World Magazine - Winter 2014

A M E R I C A N

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

S C H O O L

O F

B U C H A R E S T

WINTER EDITION 2014

+ THE ART OF TRAVELING + LIFE BEYOND AISB + ALUMNI PROFILE: LYNN WELLS PAGE 14

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Romanian Feature

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The Fortified Church of Biertan Located in the village of Biertan which is believed to have been founded sometime between 1224 to 1283 by Transylvanian Saxons, the church was the Evangelic Episcopal See for 300 years (1572-1867), and the religious center for the Saxons in Transylvania. In 1993 it was included in the UNESCO world patrimony, being considered the most valuable of the seven Saxon attraction points included on the list.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Editorial With every edition of our WORLD magazine, it’s becoming more and more challenging to select the content for our growing publication. I am privileged, as the association’s President, to meet interesting people with incredible stories about their education, lives and careers and would like to extend a big thank you to all who have contributed to this edition of the WORLD. We take great pride in our Alumni.

Maria Tudor / AA President This issue’s centerpiece is about Radu Florescu, AISB Alumnus who attended the American School of Bucharest (ASB), as it was known then, in the 60’s, and is currently CEO of Centrade Saatchi and Saatchi Romania. Radu is a strong believer of great education, and advocates his belief by being a generous supporter of education both immediately with his own family but also more widely through a number of educational organizations he is able to work with. As a hard worker with a great deal of experience, we’ve truly been given a gift to have the opportunity to learn from him through his interview with WORLD Magazine.

the association and the school. Patty is one of our strongest assets as she is hard working and excited about making a difference in our community. She is the person who “makes it happen” and we are thankful for that!

It was truly inspiring to also learn from our other interviewees; Corina Demeter, Cheney Wells and Jurgen Strohmayer shared valuable information about their fields of activity, the experiences they have lived to realize what they want to do in life, and their AISB stories from back in the day.

An update on our plans and the work we’re doing is regarding the development of our professional online platform, which will facilitate better interaction between alumni, as well as make it easier to organize reunions and events from which our committee can benefit.

Since most of us, AISB Alumni (and not only), work in international environments and have friends and family all around the world, we asked travel-master, Lara Pedrini to give us a tutorial about travelling… in style. I’ve personally known Lara for over 10 years now and I have to say that she never seizes to impress with how she keeps up with her exciting and fabulous adventures. Find out her tips on page 12.

All of our work so far has been inspired by the founding father of the association, Lynn Wells, and his enthusiasm for striving to make a difference in our community. Dear Lynn, we assure you that we continue to work hard to try to make you proud of us, all the way in Africa, and we thank you for your devotion to AISB!

In this issue of the WORLD, we are also focusing on the new at AISB. I am delighted to welcome AISB’s new Director, Dr. Robert Brindley – a very pleasant individual focused on developing great education, and also a huge supporter of the AISB Alumni Association and our plans.

Along with Robert, our team extended with two very important members. One is Patricia Khalil, AISB alumna, who is now Alumni Coordinator and who is liaising between

The second very important addition is Tim Battersby, HS Guidance & College Counselor. Besides his work with the students, Tim is coordinating the involvement of the AA with the seniors and juniors and defining ways in which alumni can improve the transition from student life to university life, and further on, to adulthood.

Wishing you all happy holidays all around the world!

Maria Tudor AA President

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VOLUME 3 / ISSUE 2 WINTER 2014 EDITORIAL TEAM Alex Cristescu Patricia Khalil Maria Tudor CONTRIBUTORS Tim Battersby, Lorne Bird, Kelli Cabell, Catalina Gardescu, Patricia Khalil, Bridget Murray-Popescu, Lara Pedrini PHOTOGRAPHY Bogdan Greavu AISB Archives DESIGN AND TYPOGRAPHY Mario Zamfir School Brand LLC ONLINE EDITION School Brand LLC WORLD ALUMNI MAGAZINE Sos. Pipera Tunari 196 Com. Voluntari Jud. Ilfov Romania 077190 Tel.: 021 204-4300 Fax: 021 204-4384 Email: alumni@aisb.ro www.aisb.ro Published by Design Works Publishing Co Print Circulation: 1000 copies Electronic Circulation: 2000 copies Cover Design: Mario Zamfir

About AISB

AISB was founded in 1962 and is currently Bucharest's largest international school. The language of instruction is English and teaching is based upon an American style curriculum.

The school offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program from Early Childhood through 12th grade.

AISB is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Council of International Schools, and the International Baccalaureate Organization and is recognized by the Ministry of Education in Romania.

Copyright Š 2014 AISB ALUMNI. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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Trademarks: WORLD Alumni Magazine, AISB Alumni Association and their associated logos are trademarks of the American International School of Bucharest. All other names, logos, and trademarks of other companies shown in this publication are the property of their respective owners.

09 Life Beyond AISB

26 12 A Match Made at AISB

The Art of Travelling

CONTENTS 06 08 11 14 20 22 24 25 28 30

DIRECTOR'S LETTER NEW HEIGHTS FOR AISB ALUMNI THE EDGE OF ADULTHOOD INTERVIEW: RADU FLORESCU INTERVIEW: CHENEY WELLS INTERVIEW: CORINA DEMETER THE SPIRIT OF GIVING AT AISB ALUMNI PROFILE: LYNN WELLS INTERVIEW: JURGEN STROHMAYER TERRY FOX RUN 2014

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Director's Message

Robert Brindley / AISB Director

Dreaming As I settle to life in Bucharest and AISB, I am gradually getting to know the people, the culture, and the language and, importantly, acquiring a better sense of the school and the vision that propels its students into the future.

After many years of teaching, my convictions about what makes an excellent education have evolved as we become more informed of the learning process. But, conversely there are some aspects that I feel never change, one of these is taking risks and having the moral courage to think and act differently, not for the sake of being different, but to change the world, even in a small way, for the better; the butterfly effect!

However, the actions of everyone are in some way influenced by the structural characteristics of the society in which they are raised, its values, ideals and culture.

We create our reality, but we do so under the weight or the past and our previous experiences. To paraphrase Mr. Marx, we make our own future, but not just as we please. It is perhaps difficult, if not impossible, to jettison our own cultural legacy and dream a reality that radically shifts from it. The separation between reality and appearances does not, however, hinder the search for meaning,

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but reduces it to a realistic perspective.

Whatever the basis of personal belief, be it Sartre’s existential solipsism, Heisenberg’s uncertainties on the nature of matter, or Feyerabend’s practical relativism, the answer to the dilemma of our perception of reality and our ability to uncover any fundamental truths cannot be achieved merely through the abstract manipulation of words and concepts.

We do not perceive everything ‘as it is’, an absolute reality, but one which was bound within our own cultural blinkers and interpretations. However, without pushing the philosophical boundaries too far, how do we dream the impossible dream or find something that you do not know exists?

Keep your options open!

What is it that allows us to recognize the genius of the writings of Shakespeare that command our respect and appreciation as to the valid portrayal of the world around us? Is it just a consequence of powerful analytical processes which draw from the coalescence of ideas and concepts which have passed the test of time?

Live a little!

As a certain J.M. Power remarked, ‘if you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.’

Face life’s hurdles and jump, or step, or take a running jump if necessary; but, whatever happens do something that will lift you up; hurdles by definition are never that high, you just need to be able to get over them, knock them down, trip on the top bar, snag your foot on the wooden bar, run through them if necessary; but whatever happens you will get over it!

We have plans to build more buildings, improve the resources in the classroom, improve the standard of teaching, and give students hope and educational guidance to achieve their potential. But above all we must continue to nurture in the students a sense of wonder of the world around them, as they once had as a small child, and to play an active part in its evolution.

So, we must never forget to sing the words of Louis Armstrong, ‘what a wonderful world’.

Regards, Robert Brindley AISB Director

AISB Welcomes New Director Dr. Robert Brindley joins us from the International School in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

As a geophysicist following his University Studies at Exeter University in the UK, Robert began his career in mining exploration in Dublin, Southern Ireland.

Robert’s urge to travel took him to various locations around the world for work, including Norway, Tunisia, Israel, Greece, Austria, Italy, Venezuela, New Zealand, Australia, Uzbekistan, and now Romania.

Meeting his future wife Jann whilst working in Israel, they both returned to England to get married. At this time, Robert also decided to make a career change and thus undertook an educational, postgraduate degree to

become a teacher. In the years that followed, he taught Mathematics and Chemistry in Cornwall, after which Jann and he moved to Italy where he became Head of Mathematics and Science at the Junior English School.

Another move lead them to Queensland, Australia where Robert served as Deputy Headmaster at The Kooralbyn International School, and later Housemaster and Head of Science at The Armidale School in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. It was here that Robert completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration at the University of New England, Australia, in 1996.

Robert and Jann, and by now their two boys, then moved to Venezuela to the British School in Caracas, to make

the most of an international education for the children.

Robert served a myriad of school leadership roles including Director of Studies, Deputy Headmaster, and Headmaster of Secondary School. 2001 brought about another move, this time to Atlanta, USA, and Atlanta International School. First joining the faculty as Head of Middle School and Director of Secondary Academic Studies, Robert was later appointed Headmaster. During their eight years in Atlanta, Robert became an active member with the Council for International Schools (CIS), serving as an Advisor to their Accreditation Service.

In Robert’s words, “My travels and work experiences across the globe developed and

nurtured an understanding and tolerance of differing social attitudes, perceptions and expectations. So our move to Uzbekistan, in 2009, to assume the role of Director at Tashkent International School, took no one by surprise!”

We are very happy to now welcome Robert and Jann to AISB and to further grow under Robert’s experienced leadership. The AISB Alumni Association Executive Team has already worked closely with him to develop ideas for the AA and we will be sharing news with you soon. As always, our Alumni are always invited to pop in for a visit and take the opportunity to meet AISB’s new Director.

Share your news with us!

Getting in touch with old friends

We are always happy to hear from alumni about their life after AISB. If you have news you would like to share with your alumni community, then please get in touch and we will do our best to include your story. Please keep us up-to-date with your news.

We have a number of ways in which you can make contact with each other - through attendance at one of our many events, via the search facility on our website (coming soon) or through searching the various social media sites we have a presence on.

For more details, contact: Salwa Patricia Khalil AISB Alumni Coordinator I skhalil@aisb.ro

We would also like to hear from alumni who have contact details for other alumni they know we are out of touch with.

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Salwa Patricia Khalil / AISB Alumni Coordinator

Since its establishment in September 2012 as part of our school’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the AA has grown from strength to strength under the direction of our President, Maria Tudor, and her Executive Team.

