD in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Bert de Guzman, his wife Denise, and their daughter Bethany

We live in northern California (Arcata) and I currently stay at home to raise my daughter.

My three girls

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Class Notes

My Brother Rob ’88, Susan, ’89, Julianne ’85 and I are all geographically spread out (Chicago, Denver, Los Altos (CA)) so we are only able to get together every other year. Collectively we have 10 children, so getting together is quite an adventure.

moved us around the states for the past 12 years. I currently work for my ownership, which is Blackstone, and hope to have some exciting moves in the future!

28 May 2007. I’ve attached a photo of him and another of him with his elder brother, Mikhail. You can also see more photos of them at this website: http://audrealing. shutterfly.com

For my 39th birthday I went skydiving as a part of a gift for my Dad’s 65th birthday

One of the most notable changes in my life since graduation has been my walk of faith.

Soon after the birth of our first daughter (Meghan) my wife and I started attending a local Methodist church and have been ever since. (It is interesting and not really surprising how such life-changing events can have an effect on you). I now find myself leading a Sunday school class and looking at life from a different perspective.

I look back now on those years at HKIS (“education grounded in Christian faith”) Duke (Methodist affiliation) and feel comforted that God’s always been there pursuing me…just took me a while to notice it.

I hope this update finds my classmates well.

The new addition: Matin

I would love to hear from old friends from the early ’80s!

’93

Timothy Gregg timgregg@hotmail.com Amy Ruhter McMillan aruhter@iesabroad.org

Heidi Bayfield Chekouras heb9769@hotmail.com

Alice Han: Hi everyone, I’ve been living in Minneapolis, MN for the last 13+ years and decided to make the move back to Asia. So here I am living in Beijing teaching English at a local university. I’ve been here for a few weeks and plan to be here for at least a year. So far I’m really enjoying myself. Are there any other HKIS alumni in the city or any that plan to pass through? If so, let me know: han_carlsson@yahoo.com.

Heather Dighton Strauss: My

Liz (Longley) Komosa: My husband

’87

Gareth Matthews gareth.matthews@sprintemi.com Jeffrey Tsai jeffreytsai@mac.com

brother is John Dighton class of ’88. I live in New Jersey and am General Manager of the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights Hotel & Executive Meeting Center 6 miles west of New York City. I have a wonderful son who is 9 years old and have been married for 12 wonderful years. The hotel business has 38 DragonTales

and I welcomed a baby girl, Charlotte Layne Komosa, on June 18, 2007! We are still living in Washington, DC and things are going great.

Audrea Ling: Hi everyone, meet the

newest addition to my family, Matin, born

Baby Matin with older brother Mikhail

You can also see updates of the Ling Family at http://www.thelingsonline.com I’m still living in Singapore.

Timothy Gregg promised the Alumni Office his usual entertaining class notes for the summer issue of DragonTales, watch this place Class of ‘93!

’94

Tiffany Bissey tbissey@gmail.com Michal Fisher Pemper mpemper@hotmail.com Norman Ho romanic@singnet.com.sg

Erin Tarbuck (nee Affleck): My

husband Dan and I welcomed our second child, Aedan, into our family July 12,

2007. He was born after a very short labor, weighing in at 11 pounds 1 oz. His sister Willow is thrilled to have a brother, and we are enjoying the newness of being a family of four. I am taking a one year maternity leave from my work teaching, and will be spending this time taking care of our children and helping my husband renovating our new (and very old) home.

Courtney Bailey Hughes, her husband Jon, and little Bailey live in Jacksonville, FL.

Cheng family in Central Park (Jocelynn, David and Jasper). Meet little Jasper Harrison Cheng, born April 2007

Meet little Bailey Hughes, born April 2007

Welcoming Aedan Jasper Cheng and Maximilien Paul, son of Coralie Charriol Paul

…speaking of which,

Willow and Aedan

’95

David Cheng dcheng23@hotmail.com

David Cheng: On behalf of the class of ’95, I would like to congratulate Mr. Handrich on his retirement. He will be dearly missed. Mr. Handrich, hope you are enjoying the warm Florida sun. Whenever you make it up to NYC, please give me a call and we’ll get to a Yankees game.

