I spent an hour each with the sophomore and senior classes at Lincoln. I forgot my notes in my bag. I explained why I was sitting in their classroom first thing on a Monday morning and we chatted, facilitated smoothly by Renee Cometti their teacher. The question of identity has not changed in 45 years. They wonder how to fit in when they travel back to their passport country. The Nepali students feel conflicted because going to an international school keeps them at odds with their local peers and even relatives. They are cross-cultural kids. However, they all know how to have the conversation I never had. I was almost 40 before I had even heard the term third culture kid.
There are more Nepali students than when I was there, and less Americans. The school's lunch is better - I saw sushi go by. This new school has an auditorium that doubles as a theater, where every seat is a good one. A stage even. The seniors move on to elite colleges. Two seniors applied to Smith. The picnic tables are shaded with lattice laced with blooming bougainvillea. More construction is happening to raze the admin building and make it higher and earthquake-proof. The enrollment is 260 to my 100.They are celebrating their 60th anniversary on March 22. I will miss it.
How very cool about the Smith applicants. They must have been thrilled to hear of your connection. It occurs to me how (since you were 40 before you learned a term for yourself) you and the kids there are able to learn from one another. How wonderful that you're doing this, Jill. I'm writing this comment on Wednesday night. It's icy here. No workshop tonight. Will the winter session never end?
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