As a collective alumni group, we: • have organized Alumni reunions twice a year;

New Heights for AISB Alumni

Column by Salwa Patricia Khalil AISB Alumna / Class of 2009

It’s a pleasure for me to be taking on the role of AISB Alumni Coordinator this year and I’m incredibly excited about the plans we are putting together for the AISB Alumni Association. As an alumna myself, it’s been an honor to be as involved as I’m able to be, giving our Alumni Association the attention and opportunity for growth it deserves.

Association with a gift to commend their hard work and introduce them to the unique group they will form part of; and • organize fundraising events to help the greater community, most recently raising over 5,000 Euros to help a little boy with Cerebral Palsy.

• support AISB high school students by hosting ‘Career Tuesdays’ talks once a month with a focus on a different career each month;

With an already active alumni body, we’re now looking to move things further along. We are in the process of building an online network which will give us the opportunity to connect more easily, both personally and professionally. This will also be a route that current students will be able to use to reach out to Alumni and truly establish a mentoring relationship.

As Alumni, we are now at a stage where we can take on the role of these mentors and offer valuable life, university, and early career advice to our budding students. Our presence as AISB Alumni is so important in inspiring current AISB students to reach incredible heights through dedication and commitment to their work and passions.

• annually invite and welcome AISB graduates into the Alumni

Very importantly, this online presence will also allow us to really brand

• are present at AISB events, including sports activities, performances, and fundraising galas; • coach AISB students in Athletics and Activities; • have returned to work at AISB; • publish our WORLD magazine biannually and welcome a readership of over 25,000 people;

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ourselves as a successful, thriving Alumni Association, gaining traction as a valuable network for our own Alumni group, our AISB community, and the greater local communities that we live in and are part of in all corners of the world. Building these connections will further shape our network of young professionals who are ready to give back to the communities they belong to, including reaching out to our wider communities in Bucharest and beyond by organizing professional development opportunities through our Alumni partners.

I, together with all of you, both Alumni and wider readers, look forward to applying our experiences, expertise, and energy to taking our AISB Alumni Association to the next level. Enjoy the pages of our Winter 2014 Issue of the WORLD Magazine and do consider sending in your stories for our next edition.

Sincerely, Salwa Patricia Khalil AISB Alumni Coordinator skhalil@aisb.ro

Life Beyond AISB As a newcomer to the AISB community, it’s easy for me to see what makes this school unique. Of course there are many similarities between international schools – transient student populations: teaching staff from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds; high proportions of well resourced, well educated and professional parents; rigorous academic programs; competitive students; and wide ranging services and extracurricular opportunities.

Indeed these are very fertile environments for growing highly capable global citizens.

So how do I see AISB differentiate itself? My first impressions are of a vibrant learning community which seems to enjoy challenging and improving itself. I see that a lot of solid strategic planning and action over the last decade or so, has been paying dividends with increasingly strong academic results; and gener-

Column by Tim Battersby

AISB HS Guidance & College Counselor

ally happy and satisfied students, parents and teachers.

There is a tangible sense of community and also a refreshing sense of hopefulness.

This is personified by the members of the AISB Alumni Association that I have had the pleasure of working with throughout the last few months.

The commitment and energy of alumni organizations make a huge difference to the current culture of a school. The professional yet

fun approach to push forward alumni engagement that your AISB Alumni Association leadership team have shown is so refreshing and encouraging to me.

So what else have I seen in my first few months? Considering the dynamic global employment market, AISB seniors are still fairly conservative in the higher education choices they make. Considerable numbers of kids are choosing to study what I consider traditional programs such as business, medicine, engineering and sciences. A handful look for more adventurous programs like advertising, performing arts, international relations and philosophy.

It might be explained that greater numbers of students already have the plan to study their “base degree” and then follow on with postgraduate studies. It might also be that internationally mobile families encourage

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portable, well recognized careers for their kids. I see more kids than ever considering gap years, which both the universities and I encourage.

It is kind of ironic that our school days, spent in rich and fertile environments such as AISB, are also the days fraught with the challenges of adolescence. The average teenager has their hands full managing their looping emotions; a changing body and accelerating mind; fragile social dynamics; temptations; building their values, their self image; and trying to get enough sleep. Throw in a tough academic program and the new responsibility of mapping out a future that meets everyone’s expectations. It’s no wonder not all students make the most of the opportunities at school, and most report feeling uncertain of their choices about their

ABOUT TIM: Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Tim gained a B.Ed then began teaching PE, Health Education, Outdoor Education, Geography and Humanities in various government and private schools in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. He’s always enjoyed being part of learning that goes on beyond the classroom, including coaching students in team and individual sports, adventure activities and expeditions.

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futures. Some are just not ready to see the bigger purpose of their school education.

This is where I see the potential for a wonderful intersection between past and current AISB students. With the benefit of hindsight, further education and life experience, alumni are beautifully positioned to engage as mentors with current students. They will listen to you, probably more than to their own parents or teachers, because you were once where they are now.

You can relate to the AISB culture they live in, you have thrived and moved on into your bright new future. The example you show of how the grind of adolescence and school somehow pays off, is real and tangible. Mentoring is not easy and often not done well. It needs to

Thirteen years ago he began teaching internationally, first at Bavarian IS; then ISHCMC, Vietnam; at the Prem Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand as the Director of Admissions and Public Relations. In the last eight years Tim has managed to squeeze in a Masters in Counseling, working in international admissions at the University of Notre Dame, Australia, and as a Human Resources Manager in the corporate sector. He is

be genuine, consistent and realistic.

What you can offer is: your stories of going through the university search process, the life you found beyond AISB, and your professional insight into higher education and developing a meaningful career.

You may now appreciate the value of your network, in future-proofing your career and maximizing your opportunities. Establishing mentoring relationships between past and current students is a deliberate thickening of the bonds which can only benefit the wider ASIB community going forward. What do you think?

Tim Battersby High School Guidance and College Counselor

coming from the International School of Tanganyika, where Tim and his family loved living on the Indian Ocean and experiencing the natural wonders of Tanzania. He’s been lucky to take students to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro and down to the abundant reefs of Zanzibar.

Tim is married to Kathryne who has been teaching Kindergarten in the Elementary School. They met while

working in Vietnam. They have two children, both born in Kat’s home city of Melbourne. They had their daughter, Harper, in June 2010, and in December 2013 had their son, Reuben.

Together, Tim and Kat love movies, discovering new places, markets, festivals, cultures and places to eat and drink coffee! Tim also enjoys team sports and exploring on Enduro bikes.

Kelli Cabell

AISB Grade 12 Student

The Edge

of Adulthood “I’m not a girl, not yet a woman.”

–Britney Spears This is – starting my senior year and recently turning 18 – exactly how I feel.

I’ve started to get tired at 8 pm and when I go out, I constantly look at my watch, stressing out about how late it’s getting. Remembering all the work I have to do, thinking about how tired I’ll be if I stay out till 2 am. School is exhausting, especially when teachers start telling you that you’re a role model now for all the younger classes, adding one more responsibility to your overpacked plate, making you feel like you can’t just be you, but have to strive for their concept of perfection. All of a sudden, everyone is watching your every step, just waiting to call you out on being irresponsible or immature. They are forgetting that you’re still young. All you can do is try to keep

yourself together and drink coffee like it’s water just to function.

Before, when I was younger, I’d see immense possibilities in front of me. I had plenty of time to think about college and my future. Now I have a few months to think about it and get myself prepared. I think about the costs of things now, like food, dorm supplies, and how expensive college is. How do I do taxes? Could someone teach me how to write a proper signature? Oh god, what do I do at banks? Everything seems so cynical; everything isn’t possible anymore – instead it’s making sure to be realistic. If your dream college is so expensive that even selling your kidney on the black market can’t make a dent in the cost, then forget it. Your dream job is to be a singer? Ha, have fun with finding a job, honey, and good luck competing with the thousands of other people wanting the same thing.

We’re on the edge of adulthood. We still have a few years ahead of us. We can make some mistakes and get away with being somewhat irresponsible, but with each day you realize how soon you’ll be living on your own. It’s exciting, of course, but out there is the real world where Mommy and Daddy aren’t paying for all your s***. No one is going to spoonfeed you. You want something, go get a job, and don’t even think about being impulsive – you have to think

about things in the long run instead of today’s satisfaction. Even relationships seem tainted, no longer can I swoon for high school romances in movies, it all seems like b***s***. Instead I watch Blue Valentine, and cry over how realistic it is, watching as a young romance turns into a 40-year-old couple with marriage issues and a mundane relationship.

When did life go from shooting for the stars to hoping for the best? Did it get lost in college tuition and people telling you that your worth is made out of grades? Did things become cynical after the realization that money makes dreams come true, not passion?

I wish I could rip a hole in the spacetime continuum and go back to being ten, when I thought anything was possible. The older I get, the more cynical I become, yet others describe it as being realistic. I stress over every grade, having nightmares about getting rejected from everywhere I apply to. I spend my free time studying SAT vocab and wishing that I was an only child, thinking that maybe then college tuition could have been more affordable. I’m having a midlife crisis at 18 because all my stressing out will most likely kill me at the ripe age of 36. Sadly, I’d be okay with that because then I wouldn’t have to deal with finding a stable career and the thought of marriage and children.

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I’m writing this at 1:00 am, knowing that I have school tomorrow, but can’t fall asleep due to the thoughts of impending adulthood coming towards me. I want to hang out with my friends, and take advantage of the last of my teen angst before I wake up and I’m thirty. The problem is that what you do in high school matters, at least that’s what teachers say. So you find yourself standing at a ledge. Still a teenager just wanting to en-

joy their youth, yet looking over the ledge at the abyss of adulthood. I don’t know anything about the future. I can try and plan everything out, and work towards a goal that I may never achieve. That sadly is the truth.

Re-published with permission Cabell, Kelli. “The Edge of Adulthood.”

The Underground 4.1 (2014): 24-25.

What do you think? Did you feel this way in High School?

How did you overcome your feelings and move forward?

Please write to AISB’s Development and Communications Assistant, Patricia Khalil, at skhalil@aisb.ro to share your thoughts, and offer your support and advice to current AISB students. These will be sent to The Underground team for publication in their next issue. Thank you in advance.

The Art of Traveling Before I ever had an adult life of my own, my father (who one year had taken over 220 flights) always told me that traveling extensively and staying in 5-star hotels while being treated like royalty by local hosts wasn’t what it seemed to be. It was fun, but it was tiring and difficult. The lack of sleep, the work around the clock (when

you have teams working on all 5 continents) and the constant packing/ unpacking, checking in/ checking out were particularly taking. I questioned his opinion and thought “what a piece of cake? Jet set here, jet set there,” only to discover slowly but surely that it could only be done enjoyably by mastering it like an art.