I am currently working for Madison Capital, a real estate investment company in NY. My brother, Dennis Cheng ’97 is working for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign as her head fundraiser for the NY Tri-State area.

As for this issue of Class Notes, here are some photos:

Coralie Charriol Paul is launching her new eyewear campaign for CHARRIOL. Yes, that is Coralie sporting the watch and glasses. The Pauls are also living in New York. Her son, Maximilien was born January 2007. Also, Alex Charriol ’97 is an artist in NY. Amaia, Guia and Miguel Carreon are on their third year in Shanghai at Concordia International School, sister school of HKIS. Amaia (right) turns one in November.

Migz says, “Let us know if any of you are planning a trip to Shanghai, we will even set up a mini-reunion with former HKIS legends, the Webers, the Lamberts, the Bickels, the Frerkings, and the Klammers.”

Jason Greene wanted me to report that he is living in Atlanta and doing fine.

Danielle Huthart, looking great as usual.

For those still in Hong Kong, please give her a shout and check out her design company www.whitespace. hk.

And some non-1995 grads (left to right): Brendan Brew ’97 with his daughter Elle, uncle Patrick Brew ’96 in the middle, with Jasper and David at a polo match in the Hamptons, where the Brews reside

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Class Notes

Karaoke party last summer in NYC: Patrick Brew, Erin Connor, Tammy Frankenberg, Deane Carberry, David Cheng, Deborah Teng, Danielle Huthart, Susan Strebel

’96

Kelly Bissey kmbissey@gmail.com Sara Dallaire Sara.dallaire@gmail.com Fahd Bilal Hakim fbh04@aol.com

Association to perform as solo violinist for this year’s annual Charity Concert, to honour the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong returning to China. I performed Antonio Vivaldi’s Summer from “The Four Seasons” and “Legende” from the 19th century Polish violinist and composer Henri Wieniawski.

’98

Jennifer Doman jenginad@hotmail.com Erin, Danielle and David

8th Grade Camp collage by Coralie

40 DragonTales

Emi Takahashi I would have loved to attend the 40th anniversary, but I had just so many concerts to play. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you and the HKIS community why I especially came back to Hong Kong this summer. I was invited by the Hong Kong Medical

Cheryl Yip yippiec@hotmail.com Sarah Yeung yeungsarah@hotmail.com

Cheryl Yip: I’m in Boston purusing a Masters in City Planning degree at MIT. I recently went to Alex Taran’s wedding.

Emi at the HK Medical Association Charity Concert

Natalie Fung and Elina Urli were there from ’98, as well as Tiffany Sluk ’97, Jenna Sluk ’99.

for a bit and we were able to stop by Hong Kong for two days on our way back to the U.S. I enjoyed our visit and hopefully I’ll be able to make it to next year’s reunion!

Elina (Ena) Urli Hodges, Alexandra (Taran) Payne, Natalie Fung, and Cheryl Yip

Samantha Brown: I attended HKIS

from 1994-97 (freshman-junior year). I moved back to Virginia and then went on to the College of William & Mary where I graduated in 2002 with a double major in Accounting and Economics. After that I moved to Richmond, Virginia to work for Ernst & Young as an auditor (and CPA). I have worked here for 5 years now and am currently an audit manager with the majority of my clients being large insurance companies.

Samantha in Sydney

Samantha and her husband Dave Fuller visited the Alumni Office at HKIS and chatted with Reena K. about her travels and how Hong Kong has changed.

Erin (Henderson) Biank: Erin and her husband Daniel live in Wisconsin. She holds a BM in Vocal performance from Valparaiso University and a MM in Music History from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a voice instructor at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee and performs professionally with the Milwaukee Choral Artists. Her husband Daniel works for GE HealthCare and is completing law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

They celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Abigail Linn, on March 9, 2007.

and was very happy to be on campus. He marvelled at the new music rooms.

