Lara Christensen
Former Teacher

My job, once there, was to teach Kindergarten in the morning and work for the curriculum department in the afternoon, writing Kindergarten curriculum and the music for all others. I had to be trained on how to teach. I was sceptical that I could really be taught anything new about teaching, after all I had been teaching for 10 years. However, at the training I learned a lot of great and new ways to teach students. I even still use strategies I learned in the training now that I am back home teaching again.

The trainers were professional but fun and really knew their stuff. Because I had been at Main Office a few days I did know some of them already, mostly just by name. One Kiwi trainer did catch my eye, which was NOT in my plan when I took my year’s leave from home. Eventually the harassing I received by Chris in training turned into more.

For the next year we spent lots of time together as a couple and with our large group of friends. It was wonderful to share with someone the tales of the teaching and the insanity (but great fun) of driving a scooter through Taipei. There were trips to parts of the island, new food to eat, parties to attend, and trips to Hong Kong, China and the Philippines. We were also busy with work but loved our Kindergarten kids and challenges at Main Office.

For me, teaching Kindergarten was a definite highlight. Watching 3 years olds go from speaking no English to singing “You Are My Sunshine” to me at my farewell party is something I will never forget.

At the end of my year’s leave, I came to realize how much I loved Taiwan, my students, my friends and colleagues and of course, Chris, so decided to extend my leave by another year. During my second year, my parents and Chris’ parents both came to Taiwan to meet each other. It was an amazing time showing them our life in Taiwan. They got to experience Hess Kindergarten Christmas parties as well as the sights and sounds of Taipei. Everyone got along and it was around this time that we decided Chris would apply to immigrate to Canada.
We stayed working for Hess for another 9 months and then, after many goodbyes and shed tears, Chris and I packed our bags and made our way to Canada. We decided to take the long way home. Starting in Western China (Kashgar), we travelled by train, east to Beijing. Then it was onto the Trans-Siberian through Mongolia to St. Petersburg. From there we took the train through to Prague and all around Europe, finally catching a plane in Glasgow to head home to Calgary. It was an incredible 3 months and our experience of living in a foreign country was very helpful.

We have now been home in Canada for 2 _ years. Taiwan and Hess are never far from our thoughts. We keep in touch with good friends and often talk about all the great times we had. Last summer (July 2005) we were married. A couple of our friends from Taiwan even made the trek over for the wedding. And now, in a matter of days, we are expecting our first child. It is Taiwan and Hess that brought us together and we will never forget it. We were just asked the other day, “would we go back?” Our answer, “You bet!"