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Disclaimer: The Underground is an unofficial and independent student-led publication that provides a forum for students to find their voice and express their honest and truthful views, but anyone is welcome to submit their writing, art, and suggestions to: <theunderground.aisb@ gmail.com>. For each issue, our goals are diversity, balance, depth, representation, and entertainment.

Column by Lara Pedrini

AISB Alumna / Class of 2004

Let’s take a step back and see how I came to that realization. I am currently a Director of Risk & Compliance at Dow Jones, based in New York (yes, the city that never sleeps). My work consists of meeting with C-level executives of Fortune 500 companies, partners, principals and the like, and providing advice and tools to ensure compliance with

OFAC Sanctions, AML regulations, FCPA legislation, KYC/CIP requirements etc.

In plain English, my job is to make sure my clients don’t get fined $8 billion dollars like BNP did, or don’t get defrauded by the likes of Madoff (alleged to have lost at least $50 billion through his Ponzi scheme). In this function, the only way to succeed is to always be impeccable.

You walk through the door of your client’s 5th Avenue high rise and you have 10 minutes to make your first (or last) impression, and to bring in a couple million dollars in revenue for your firm (or go home with your tail between your legs). Needless to say that the top level executives at the large financials all know each other, and can either recommend you to everyone or kindly advise their peers to send business to another 'vendor,' – that resonating term that constantly reminds any external consultant that, no matter how good your relationship may be with your client, you are only as good as your last performance.

I am also a social butterfly. I love traveling, partying, entertaining, discovering, venturing… you name it. And, when you have lived in 8 different countries around the world, attending an event – whether a “vernissage”, a movie premiere, or a life event (of which there are many when you are in your late 20s) – usually means taking a flight as soon as your obligations are fulfilled in one place, in order to make said event that’s being held that same evening, effortlessly and fashionably late.

It also usually means you will be seeing friends you haven’t seen in ages (perhaps since AISB or even before) and the last thing you want after people

seeing your Instagram filled with weekends in Bali (I’m actually heading to Soekarno Hatta International Airport as I write this), Knicks games from our Madison Square Garden suite, and Tesla driving in the Hamptons, is them saying “I saw her last week, she’s not all that!” because you didn’t bring your A-game.

By now you probably think I’m exaggerating, so let me give you my schedule over the past 2 weeks as an example. Last Thursday, I was supposed to leave the office at noon, head home to pack for Mexico City, in order to take a 3pm flight and make the opening of Museo Jumex, the city’s most acclaimed museum owned by a dear friend of mine. My 11am meeting that day got pushed to noon and finished at 1:30pm; I was forced to head straight to JFK. I spent a weekend in Mexico that I can only describe in pictures and anecdotes, took the red eye back to New York, landed at 7:30am on Monday and headed straight to the office. That same evening, I took the Acela to DC. Over the next 48 hours, I traveled to 3 States (DC, MD and VA) to attend a conference and meet with clients. I came back to New York very late on Wednesday night. Thursday afternoon, after asking the UBER that took me home from the office to wait while I unpacked and repacked, I left to Paris for the weekend to visit family and friends. That Sunday,

I flew to Indonesia for an overdue week-long vacation, only to get back to

New York the following Monday at 4:30 pm to make the NY Jets vs.

Miami Dolphins game that evening, to which I was taking clients. Believe me now?

So how does one do it while staying sane and happy? How does one fit a hectic work schedule, filled with back to back business meetings and a social calendar only rivaled by that of the First Lady’s (OK, that was an exaggeration), while sleeping only a couple of hours a night and barely knowing which time zone you’re in? Here are my 5 rules, tried and tested:

Rule 1: Always, always, always set your biological clock to the time at your destination. I don’t care if you’re tired, wait until the evening (or as late as humanly possible) to go to bed. As much as you’ll hate me to start with, you’ll thank me later.

Rule 2: Do not get dehydrated. Drink lots; the composition of the drink should be a function of the purpose of the trip and the duration of the flight. Needless to say, long hauls require stronger liquor (and perhaps a little help from the medical department) to ensure sleeping profusely until you hit the tarmac.

Rule 3: Make sure from the very get go that any neighbor (at the lounge, in the flight etc.) knows who’s

boss: “Yes, both armrests are mine. No, I don’t want to talk. And, trust me, you really don’t want to make excessive noise, gesticulate or do anything else that may disturb the couple (or more) hours I have to myself.”

Rule 4: Your iPhone is your best friend, uncontestably! Passbook, dope tunes and apps that en-

able you to make/ cancel/modify reservations seamlessly; at the very minimum SPG, Open Table, Ticketmaster, and all frequent flyer apps are a must. But to ensure a long-term friendship that withholds the trials and tribulations of traveling, treat your iPhone like yourself: it must be fed on a regular basis and it sometimes needs to rest.

Rule 5: Finally, if you really need something, use and abuse of what I like to call 'the medical excuse.' If you need to use the bathroom during landing, take the aisle seat (instead of the middle seat) or whatever else suits your fancy, make up some medical need that requires immediate attention. Asthma works great!

But no, do not use Ebola; saying you just got back from Sierra Leone and have been feverish for 3 days will only succeed in getting you off the flight and out of circulation for at least a week.

So, with that said, sit back, fasten your seatbelt, and enjoy the ride.

Bon Voyage! ​

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Interview with

Radu Florescu CEO Centrade Saatchi & Saatchi 14 WORLD ALUMNI MAGAZINE

AISB Alumnus / Attendend in 1968

I am happy to say that I consider myself an alumnus of the American International School. I sometimes think back to 1968 when I attended as a 7-year old in grade 2 or 3 for a 6-7 month period - it has been so long that I can’t even remember what grade I was in!

At that time, the American School was located next to the Romanian national television station which today serves as the headquarters for the FullBright commission, maintaining long-standing US roots.

AISB then and now WM: You attended the American School of Bucharest (ASB), as it was known back then, in 1968 – what grade were you in and how long did you attend for? How was the school back then? Do you have any special memories that you want to share?

RF: I am happy to say that I consider myself an alumni of the American International School. I sometimes think back to 1968 when I attended as a 7-year old in grade 2 or 3 for a 6-7 month period - it has been so long that I can’t even remember what grade I was in! At that time, the American School was located next to the Romanian national television station which today serves as the headquarters for the FullBright commission, maintaining longstanding US roots. As mentioned, I attended ASB for about 6 or 7 months with few memories of school life, but do recall several events from my experience in Romania. It was a very small school at the time, nothing near to the size nor the number of students attending AISB today, and certainly without the facilities that the school has to offer, such as the big basketball courts and the gym stadium!

It was small and most, if not all of the students attending were children of diplomats. I remember running out in the playground, going up and down the stairs to

get to class, and attentive teachers, who numbered perhaps a 12 at that time.

Only recently during an AISB event, an elderly lady came up to me and asked, “Are you Radu Florescu?,” and when I responded, “Yes I am,” she said: “I was your teacher in 1968 when you were a little boy.” I was thinking, ‘how on earth she recognized me from 1968, now' – I imagine there must be some physical attribute that gave me away – 'but how she recognized me I’ll never know.’ One particular incident from AISB that I do remember from 1968 – the Japanese ambassador’s son to Romania had a crush on my younger sister and as expected with older brothers, I tended to tease my sister more often than not. Feeling the need to protect my sister from my teasing, the ambassador’s son decided to give me a karate chop to the neck to discourage me from behaving badly. The impact was immediate and after that I stopped teasing my sister… at least for a few weeks. Romania back then was a very different place – arguably it is often referred to by some as the golden age of Ceausescu. There are many other fond memories of Romania, and looking back as a kid with not a worry in the world I still believe it was a fantastic place to be at that time.

WM: Do you still keep in touch with anyone from your grade from back then?

RF: No. Unfortunately back in 1968, the American school students were mostly diplomat kids. I imagine all those same diplomats and their kids are scattered across the globe or probably retired now. As such, and despite my Facebook account, I have not kept in touch with anybody except for my recent encounter with my former teacher – it’s good to be rekindling our relationship. I certainly hope that this will strengthen my alumni status moving forward.

WM: Are you still involved with AISB now? How so? If so, what do you think makes AISB one of the best schools in Romania?

RF: Am I still involved in AISB? Not officially. I have 3 boys, two who attended AISB and have now moved on. Even so, I am still involved through the school's various community events and our firm's support with AISB's media and PR relations.

Perhaps my involvement was higher during the time my boys were attending school, however, I do try to stay active in the ongoing activities that the school promotes in the local community. It’s great to see that AISB is still very involved with the local community which in many ways reflects the spirit of the school. I also know that many AISB parents are active in the community through organizations such as the United Way,

AISEC, Hospice of Hope, and other charitable organizations.

The strength of AISB can be attributed to the diversity of the students – students from different countries – Romanians, Americans, British, Israeli, etc., and coupled with this diversity are culture and language, that all contribute to the strength of the AISB curriculum and in many ways, reflects American culture as well. We should not forget that the United States is a country of cultural diversity, different backgrounds, and different thinking, which all underscore the values of American society today. Looking at AISB today, the main attraction is not about being «American», it’s about the opportunity to learn within a student body through the eyes of different individuals, different perspectives, and ideas – that’s what makes it such a special place and such a great place – a true mirror reflection of America.

WM: You completed your university studies at Boston College. How did you choose this university and your major? What were the main 3 points that drove you in that direction?

RF: I chose Boston College because my father was a professor there and I had free tuition. It was that simple. That being said, I was required to be accepted like any other student applicant and I think they

AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 15

made it even tougher on me as free tuition was no small perk in those days – just like any scholarship. So I had to jump through the all the hoops, had to pass the grades and work hard before I was finally accepted. Why I particularly chose business studies – I attended BC's Carroll School of Business Management – I was always interested in Finance and Marketing.

The process was quick and in the course of 8 years, I ended up working for 5 firms including Merryl Lynch, E.F. Hutton, Dean Witter, and other big Wall Street companies, many of them now defunct. However, that was 1983 and the boom of the 80s in which I was living.

From my early days as a kid, I was interested in business. I started little businesses: yard services, cutting lawns, and raking leaves. I used to organize ski trips for my class in high school, to help supplement my non-existent income which enabled me to buy pizzas, cokes, junk food, etc. in little Cohasset, Massachusetts. I always had a passion for business and possessed an entrepreneurial spirit.

1. Having an entrepreneurial spirit; 2. being in the right place at the right time, I think that had a lot to do with it; and 3. maintaining a sense of adventure – wanting to try something new.

I was never afraid to try something new and Finance and Marketing just seemed like the right fit for me. I suppose I was just lucky – in life sometimes there are people who are lucky, and there are people who are smart. I think I’ve been luckier than I’ve been smart. When I graduated from the business school, I was recruited by Wall Street.