Harry is currently at Landmark College in Vermont. He is on the Campus Activities Board and is the only Asian from Asia on a 400 strong campus. He remarked during his visit, “Going from Hong Kong to Vermont was like going from everything to nothing. There is no Chinese food. To get to a big city you have to drive 4 to 6 hours…Americans cannot differentiate between Hong Kong and Japan. If I say I’m from Hong Kong they ask me if I know Japanese! The only shopping place is Wal-Mart”. He was speechless when asked about cafeteria food, but he did say, “I hate having a roommate who has a girlfriend who comes over every single weekend and does inappropriate stuff”.

Henry Chu: When I was in high school, I found some people more intelligent than me and some not as intelligent as me. I am sure that when I go out to work, I will find some people more intelligent than me and some not as intelligent. But it seems that at Princeton, everyone is way smarter than I am… well, maybe not EVERYONE but just about everyone. I am very pleased with the challenges that I face here. Although it is so tough that sometimes I just want to give up, the mental work out is always satisfying afterwards. In high school, I could never have imagined myself being so happy with a B, but now I can.

Brian Lee: Hi, college is often cited as

the time where an individual finds him or herself and undergoes a personal transformation. The statement has a degree of truth as I’m currently midway through my first semester at Stony Book University.

’07

Dave and Samantha

I recently got married (May 18, 2007), took a brief vacation (motorcycling around Virginia and North Carolina) and then left for Melbourne Australia where I was working with Ernst & Young for 4 months. My husband came to Australia to travel with me

Anjali Daryanani anjalidaryanani@gmail.com David Suen davidsuen.hk@gmail.com

Harry Ng: Visited HKIS over the Thanksgiving break on November 26. He visited the High School and the Alumni offices

The university is situated in a welcoming suburban environment of Long Island, but it is only a train ride away from New York DragonTales

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Class Notes

City. (Go Yankees!) In hindsight, my high school experience at HKIS provided the necessary academic and social skills to function on the college level. If you’re ever in the area, check out Stony Brook. I’ll be glad to give you a tour.

Colin Hanna graduated in June from the College Preparatory School in Oakland, California and attended Princeton University this fall. He had a great year in the classroom. In October he was one of 80 American students selected to attend the Princeton Humanities Symposium which was an all expense paid opportunity to join with Princeton scholars and discuss and debate humanities issues.

In the pool he splashed even higher. Colin was named an All American swimmer in several events, finished 5th in the USA 18 and Under National Championships and in August qualified to compete in the USA 2008 Olympic Swimming Trials which will be held next June in Omaha, Nebraska.

Colin’s big summer adventure was driving from San Francisco to New York with his sister Becky Hanna ’04 and stopping to see HKIS friends along the way.

Helen Ng: College life is great in the

Urbana-Champaign area. This is a small school town with a lot of international students. I feel comfortable and confident to be one of them. It was hard to leave home and live alone in a new environment. At first, I felt uneasy about the change and scared to talk to others. However, people

are friendly here and I have made a lot of friends. Now my friends and I always share a lot about our cultures and languages, which is really fun!

less scary than everybody makes it out to be! All in all, my classes are actually pretty interesting and all you have to do is take notes, read chapters, and study for your tests. Other than that, all the people here are really nice and the professors are really funny too!

Jesse Flores: I am currently not attending a university. I intend however to enlist in the army this coming June as a Information Technology/communication specialist.

My father, my mother, my brother (Hong Jing Ng) and me (Ngai Suen Ng)

Rachel Leung: To me, college life is all about being independent, meaning doing everything on your own, and adapting to a new lifestyle. You can’t rely on your parents all the time.

You have to manage your money, time and social With friends around town life.

Heather Barnes: Well…there’s no

tedious assignments in college! I went from an average student at HKIS with A’s and B’s in my classes to…ALL A’s on my midterms!! Just tell the kids from back home that HKIS really prepares you for college, so if you do good in High School, once you get to college you’ll find that it’s

Laurel Chor: I am currently on my

gap year and have travelled to Nepal, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia so far. I will be attending Georgetown University in Fall 2008.