You have to remember that this was 1983 when the Wall Street boom was taking off and 'Wall Street' the movie, Gordon Gecko, and hyped up images of New York were at their height. Looking back, I was probably in the right place at the right time, with the right background and the right degree. Boston College was a reputable school and recruiters who visited us on campus said “Hey, we’re interested in having people like you in our firm”. Back then, even if we didn’t like where we worked, we had the option to easily switch firms as Wall Street was thriving – it was nothing like today, where Wall Street has been hit hard.

This was a big attraction for young people with limited or no experience who were graduating from business schools.

What are the 3 main points that drove me during my early beginnings?

Having lived most of my life in Boston, New York was a bit foreign to me. But I was never afraid to try something different, much like my return to Romania. At that time, Romania remained somewhat of a mystery as 7 months schooling in 1968 could hardly be considered enough time to really know the country. Although Romania was not my home and remained an unfamiliar place, in 1990 I was drawn to that same sense of adventure.

I can assure you I was not disappointed.

WM: How did you start your career? You mentioned that gardening was your first business. When was that and how did you transition from gardening to advertising? How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in advertising?

RF: I did mention that gardening was my first career – being 14 years old, I don’t know if I want to say it was a career, rather, I think it was a step into the business world.

The gardening business consisted of getting together with a few friends and going from house to house in our community and knocking on doors asking: “Hey, do you want us to mow your lawns or rake your leaves?” depending on the season. And little by little we were able to convince elderly ladies, or people who didn’t have kids, or people who didn’t have time to do house chores, and it was our

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way of making money. It was that simple.

I continued that tradition and secured summer jobs while I was at university. I worked in oil refineries in the middle of nowhere on the LouisianaTexas border, I worked as a waiter, at gas stations… all sorts of summer jobs that raised my budget while I attended school.

I made a point of supporting myself. I never asked my parents for support once I left high school and it’s a commitment I maintained. I made my own money, I paid for my own school – I was already lucky enough that I didn’t have to pay the tuition, which left just room and board, so I felt that my father had already contributed his share to my education. But I thought it was important to make my own mark and pursue my goals on my own.

I think it’s an important life lesson.

I’m not saying this applies to everyone, but I think it’s important to stand on your own two feet, to do things independently, and use your own wits to make things happen.

I think that’s a very, very important life lesson, and it’s something that I try to do with my own kids as well. They work during the summer, they make their own money and learn about the responsibility of taking care of themselves. My kids have it easy too. School is something I pay for. Even though I am not a professor and can't secure free tuition, I have a simple deal with my kids – they pay for room and board and I take care of the rest. It is not about giving breaks, but arguably, with tuition as prohibitively high as it is today, extraordinarily high, it is a fair deal. I don't know many summer jobs that can cover that cost. So they make their own spending money to chip in – and they do it.

My eldest worked in a fish market cutting up fish one summer, he worked as a waiter another summer, etc. and that’s how it works. I think it teaches discipline, I

think it teaches focus, and a sense of responsibility.

There’s nothing, I think, more pleasing, or satisfying, than earning your own money and saying. “Hey, I did this on my own,” and I think that’s an important life lesson.

I mentioned that I started my career in Wall Street. Wall Street is where I worked for about 8 years. I was involved in the trading desk, worked on the trading floor – that place you see in the movies with all the guys screaming and yelling. Those were fascinating times, and New York really was the place to be in the 80s. It was a fast-paced life, we had events and parties (too many parties), and we would work long days. It was a little like in the movies, but it was a fascinating experience and I learned quite a bit. One lesson I learned was: there’s no such thing as gain without risk. It was one of the lessons that stuck with me even today: “no risk-it, no biscuit” was the expression at the time. I continued my career in Wall Street until the events of ’89 took place.

Now to advertising, how I got into advertising.

I didn’t go out and say: “I want to be an advertising executive.” My career in advertising really was a product of my activities which began here in Romania. When the events of '89 took place, and being of Romanian descent, I took an active interest in what was taking place in Romania.

My father had always been close to Romania – from an academic perspective, and tried to keep the channels open between the US and Romania despite the difficulties of the Ceausescu regime.

Throughout, my father kept us up to date about Romania and I was very much aware of my Romanian roots. I was always curious about Romania, I had a 100% Romanian name, so I couldn’t escape that, and I came to Romania in May 1990 just to take a look.

At that time, Romania was quite chaotic, it was right after the revolution, people wandered the streets, there

was no sense of direction, people didn’t know what they wanted to do, etc. Nonetheless, the idea of getting involved in communication was intriguing: I had arrived from New York and had bought myself a New York Times and I was walking down Magheru Boulevard just looking around. There were barely any cars back then, a bunch of Dacias and that’s it, nothing else.

As I was walking up and down Magheru, people were coming up to me and asking me if they could take a piece of my newspaper. They said “have you read your newspaper?” and I said “well, I’m reading it.” “Do you mind if I take this article” and literally they’d just rip out a piece of the paper and take it with them. By the time I got from Piata Universitatii to Piata Romana, I didn’t have a newspaper left – I think that only thing left in my hand was a Macy’s ad. It then dawned upon me�������������������� – one area of business that could be interesting was communication because there had been such a deprivation of information for so long, why not do something that would open Romania up to the outside world. One of the first projects we tried to put together was a joint venture between USA Today and Tineretul Liber. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for a host of reasons.

Looking back, I just think that Romania was not ready to have an independent newspaper in 1991. But it was an interesting experience nonetheless and little by little we became involved with television.

Then it came to setting up the office and I had to hire people. I couldn’t find anyone with advertising or communication experience so through my father’s connections, I went to the academy and I talked to a few professors and I asked them: “Who are your best students?” and they gave me names of their best students.

I interviewed them and eventually hired a few. And that’s how I started.

We were two or three people

at that time and without going into the entire history of the organization, we grew to 9 companies and employ 250 people – one of the biggest communication groups in Romania.

Our business interests range from post-production to cable television, to advertising, to public relations. That’s the story in short. In a sense, I didn’t know I wanted to pursue an advertising career, I think advertising followed me and I got caught up and carried away with it. I have no regrets. I loved what I did and I still enjoy what I do today.

It’s evolved: our business has changed dramatically – now we talk about digital, we talk about a lot of different things, but even though I am mostly known as the Saatchi & Saatchi guy, I am active in many other companies as well. Centrade Group is the holding company that manages and controls all of our operations. It’s been a fascinating ride.

WM: What you do now in terms of the internationalism and diversity associated with your work?

RF: I’m an internationalist and consider myself diverse. I am American-born, a French citizen, and I live in Romania.

I think that is the definition of diversity itself. I think it makes life more interesting. We live in a world that’s so different from when I was growing up, especially from my days at ASB. Growing up in America in the 60›s and 70›s, everyone wanted to be American and being American meant having American names, playing American sports and everything else that comes with that. That’s no longer the case anymore in America.

More and more want to be international, they want to travel, and there is a trend and a desire to learn more and to speak more languages. Traditionally, or at least from what I have seen, Americans are not very good at languages.

Because the world is getting smaller and because we

have, at the touch of our finger, access to unlimited information, at a level and speed that is mind boggling, it has changed the world for young people (and old). I think that access to readily available information at the tip of your fingers presents so many opportunities which in many ways makes life more exciting. If I was starting off my career today, I’m not sure I would go into traditional advertising anymore. I’d probably still do something related to digital communication, but I’m not sure it would be advertising per se.

I look at my kids. They don’t watch television anymore or do anything else that I did as a kid. They look at their computer, they want convenience, and they want to be entertained on their own terms. They are interested in content on their computer, they download what they want to watch, watch it when they want to see it; they don’t buy into advertising, unfortunately.

They’re always telling me: “Dad, you’re in a dead business,” they’re probably right, yeah, and they have everything in the world at the touch of their finger. Well, I think it’s just great.

When I look at the opportunities of today, I think it’s important to mention how important it is to have information available, but even more important what you do with that information.

This is the challenge we, including all the future graduates of AISB, face.

How are you going to make a career, how are you going to make a life, how are you going to plan everything moving forward when you have so much information to decipher?

WM: Most students at AISB pursue business majors in university. What is your opinion about that? If you were to do it all over again now, in present time, what major/career would you go for?

RF: Great that they’re pursuing business majors. I am

the son of teachers; and believe there should be more teachers. Many young people don’t want to go into teaching because it doesn’t pay, but it is a very rewarding career in other ways. I love to and I do teach from time to time. While I don’t teach officially, I give lectures, speeches, and especially enjoy doing so with young people. Many students want to go into business, that’s fine. People should go into a career that interests them and because they believe they will enjoy it, not because they think they’re going to make more money.

Many individuals may find themselves in careers that make lots of money but at the same time hate their jobs. These individuals are not necessarily the happiest people and I have always believed that success is never defined by how much money you make. Success in life is a balance: it’s a balance of your career, your family life, and your own happiness.

If you’re happy at your job and miserable with your family and everything else, I would hardly call that success. I think that as a 'balanţa', a Libra, I am a big believer in 'equilibrium'. There has to be a balance in everything we do – putting aside the daily stress at the work place or with family. People are confronted with different challenges and we all need to address them in our own way.

But striking the right balance is the most important thing.

If it has to be business, so be it. When one choses a career, business takes on different meaning. Business can be engineering, architectural, investment bank, industry, advertising etc., there are so many different types of businesses.

But there are other careers that are equally interesting, equally rewarding and financially attractive, that people should explore. With the access to the internet we have the possibility to learn so much so fast.

Everything you want to know provides more opportunities than when I was a kid. I think a business career is great, but

AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 17

there are lots of other things to do and you should keep your options open. There are lots of good business schools obviously, but being an arts & science student doesn't mean you cannot enter business at a later stage of your life.

If I were to do it all over again, would I do the same thing?

Yes, I have no regrets. I maintain the same interest in my business as I did 25 years ago.

It is a business that is evolving and changing, making it as interesting as it was in the 1990s. I wouldn’t change anything. Like all businesses, we have had our highs and lows. You know, life is about ups and downs.

However, that’s what makes people better and stronger.

Change is the best thing that can happen in anyone’s career.

Most people are afraid about losing their job. I think that sometimes having the experience of losing your job is probably the best thing that can happen to you.

I’ll give you an example: when I was in Wall Street I was on the trading floor and I was working for arguably the biggest trading firm in the commodity market. They were feared and respected.

Most of the competition spent their time watching what I was doing on the trading floor knowing my orders would affect the market – one way or the other. I had 8 phones on my head – they were actually taped to my head and arms.

Over time I thought I was doing very well and naively thought I was a superstar.

One day I got a call from my boss, he said “Hey, Radu, can you come up and see me when the trading hours end?” and I said “No problem.” Many things were going through my head and I believed I was going to get a raise, promotion, etc.

After meeting him, my boss basically told me that unless I got my act together I was going to be out of a job in the next couple of weeks. I was in complete shock and I couldn’t

believe what had happened.

In my mind, I thought I was doing extremely well.

How did I react? I refocused, reenergized and recalibrated and after much hard (much harder) work, I ended up being the number one trader in the group. It was no doubt the best thing that could have happened to me.

So for those of you who are looking for compliments on how good you are and how great everything is, be open to criticism because it’s the best way – sometimes the only way – to change. Thank God, I have never gotten fired, but I have had my shares of failures.������������ I still believe that failure is the best way to learn how to improve and one of the best examples from history is Winston Churchill – one of my favorite historical characters. He was successful because he’d failed so many times.

We tend to learn more from our failures than from most of our successes. I think this is a very strong message to carry to the students.

WM: Within our Alumni Association, we’ve noticed that a lot of the Romanian students come back home after their university studies – do you think there is any explanation for this trend?

RF: I don’t know about that.

I always understood that many of these kids go off to university and don’t want to come back.

Unfortunately, I think the statistics would probably point out that the population of Romania is in decline.

Listen, Romania has a lot of opportunity. There is tremendous potential. We talk about this all the time.

The question for Romania is really “Will it continue to be a great opportunity as we move into the future?”

In other words, “Is it only to remain a great country with great opportunity, with great potential?”

So for those students that are going off to university and

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come back, I salute them.

This is their country, this is where they grew up, and this can be their future. A future molded by those who take charge and who initiate action for change. I believe that many things still need to be changed in Romania.

It’s certainly not going to be us old guys to make those changes moving forward.

It’s going to be the young generation. I would launch a challenge to those university students coming back to work to make a change.

I know many that attend top universities like Oxford, Harvard etc. don’t just attend only to come back with a diploma to brag about. It’s not the diploma; it’s the person.

Unfortunately I have seen too many cases of students who return and all they do is boast about their credentials. Don’t get me wrong, I think these kids have great potential, but when I look in terms of what they do locally with their degree… unimpressive.

It’s what you do with that diploma, not what you paste on the wall, your CV, or on your desk. I think this is something we should remind them about.

WM: You are involved in very many associations and you are a supporter of so many educational programs. Why so? What is the importance of giving and responsible world citizenship, both for you and also the community? How does your involvement in service to the community help you overcome daily challenges, both personal and professional?

RF: First of all, I am from Massachusetts and I am a big supporter of the community programs – that’s number one. But most importantly, I think it’s so important to give back to your community.

Life is not always fair. Some people are in situations through no fault of their own. In life we are often not always provided the same opportunities. I consider myself unbelievably lucky.

I grew up in the suburbs of

Boston – one of the most beautiful places to grow up in. I attended university and I was able to leverage my background and experience to get a job and to work in Romania.

Not everyone in this world is that lucky. I told you about being smart and lucky; I’ve been lucky. I think that there are many who are smart and simply unlucky. I was taught how important it is to reach out to those people who are not as fortunate, and help.

These people are as much part of our society as anyone else.

Those who think it’s about the 'them' and the 'us' are wrong.

It’s about 'WE'.

My involvement in United Way, ASSEBUS, Junior Achievement Romania, and other organizations is my way of reaching out to the community.

I am the son of two educators and I am a big believer in education. My father always told me that “manners maketh man” and by that he meant that education makes man.

That’s what it’s all about.

People with the same background, same education, it doesn’t matter if rich or poor, big or small, should be given same opportunities as everyone else without discrimination.

WM: Surely you do have some time to yourself from time to time. What do you do in those rare moments?

RF: I have a hectic schedule and I have very little free time.

The little free time I have, I use to read. I read history, biographies, and the New York Times when I get a break at my computer.

In other cases, I do like to play tennis and do sports. It helps keep my energy level up after a long day. The only free time where I can actually sit idle and think is when I’m on a plane. That is the only time I don’t have phones or computers; all I have are my notes and a book. That’s the time when I relax and reflect and it is actually a very good place to do it. No one

will bother you. Looking at my schedule, I am probably doing too many things.

Sometimes I get the feeling that I have to withdraw from something because I don’t feel I’m doing things to the level that is expected, at least from my standard, and that’s not good.

Authenticity is a word that I think should be repeated again and again. What does that mean?

It is about being genuine.

No gaminess, just saying what you mean with straight answers and being truthful.

A small example from my business dealings is when someone says to me, “Hey, I really want to meet with you to discuss xxx,” and I say, “Meet me at 10 on Monday,” and then they respond “Call me on Monday morning to confirm,” and I say, “No. You either confirm now or there’s no meeting. I don’t work that way”.

That’s what I call being gamey.

I think we have to be conscious about the things we take for granted and when we accept the absurd, it is not only not normal – it is dangerous.

Accountability is another important word and not translated in Romanian – being responsible for your actions and taking a stand for what you believe in.

Taking charge, taking responsibility is important. I have much more respect for someone who says, “You know what, it’s my responsibility and I didn’t do what I was supposed to do and I’ve let everyone down”.

In my entire history in Romania, I have never ever dismissed someone for making a mistake, unless they make the same mistake twenty times.

However, I have dismissed people from hiding their mistakes. I think that is another important message.

WM: What advice would you

give current AISB students who are trying to decide what career path to choose?

Is there anything you could share with them that might help them identify the right university studies for them, and furthermore, the actual career they will pursue?

What about those who have chosen something they are not satisfied with? What advice would you give them?

RF: You are all too young to really know what you want to do in your career. For those who do, 'palaria jos' [hats off].

My general advice is not to worry about it. You have your high school behind you.

College is still ahead and will probably be the best years (most fun) of your lives.

During the next four years in college you will get a better sense of what you want to do with your careers and lives.

I know many people who did arts and science and went into business on Wall Street. Today, many literature students are Wall Street bankers. At university they were studying Bacon, Shakespeare, and Hawthorne, they just didn’t know yet what they wanted to do.

Get what you can out of your education. If you like history, or if you like English, focus on that. Don't waste time on topics you don’t enjoy.

You will just be unhappy and waste your tuition. If you are interested in Wall Street and don’t know why, fine, take some courses, and pursue other subjects as well.

Choose the course you that you are interested in and an area where you want to learn; that’s what college or university is about. It’s not just about getting the right degree for the right job. I see many articles tell you to “get this degree because it’s the best paying job,” or applicants looking for the best diplomas to secure the best job offers.

Fine, but why do you want to go into a career that pays well and makes you unhappy? You can do very well in careers and enjoy your job at the

same time.

My eldest son is a history and international studies major.

He is not going to get a job in business and frankly is not interested in business. He is pursuing something he is passionate about. He is very focused on arms reduction and conflict resolution.

Very specific, very focused.

He made this choice after looking at renewable energy, after working at a NGO in Kathmandu for six months and working for Senators in the USA. He continues to discover the world; he continues to discover different things about surroundings. Rather than jump into a career that he didn’t really know or understand, he took an informed decision about where he wanted to go and for that I am very happy for him.

The main message is that you have another four years to think about what you want to do and maybe another two years if you decide to pursue your masters or a graduate program. You have time.

Life has changed. We used to jump out of college right into jobs or grad school. Many young people now take a year off after high school. My nephew took a year off. He was at the American School in the Czech Republic and he is now entering Harvard as a freshman. The year off benefited him and he is now probably better prepared to enter university.

My second son is at the University of Exeter; he did not want to wait, but he is very focused. He is an AISB alumnus too. He has always been focused on finance and economics and he is now reading both topics. He knows exactly what he wants to do; he’s applying to internships with all the big investment firms in the US and the UK for the summer. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

My third son is going to graduate from high school in the US and wants to pursue science studies. He loves

chemistry, biology and math.

Is chemistry a career? I have no idea. That’s what he likes and I am very happy. He is the only Florescu I know who is any good at science; we were all terrible at science. He loves it, he’s good at it and he’s a top student. So why not!?

In terms of choosing universities, I would visit and research as many as possible. Don’t be swayed by universities just because they are Ivy League, top 10 or top 50.

As far as I am concerned, the top 50 or top 100 universities are equally good. The curriculum is the same. The difference comes mostly from the quality of the teachers.

There are some excellent teachers at lesser-known universities, and teaching at big-name schools do not make them great teachers.

Teaching is a profession; it’s something that is learned and mastered.

Don’t just look at the Harvard Universities of the world, look at schools that offer programs you are interested in and that you think you’ll enjoy. You’ll be spending the next four years there so make it the place you want to be. Think about the weather, too . It’s a life experience. My university days were fantastic. When I graduated from university it was probably one of the saddest days ever in my life.

But you move on. So make it count. These four years count more than you realize.

If you’re not satisfied with your decision, you can always change it. I make 100 decisions in a day, 99 of them wrong. What do I do? I just change the decision and make amends. It’s the same in university and the same in life. You can always change. If you move forward knowing you’re making a wrong decision, it’s not going to get better and in the end, you’ll have no one else to blame but yourself.

AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 19

We are putting together a wall of photos of past AISB graduates and where they are today.

Whether you are working or in university, please send a photo of yourself, standing in front of some distinguishing marker.

(For example: standing in front of a university sign or a company logo).

Photos can be emailed to Trixie Siemens (tsiemens@aisb.ro) Many thanks for your time and help!

SEEKING MENTORS The high school GATE program is currently seeking mentors to support and challenge students with interests in a variety of professional fields. Mentors are being sought in the fields of psychology, computer science, coding (C++ and Pearl), game design, journalism, chemistry, astrophysics and physics (specifically related to the development of sports equipment). If you, or anyone you know, has expertise in any of these fields and is willing to share it please contact Amanda Brandt via email at abrandt@aisb. ro to receive more details on mentoring a high school student.

Interview with

Cheney Wells WM: You were at AISB from 1998 – 2002 and completed 9th – 12th grade at AISB, what are your fondest memories?

CW: Some of my best memories from AISB were being at the old campus on Dorobanti. The main building where the high school was is so beautiful, and clearly had so much history. Almost all of my memories were there, since we only moved to the new campus during my final semester at AISB. I remember having basketball and volleyball practice in 'the bubble' as we called it – the covered, inflatable dome in the back of the campus where the gym was. After practice, the team would walk down the street together to a local kiosk to buy cokes or sprites (probably not the best post-exercise drink in hindsight).

Another one of my fondest memories of AISB was the opportunity to travel for sports tournaments and Model United Nations. It’s a really wonderful system that brings together the community at AISB, while also allowing the kids to form new bonds with students in peer schools throughout Eastern Europe, and in the case of MUN, all over the world.

I also always appreciated how down to

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AISB Alumnus / Class of 2002

earth and helpful all of the teachers were.

I counted them as friends, in addition to being my teachers. I am still in touch with some of those teachers today.