Minh Chung: Having to turn down ac-

ceptance to a university last summer felt like the end of the world, but it turned out it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I am currently a student at CCSF studying fashion merchandising (and possibly design in the future). I am also currently interning at a corporate office of clothing designer Julie Chaiken and on the side I work at fashion shows for very well-known designers such as Chanel and Christian Lacroix.

For people reading, you should ‘combine what you love with what your’e good at and you’ll always be successful’ – Durand Guion.

Macys’ Passport Fashion Show Finale

Urbana-Champaign campus

42 DragonTales

I think what the Alumni Office is doing is such a great thing. I have never seen so much effort being put into something like this. It shows that the school does truly care for us, even when we are gone. n

Class In Memory Notes

Arthur Edward Hansmire

In Memory

Art was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and civil engineer. He passed away unexpectedly on August 31, 2007. He was born in Fairbury, Nebraska on July 17th, 1940. He is a Class of 1959 Fairbury High School graduate. In 1965, he graduated from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln with an M.S. in Civil Engineering and remained a proud Cornhusker.

Art worked for Leo A. Daly for 41 years. He served on assignments around the world, relocating his family from Omaha, Nebraska to Singapore, Santa Clarita, and Hong Kong. Art was an HKIS Board member in the mid to late 80s.

He retired in September 2006. He was an avid traveler, runner, golfer, and reader and took advantage of his retirement to explore new interests to the fullest.

Art and Rachael (Moritz) met on a blind date and were happily married 6 months later. They recently celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, daughter Michelle and her husband Ewan, daughter Melinda and her husband Ed, brother Gerald and his wife Audrey, four grand-children, Aidan, Lizetta, Emma and Iain, his extended family and numerous friends. He is preceded in his death by his father, Lester, and mother, Irene of Fairbury, Nebraska.

Alison Chow ’74 Alison passed away peacefully at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital on July 31, 2007, aged 50.

Alison was diagnosed with late stage kidney cancer in July 2004. She approached her fate with calmness and bravery, and continued living life to its fullest until the very end.

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James A. Handrich Service Leadership Endowment

I

n the last issue of DragonTales (Summer 2007), we profiled Jim Handrich who retired from HKIS after 24 years of service to the school. To honor Jim’s contributions to the HKIS, two alumni (Desmond Chu ’91 and Kenneth Koo ’79) approached the school to establish an endowment that would provide funds for service projects, which were always dear to Jim’s heart. With Jim’s enthusiastic support, the James A. Handrich Service Leadership Endowment was created with Desmond and Ken donating HK$100,000 each.

The purpose of this endowment is to help further the school’s Mission Statement and Student Learning Results (SLRs), specifically the SLRs of “Self Motivated Learning” and “Contributing to Society”. Interest earned from this endowment will be used to help fund service projects initiated by current high school students. Students will be given the opportunity to apply for grant funds and if awarded, the funds can be used as seed money for projects focused on contributing to society and service learning in Hong Kong, China, and Asia.

Through this endowment, students will learn valuable lessons of service, leadership and stewardship of grant funds awarded to them. Jim’s passion for service work in Asia will truly live on through these student-led service projects.

The James A. Handrich Service Leadership Endowment is now open for donations. All donations are tax deductible in Hong Kong and the U.S. through the HKIS Annual Fund. For more information on donating to this endowment and other Annual Fund projects, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at oia@hkis.edu.hk or (852) 3149-7822.

James A. Handrich Service Leadership Endowment Lead Donors: Desmond ‘91 & Elizabeth Chu Kenneth ‘79 & Helen Koo (parents Emily ‘06, Edward Gr.12, Ellen Gr.8) David & Alice Cheng (parents Gilbert ‘07, Gerald Gr.11) Teddy ‘92 & Jeffrey ‘96 Fong Mark Kwok ‘74 (parent Gareth ‘00, Robyn ‘04) Jim Handrich Leanne Lu ‘98 Moses & Angela Tsang (parents Alexis ‘00, Brietta ‘04) Kenneth & Linda Wang (parents Jeffrey ‘03, Jeremy ‘03) Peter & Daisy Wang (parents Vanessa Gr.8) The K.H. Koo Charitable Foundation Haitao & Hongwei Zhang (parents Dora Gr. 8)