WM: You completed your university studies at NYU with two exchange programs, one in Berlin and one in Madrid. In what way(s) did your AISB education support your university years and your decision to take part in these exchange programs?

CW: I did do my undergrad at NYU – New York University. I would say that the types of students who participate in study-abroad programs at college have a very similar outlook on life as the kids who have the opportunity to go to international high schools like AISB. The multi-cultural learning and exchanges that those types of programs foster are so incredibly important to the future careers, friendships, and relationships of those students.

Spending time with people who are different from you

is such a valuable experience; I wish more politicians, legislators, and business leaders had those kinds of opportunities, because I think one thing that is lacking in so much of highlevel decision making is empathy.

If you’ve never spent significant time around people from different economic classes or from different races, it’s going to be difficult to put in place policies that take into consideration those different perspectives. And of course this goes for more personal-level relationships as well.

WM: What field of work are you in now?

Tell us more.

CW: Currently I work in a field called Impact Evaluation--a fast-growing field in international development and economics that basically serves to promote more rigorous evaluations of important policy debates in the international development field. One example of this would be trying to figure out what are the most effective methods for increasing primaryschool education rates in developing countries. It would be hard to quickly summarize everything that impact evaluations entail, so I’ll just include a link here to some work being done by one of the most prominent figures right now in this

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/ opinion/09strauss.html?_r=0

field, the economist Esther Duflo:

while at AISB? Please provide details.

CW: Community service is a really wonderful institution at AISB, and it’s a shame that it’s not a part of more public schools throughout the world. There is a lot of help needed out there, and there are some great organizations and institutions doing important work to provide some of that help, so the extra help coming from the AISB students is surely appreciated.

http://pooreconomics.com/ Right now I’m working for the World Bank, on an impact evaluation of a rural roads project in Nicaragua.

WM: You were a volunteer with the Peace Corps for 2 years – please tell us more about your work in Costa Rica.

CW: Being a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica was a very humbling experience that gave me a first introduction into the world of international development. There were times where I felt that my presence as a volunteer was very well-spent and useful to the community I lived in, and other times where I questioned why I (or anyone) would have been sent to work in this specific community where I was based. There has been a lot of good discussions around the role of Peace Corps today, and what the future role of it should be. One of the more critical pieces to come out a few years ago was in the New York Times:

I share some of those concerns with the author, but also came away feeling that for the most part, my time was wellspent in Costa Rica, not just for me, but more importantly, for the town where I lived for two years.

WM: What do you feel is the role of community service in adding value to a holistic education? Can you give us some personal examples? How involved in community service were you

Of course it’s also important to take a critical look at the work being done by each charity or volunteer organization, because even though almost all of them always have the best intentions, sometimes the work they do in practice ends up being less helpful. In any case, the experience of doing community service is a really important experience that ties into a lot of what I was saying about empathy in my response to question 2.

WM: What advice would you offer to current AISB students about life after AISB? CW: Advice for current AISB students?

That’s a tough one! I guess I would just say make sure not to take it for granted!

Being at an international school, surrounded by people from so many backgrounds and with such unique, worldly perspectives, is not something that most kids have the opportunity to have before their 20s!

So I’d say that when you get to college, try to take that into consideration when you’re around other students who may have had a very different upbringing, and may not have travelled far from the town where they grew up.

Be humble, and just because you may speak four languages already by the age of 17, and have friends from 30 different countries, doesn’t make you any smarter or more important than any of your future classmates in college!

So, enjoy your time at AISB, and hopefully find a way to incorporate everything you learn there into promoting similar values of multi-cultural, multiethnic collaboration and cooperation in your future friendships, relationships, and careers.

AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 21

Interview with

Corina Demeter AISB Alumna / Class of 2008

WM: You were at AISB from 2002-2008 and completed 7th – 12th grade at AISB, what are your fondest memories? How was the school back then? Any special memories that you want to share?

CD: The sports tournaments, theater plays, proms, graduation…I had so many fantastic memories at AISB, it’s very hard to pick just a few!

Some of my highlights definitely come from the annual school trips we took to the Romanian mountains. I particularly remember how much fun I had going camping, rock climbing, and hiking in Tismana and Sovata; the teachers were always very good at planning a wide variety of activities, ranging from building rafts and tents, to listening to scary stories by the bonfire, to cooking our own food in the woods. I think we learned a lot of useful skills during those trips and there was no better time in the school year during which you could have as much fun with your friends – the late nights talking in our rooms and trying not to make too much noise always ended with us laughing too loudly and doing pushups in the hallway, which was a surprisingly entertaining punishment!

The community service events, such as the Terry Fox Run or Children’s Day, were also extremely fun to attend – looking back, it’s quite impressive how many of us got involved and I think it gave us all a real sense of community.

The school was growing quickly back then – one of the reasons I think I enjoyed my time at AISB so much was that the people were all extremely nice and yet each of us was very different.

We were all encouraged to be well-rounded individuals, studying hard but also having a lot of fun at the same time. I think this gave us a great balance from a young age.

WM: You went on to study law at King’s College London?

How did you choose this university and your major? What were the main 3 points that drove you in that direction?

CD: Yes, I went to study law at King’s College London in 2008.

At the time, I was choosing between studying in France and the UK – I discussed my options with a few lawyers and they pointed out that English law is used as the governing law in most international contracts and the English courts are often chosen as the forum for arbitration and settlement. Studying law in the UK seemed extremely valuable and it became clear that becoming an English lawyer would give me a lot of freedom in the future to move around the world if I so wish. This was definitely one of the main factors in my decision. I was also aware of the fact that the UK has some of the best universities in the world and the great reputation of the UK education also influenced me in that direction. During 12th Grade, I came to London to attend an Open Day at King’s College London. The university is situated in Central London and I really enjoyed the dynamic vibe of the area and the friendliness of the people who showed me around.

My choice to study law was again based on research. I had a phase before that where I wanted to become a doctor –

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however, I spent a full night shift with a cardiologist in the emergency room at the Floreasca hospital and I quickly realized that I would get too emotionally involved in my patients’ health problems.

I then met with a few lawyers and after listening to the type of work that they were involved in, I felt that pursuing a legal career would suit my personality very well. Additionally, another driving point was the fact that the law plays a role in all industries and therefore, I could apply my legal education to business, science, arts or any other field – I felt that I would never be limited in my profession and I could constantly challenge myself.

WM: What is law to you?

CD: Law to me is the foundation of our society – it underpins economics, politics, science, and even the arts to some extent, by protecting artists’ and inventors’ creations through intellectual property laws. It is a facilitator of economic activity and it encourages stability. I also believe that the world would be much more chaotic without law and I see it as a way to create a more orderly society. The law also strives to protect the weak, for example through consumer protection legislation and employment laws. I think the law can be used for anything, whether it is to prevent someone from causing damage, to enable someone to start a company or simply to express your own opinion.

WM: How did your time at AISB support your decision to attend King’s College London, and presently, what you do now in terms of the internationalism and diversity associated with your work?

CD: AISB, and in particular the International Baccalaureate, has prepared me extremely well for my degree at King’s College London and for my current work as a lawyer. The classes in AISB, such as IB English, History and Economics, enabled me to develop very strong analytical and writing skills.

I remember the ease with which I could write legal essays during university, especially in comparison to other students who had not studied in the IB program. This is also extremely helpful to me nowadays because analyzing and interpreting the law correctly is a crucial skill for a good lawyer. As a trainee solicitor, I am evaluated on the way I present my legal advice to clients and therefore, being able to write clearly and concisely is also a must.

On a more personal level, AISB taught me how to work with people who have different personalities, work styles, and cultural backgrounds. The firm where I work now is the eighth largest law firm in the world – it is extremely international in its approach and the people who work

here come from all over the world. All projects that we are involved in have an international edge to them – for example, we may be acting for a Spanish company who wishes to build a metro in Dubai, with the contract being governed

by English law. It is therefore extremely important to have a global outlook. AISB has definitely helped me develop an international perspective, which I now apply in my work on a daily basis.

WM: What career are you pursuing now? Tell us more about what this career means to you on a personal level? What attracted you towards this career?

CD: Since September, I have started working as a trainee solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. In order to qualify as a lawyer in the UK, you must complete a two-year training contract at a law firm. Throughout these two years, I will be spending six months in four different departments. At the end, I will have the opportunity to choose which department I want to qualify into. Also, I have the possibility to spend one of my seats abroad, in one of our international offices, such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Singapore, among others. I am currently sitting in the Real Estate department and I am really enjoying how diverse the work is – it is also very exciting to see your work end up in the news a lot of the time!

I was attracted by a career in law because I liked the intellectual challenge involved – I always thought of a lawyer’s work like solving a puzzle, in terms of interpreting the law, applying it to the specific case that you are working on and trying to find a creative solution to enable your client to achieve their commercial goals or solve their problem, depending on the situation. I also wanted to become a lawyer because there is no routine involved since each case is so different. Additionally, I found it appealing to work in a fast-paced, international environment, similar to the one in which I grew up at AISB. WM: You live in London now, what is that like? Tell us 3 reasons why London is a special place for you?

CD: One of the reasons why I love London is that it is an incredibly diverse place and it is extremely multi-cultural.

There is always some new event, concert, or exposition to attend, or a new restaurant to discover. It is also very dynamic and it never ceases to surprise me. My best friends and my parents live here now, which is why it has actually become my new home.

WM: Many lawyers take up community service in the form of pro bono work, how does this work? What kind of pro bono work are you doing? How

does your involvement in service to the community help you overcome daily challenges, both personal and professional?

CD: I think most lawyers are encouraged to take up pro bono cases throughout their careers. My firm strongly encourages us to do this – once every six weeks, together with a group of lawyers from work, we attend the Whitechapel Legal Advice Clinic (WLAC) in East London, where we interview clients who could not otherwise afford to pay for legal advice. Their cases are always very interesting and varied, ranging from employment, to housing, to debt recovery issues. We work on their cases for free, for as long as we need to in order to solve their case – we represent them in court if needed, we draft legal letters for them and we advise them on the next steps they should take.

I also participate in a program called Language Liaison, which involves teaching French to girls from a local school who are studying for their GCSE exams. I work with six girls who come to our offices for an hour every two weeks.

Together with two other lawyers from my firm, we help them improve their oral French skills and we also try to generally motivate them to do well in school and have high goals for their future careers.

On a personal level, being involved in pro bono is extremely rewarding and it allows me to get to know other lawyers in my firm with whom I may not ordinarily interact. Professionally, it helps me strengthen various skills that are required of a lawyer. For example, it helps me improve my communication skills by interacting with clients from various backgrounds. It teaches me what questions to ask in order to learn all the important details about my client’s case and it pushes me to think of creative ways in which to use the law to protect my client. The experience from WLAC also teaches me a lot about various areas of law that I would not necessarily learn about otherwise, such as employment law.

WM: What do you do in your free time?

CD: As I said, there is always something exciting going on in London and I try to explore the city as much as possible in my free time – I go out with friends to different restaurants, bars, cafes, and sometimes to museums. During the summer, I go for picnics in Hyde Park and during the winter, one of my favorite activities is to go to Winter Wonderland. I also recently restarted playing the piano, which always used to relax me when I was younger. I spend the rest of my free time watching movies and going to the gym (although my long work hours don’t allow me to go as often as I intend to).

AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 23

WM: What advice would you give current AISB students who are trying to decide what career path to choose?

Is there anything you could share with them that might help them identify the right university studies for them, and furthermore, the actual career they will pursue? What about those who have chosen something they are not satisfied with? What advice would you give them?

CD: I think the best advice I could give to current AISB students who are in the process of deciding what career to choose is to do their research properly.

It is very difficult to know what a certain profession actually involves on a daily basis without experiencing it – speaking to people who know the ins and outs and the pluses and minuses of a certain career is the best way to decide whether you would be interested in that area.

Additionally, those people would definitely have faced certain obstacles themselves throughout their career and they can teach you what to avoid and what is the best way to succeed.

In terms of university, again, research is crucial. I would tell them to research the university rankings for the subject that they wish to study, find out more about the particular modules they would be studying, about what life is like on campus, what sports and other societies

they could get involved in, opportunities for spending a year abroad, etc. If they can, they should make the effort to travel to the university for an Open Day as this can give you a better feel for what life is like as a student, not only at that particular university but also in that city.

To those who have chosen something they are not satisfied with, I would say that they should not panic – finding out what you definitely don’t want to do is sometimes just as important as knowing what you do want to do. I would advise them not to be afraid to switch universities if they need to – I have a few friends who have done that and ended up being very happy with their choices.

For people who are truly undecided, I would advise them to choose a more general degree that they will be able to use in a variety of professions, such as economics.

WM: What should an Alumni Association “look” like to you– regarding involvement with the school and the community? What should be the association’s focus? What do you think the benefits of being part of such an association are/would be?

CD: I think an Alumni Association should firstly enable the alumni themselves to keep in touch with each other, for example by organizing reunions

The Spirit of Giving Continues: Service Learning after AISB

or sending out newsletters about notable things that the other alumni are doing in their careers. The benefit of being part of such an association is that it allows us, the alumni, to keep our old network of friends alive, despite living in different countries.

Another focus from my point of view should be to keep the alumni connected to the school, by informing us of any future plans or remarkable things that the current students are doing, such as winning any important awards or tournaments. It would also be interesting to know what universities the students are planning to attend and what percentage of them are getting accepted into their first choices. The Alumni Association should also encourage communication between the alumni and the current students. This would provide a forum through which the students could get advice on their career choices from the alumni, who have had various experiences and have been through the same process at one point.

I think the current Alumni Association is already doing a great job at keeping us connected – meeting my old friends at reunions and hearing how successful they are always reminds me how great AISB was and what a sophisticated, international education it has provided to us, the alumni.

Bridget Murray-Popescu AISB Teacher

In the years that I have been a teacher for AISB I have been impressed by many of our students, past and present, for many number of reasons. This past year has been especially important to me as two alumni, who graduated years apart from each other, reached out to me in an effort to continue their commitment to community service.

ports. Last spring, Diana Kassas was the lead organizer for an amazing dinner party fund raiser, and this fall Mihnea Voiculescu has made arrangements with the Chinese Garden Restaurant to donate 15% of the meal cost for AISB members straight to Hope for Health. If you are interested in obtaining one of these special AISB membership cards please contact bmurray@aisb.ro.

Most of the alumni from the past 10 years will remember that I have been heavily invested in the Hope for Health (Victor Babes) HIV/AIDS group, one of the many wonderful NGO’s with which AISB works and that AISB sup24 WORLD ALUMNI MAGAZINE

I hope that the work of these two alumni will inspire all of you to continue to pursue opportunities to leave the world a little better for your having lived in it.

AISB Alumni Profile

Lynn Wells

One of the hardest things you always have to face when working in the international schools environment is saying goodbye to really special people you work with.

Lynn Wells, former Director of Admissions & Advancement at AISB, moved to Kenya last year to start a new, more exotic, adventure. As it often happens with people who make a true difference, the place Lynn left at AISB will probably never be entirely filled.

I started working alongside Lynn 12 years ago in the Advancement Office of AISB, planning the Dedication Day of the new campus. It was quite an exciting venture for both of us as the show was to be grand and the “to do” list was extensive. The Dedication Day celebrations marked the first step in our move to the campus that so many of us now know and love, the campus that has seen happy students and educators pass through its halls year after year,

progressing from strength to strength and each leaving their personal touch upon their departure to new adventures.

Lynn Wells was the first mentor I had in the world of international school education. I worked alongside him in the advancement, and later in the admissions, department and learned so many valuable lessons. Lynn has taught me to think hard before I open my mouth to speak, and even more before I put words on paper. He taught me to try to be objective and empathic in my interactions with people and remember to always be kind, “for each one of us fights a hard battle every day that nobody else knows about.” It has been in my professional conversations with Lynn Wells that I learned that what you offer is many times what you receive and that when that does not happen, it still is better for your offer to be a better one.

In his 12 years at AISB,

by Catalina Gardescu

AISB Manager of Admissions & External Relations

Lynn was the promoter and driver of so many programs that showed true innovation and enhanced the feeling of community at AISB. The Lynn Wells legacy includes so much, that the few mentions below hardly do him justice: • Friends of AISB which was to be the first truly wellorganized capital campaign fundraising effort; • Inspiration Nights to support the AISB scholarship fund;

• Senior Breakfast, a great way to say goodbye to our seniors every year and offer a nice, thoughtful gift; • Senior Awards, offering a helping hand to our most deserving graduates;

• Inspiration Fund, developing the school’s fundraising efforts to support the many great projects that AISB students are involved in; • 50th Anniversary celebrations and memorabilia – have you

seen the wonderful 50th anniversary book?;

• The Alumni Association established as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from Lynn, and know that those who now have this chance have gained a great gift. As with all of our Alumni, we look forward to welcoming Lynn to AISB when he visits Bucharest with his family – and we hope they will come by soon!

There truly is nothing at AISB that does not have the Lynn Wells personal and professional print on it. His dedication and commitment to AISB are admirable, and ISKenya has truly gained a diplomatic and knowledgeable leader.

As Lynn’s AISB family, we send our warmest regards to a great educator and friend!

AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 25

where we used to have breakfast and talk before classes. We were the first ones to come, so we had the whole café for ourselves.

WM: Who proposed and how?

Last year, on our trip to Hong Kong, Alex proposed. While we had been living together for 7 years, it came as a surprise since we never seriously discussed anything about marriage.

WM: When and where did you get married?

Alex & Maria Dobre WM: How did you meet? Tell us your story We met when Alex was in 12th grade and I was in 11th grade. I wanted to organize a party at my house and asked my friend Maria for some phone numbers of students in 12th grade. I called and asked him to come without knowing who he was. He was very polite and apologized that he could not make it since he was returning from a football match. The next day he came looking for me and asked me how the party went. And so we began talking.

WM: Did you have a favorite place for a date in Bucharest?

About 1 week after we had started talking, Alex asked me out to lunch at Balthazar, which became our favorite place in Bucharest. We realized we had so much in common. Long story short, six months later, he decided to take a gap year to wait for me to graduate from AISB, and we moved from Romania together.

WM: What about your favorite hang-out spot at AISB? Our favorite place at AISB was the café,

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Dragoș & Cristiana Panait WM: How did you meet? Tell us your story.

We met at AISB, in the 10th grade. We were just friends for 1 year and then moved forward to the next level.

WM: What was your favorite hang-out spot at AISB? The grass area in front of the Romanian Classroom at that time.

This July we got married in Bucharest surrounded by our closest friends and family.

WM: While still in high school, did you have a favorite place for a date in Bucharest? What about now?

WM: What were the best things about studying at AISB?

It’s been a while, we used to hang out at home or enjoy occasional trips out of town. We did not even have too much time for going out as we had many different after class activities. We are now enjoying family time in the park and mostly at our restaurant, the Red Angus Steakhouse.

AISB has been great for both of us. We developed useful skills such as teamwork, which is crucial in managing a restaurant and business. Also, AISB helped us learn how to value and respect all cultures and nationalities which is again salient for our business and life in Cyprus.

WM: What have you done since AISB? Where are you now?

Luckily, after graduating from AISB, I got accepted to the same university as Alex in London, and we left AISB together.

After graduating, he started his Master’s Degree at Oxford, while I began Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School. Upon graduating from university and our further studies, we decided to move to Cyprus and open our own restaurant, Sunset Breeze.

WM: Describe your experience of AISB in three words.

International, fun, challenging.

WM: Who proposed and how?

Dragos proposed, of course. He got me a surprise trip to Paris on our 7th anniversary, he booked a wonderful cruise dinner on Seine, and while we were there, he asked the big question! :) WM: When and where did you get married?

Here, in Bucharest, 3 years ago in July. It was the hottest day of that year!

WM: What were the best things about studying at AISB? Coming from the Romanian school system, the best thing was that it allows you to think by yourself, doubt, ask questions, and really get involved in the learning system.

The relationship you got to develop with teachers was so supportive!

WM: What have you done since AISB? After the IB we both went to Vienna to Webster University and studied for a

Bachelor of Business Administration. Then we came back to Romania and started developing the plan for our first business, the Red Angus Steakhouse. This needed a lot of research time, traveling around the world, etc. It’s been 4 years since we have opened the Red Angus Steakhouse in the Old Town. Now, we are almost done with the newest concept, a premium restaurant called The Beef Club, that will open on Ermil Pangratti Street, in early 2015.

WM: Describe your experience of AISB in three words.

Memorable, motivating, challenging.

WM: What about the boys? How have they shaped your life in Romania and at AISB? Our boys were both born in Bucharest and we are proud to say they speak Romanian fluently. As with all parents, our lives happily revolve around them. We love that we work at the same place they go to school as we can take the occasional peek into their classroom when we have a chance.

WM: What are the best things about being at AISB? Great colleagues to work with and we have been so happy and grateful for Kyran and Fabyano’s teachers over the years. AISB truly has wonderful, committed and caring teachers, which we as parents have really appreciated.

WM: Describe your experience of AISB in three words.

Three words is difficult. I think the fact we have been here for 12 years speaks to how much we like the school and the country.

WM: Did you have a favorite place for a date in Bucharest?

We loved going to Caru Cu Bere in Lipscani. Walking around the old town was always fun. As well as going to the movies, we definitely miss how cheap it was.

WM: What about your favorite hang-out spot at AISB? We would often hang out in the IB study room together, and on the couches in the HS corridors.

WM: Who proposed and how?

Alex proposed in the summer of 2013.

We were on a cruise from Florida to the Bahamas. The night of the formal dinner we were all dressed up, had dinner, and then went to the deck of the ship. He then got down on one knee at sunset and asked the question, of course Jessica said yes.

WM: When and where did you get married?

We got married a year after we got engaged, this past August (2014). We decided to get married in Annapolis, Maryland. The wedding was small and intimate and took place at the courthouse.

Not all of our friends and family could be there due to our geographical spread. I guess we partly have AISB to thank for that, we have friends all over the globe.

WM: What were the best things about studying at AISB? The IB program, even though the process of it was grueling, when you look back you realize how prepared it makes you for university. The whole schooling experience was unique, we loved participating in CEESA events, as we have so many memories from the various sports and activities we participated in.

John O'Brien & Rosella Diliberto WM: How did you meet? Tell us your story

WM: What have you done since AISB? Where are you now?

We met in Bucharest. Each year, AISB takes the teachers to the mountains for a weekend retreat and we got to know each other better during that time. For John, it was love at first sight. For Rosella, … well, let’s just say it took a little longer.

WM: Do you have a favorite place for a date in Bucharest?

We quite like Piccolo Mondo. We went there our first year here and still like the food and the atmosphere.

WM: Who proposed and how?

John proposed to Rosella about a year after we had met. Having not discussed marriage, Rosella was somewhat surprised but (fortunately) did agree.

WM: When and where did you get married?

We got married at Sacred Heart church in Bucharest.

Alex & Jessica Wallar WM: How did you meet? Tell us your story We met through our mutual friends at school. We were both extremely different from each other back then, but somehow we made it work. We have both grown up together and matured in so many ways. It is quite funny to look back at how we started.

We both never thought that the awkward 15 year olds would end up married. We have AISB to thank for us being so lucky to have met each other at such a young age.

Alex is at the University of St Andrews studying computer science and Jessica is at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh studying nursing. We are both in our final year and can’t wait till we graduate and see where our next adventure takes us. Alex is applying to PHD programs and we are in the nerve-wracking period of waiting to see where he gets accepted to see where in the world we might end up.

WM: Describe your experience of AISB in three words.

Amazing, unique, and memorable.

AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 27

Interview with

Jurgen Strohmayer AISB Alumnus / Class of 2008

WM: You were at AISB from 20032008 and completed 8th – 12th grade at AISB, what are your fondest memories? How was the school back then? Any special memories that you want to share?

JS: The school felt full of things to do and explore. I would describe both the academic and the extra-curricular programs at AISB at the time as vibrant.

The school was an intense environment with a high density of things happening all year round in proportion to how many people we were in class. Thinking back, this was only possible because teachers and staff at AISB cared deeply about students and the learning environment that extended beyond the classroom.

Teachers were also mentors and friends.

I remember the very strong music and theater department led by Greg Jemison, Terry Ham, and later Randy Wanless and Elizabeth Hunt. I made a lot of my friends in the theater productions, musicals, choirs, and bands that were not only in my school year, but others as well. I spent a lot of time at school in the evenings, over weekends, and during free hours and lunch to rehearse for shows. There were many of us but to name a few: Diana Damian, Petru Calinescu, Tony Hagen, Patricia Khalil, Moshe Gordon. This vertical learning environment outside of the classroom is how I would characterize AISB when I was there.

WM: You went on to start a degree in History at UCL, and after a year you changed your field of study and started an Architecture degree at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. How did you choose this university and your major?

What were the main 3 points that drove you in that direction? How did you decide you had to change your degree and what were the challenges?

JS: I was interested in so many different directions and fields of interest during my high school years that it was difficult to decide what exactly I want to study.

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The spectrum of things I did at AISB definitely didn’t make it easier for me to decide what I want to do. But looking back at these years when I was unsure, I feel very grateful for my parents and the people at AISB that accompanied me in this time because I had the privilege to figure things out for myself, make decisions, test them and then change them.

Why did I change to architecture? I just didn’t know it existed until sometime into my first degree. I did a bit of art in high school and I knew that it was something I was interested in, but I couldn’t see how I could make something out of this interest. I was ignorant of buildings until I started noticing strange or overwhelming buildings while travelling in Japan. I had an urge to be part of the teams that made these buildings. It was only after this basic intuition that I discovered there’s a word for it and that I want to go into the field of architecture. From then on, things developed quickly. I quit UCL, found out that the University of Applied Arts in Vienna was in fact the only school in Europe that would still hold an entrance exam before the semester started in October (it was August at the time), so I spent a month preparing for that exam with George Iordachescu, whom I knew from AISB. It worked out in the end.

WM: What is architecture to you?

JS: Architecture is the design of our built environment. Architects are responsible for making drawings that might become buildings. Just as we care for the wellbeing of our body or the cultural implications of our clothes, people have been caring about the dwellings they live in; the way they work and look. So architecture is not the same thing as building although there’s a complicated overlap. Architecture is also one of many fields that engages with the physical objects we make in our society, next to industrial designers, fashion designers, urbanists, and so on.

WM: How did your time at AISB support your decision to attend the University of Applied Arts Vienna, and presently, what you do now in terms of the internationalism and diversity associated with your work?

JS: AISB allowed me to explore a lot of different things and let me keep an open mind about what I wanted to do. Even if I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do in high school, my time at AISB gave me the tools to figure things out. My current university is small but international. My professor is an architect and theorist from L.A. and we speak English at university even though it’s a public, Austrian institution. We are taught in a “vertical studio” system which means that all the 40 students across years one to five work in the same room on the same task. There is no differentiation based on experience or age or yearof-study. Somehow that reminds me of what I said earlier about the extracurricular programs at AISB. WM: What career are you pursuing now? Tell us more about what this career means to you on a personal level? What attracted you towards this career?

JS: I will complete my Master’s degree in January 2015 and start working as an architect. Where that takes me is still open. I’ve been working at Wideshot Design in Vienna next to my university projects for two years and that has given me experience outside of the academic world. We recently completed two stores for a Mongolian cashmere fashion house for which I also did the interior design brand identity. Next to that I’ve produced a series of vases and objects made out of high-performance concrete with another architect in Vienna that was exhibited at design expos. In the past years, I worked in offices in London and Los Angeles where we worked on a cultural center in Lisbon, a hotel in Bangkok, and a museum in Taipei.

WM: You live in Vienna now, what is that like? Tell us 3 reasons why Vienna is a special place for you.

JS: To be honest, I don’t give Vienna the time it might deserve. It took me a long time to get used to how small and insular it was after living in London and Bucharest. I’m here because of the university, and the network of friends and professionals I have made through that is great. Vienna is dependable, easy-going, and calm. None of the things I would have looked for in a city to work or live in.

WM: What advice would you give current AISB students who are trying to decide on what career path to choose?

Is there anything you could share with them that might help them identify the right university studies for them, and furthermore, the actual career they will pursue? What about those who have chosen something they are not satisfied with? What advice would you give them?

JS: Mr. Mennick, my university counselor at AISB at the time, once told us that people on average have ten different jobs in their lifetime. For me it was impossible to foresee what I will do and in retrospect, I should have been more relaxed. I know that’s extremely difficult with parents, teachers and universities

Photo Credit: Project submitted by Jurgen to the University of Applied Arts in Vienna

The twist is that I’ve also had the chance of working on a few projects in Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo through my time at university and that is another direction my work might go in.

I’ve travelled on the African continent on three separate, long visits, which have been part of development projects in dialogue with local architects, artists, and institutions. I think my time at AISB made me more open and flexible in terms of what and where I do work. I became interested in this direction of architecture because I knew so little about Africa and I wanted to change that.

"I’m not sure if the word career might be the right way to look at it. For me that sounds very strict and linear while I think the society we live in is fluid and constantly changing." demanding decisions from you as a student juggling IB courses at the same time.

But to get back to your question, I’m not sure if the word career might be the right way to look at it. For me that sounds very strict and linear while I think the society we live in is fluid and constantly changing. I felt that I had a very limited view of what jobs were out there when I was in high school. The variety of things to do is hard to grasp, so the best is to stay open and flexible while being honest to one self. I guess that goes for parents and teachers too.

WM: What should an Alumni Association “look” like to you– regarding involvement with the school and the community? What should be the association’s focus? What do you think the benefits of being part of such an association are/would be?

JS: I imagine that it’s very difficult to figure out a relevant Alumni Association for such a diverse and international community. Making the AA’s web presence stronger makes sense. I follow it on Facebook and the WORLD publication and every now and then I see announcements for meetings or so. To me that already seems like a successful way of keeping the AISB alumni community connected.

AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 29

by Lorne Bird

AISB High School Principal

This year’s Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research and PTO Welcome Back Barbeque took place on September 6th, 2014. Over 750 participants came to the school and had a wonderful day helping raise awareness for the need to find a cure for cancer, as well as raising funds to support this cause. In the end we raised close to 8,000 Euros school-wide which was donated to a local institute researching a cure for cancer.

You can enjoy a video of the day by clicking here: http://vimeo.com/106610970 Thanks to all the members of the AISB community who supported the run by generously giving time, money and products to the cause – students, teachers, parents, the PTO, the maintenance and cleaning staff, as well as numerous corporate sponsors.

Special thanks to the Boy Scouts who cleaned the trail, as well as the following partners who provided food, drinks and support for the event: Coca Cola, The Color Run, Cris-Tim, Domino’s Pizza, Eurest, Heineken, The Intercontinental Hotel, Macromex, Murfatlar, The Radisson Hotel, The Ramada North Hotel, Tuborg, & WorldClass Fitness.

When preparing to get support for his run, Terry Fox wrote a letter outlining his motivation. Part of it reads: “As I went through the 16 months of the physically and emotionally draining ordeal of chemotherapy, I was rudely awakened by the feelings that surrounded and coursed through the cancer clinic. There were faces with the brave smiles, and the ones who had given up smiling. There were feelings of hopeful denial, and the feelings of despair. My quest would not be a selfish one.

I could not leave knowing these faces and feelings would still exist, even though I would be set free from mine. Somewhere this hurting must stop... and I am determined to take myself to the limit for this cause. The running I will do, even if I have to crawl every last mile.”

Sadly, Terry Fox gave his life while trying to help others.

Wonderfully, his dream continues to live on through the efforts of our school community.

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AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 31

see you in Bucharest

Check the AISB Alumns Facebook page for details about the next Alumni Reunion.

We hope you can join us!

Sos. Pipera Tunari 196, Voluntari, Jud. Ilfov 077190 Romania Tel: (40 21) 204-4300 www.aisb.ro

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