Craig Dodge Taiwan

It's been a few days since the graduation ceremony at ChuLin, but the memories that it brought back are still fresh in my mind. I didn't expect to be as touched and moved as I was, and some of the people there noticed the tear or two that escaped from my eyes. I feel so lucky to have met so many interesting people whom I can call dear friends.

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The "event" started on Thursday afternoon with celebrations in all the junior 3 (9th grade) and senior 3 (12th grade) classrooms. I was  honored when my good friends Gary, from Zhong class, and Wayne from Xiao class had invited me to join their class' celebrations, but unfortunately I had a class scheduled that evening and didn't think I could make it. As fate would have it, my class got canceled and I was able to attend after all. YAY!

I arrived at the school in the middle of the afternoon when many of the graduating students were walking all over campus, having their friends sign their graduation books, uniform shirts and even their bodies. I had forgotten all about that tradition and was very surprised as many students asked me to sign their books and take pictures with them.  I think this is when I shed the first tear.

When the book signing settled down, I visited some of the classroom celebrations of my good friends. There was so much food and drink, lots of music, games and performances but most importantly, there were friends sharing good times with each other. Even though some of the graduating junior high students will stay at ChuLin for senior high,  I wondered what they were thinking and feeling at that moment, as they were about to say good bye to each other and start new lives. There might have been another tear or two.

The most powerful memories came when I visited the senior classes because those are the people I'd known the longest,  since my very first year in Taiwan.  There were so many memories of classes, school events, bike trips, conversations, dinners, movies and just life. Words just don't come to me that can express what I was thinking or feeling. I couldn't even sleep that night as so many powerful memories raced through my head.  (OK, a few more tears now....)

So Friday morning came, and I arrived at the school very early because I wanted more opportunities to chat with people before the ceremony started. I wouldn't be able to stay for the whole thing because of work. I had some nice conversations with some friends, students and former colleagues. Then, the graduating students started entering the auditorium. A couple more tears escaped as some shared greetings with me, shook my hand and even gave me a hug. I also had a chance to chat with some of my former students and friends who had graduated in previous years and came back for the event. WOW, even more memories. During the ceremony, as I scanned the auditorium looking at the faces of the graduates, several of them caught me as I wiped away another tear or two.  Unfortunately, because I had to leave, I couldn't stay for the song by the 11th grade class (Senior 2 Zhi) or the video with the pictures from the previous 6 years. I regret missing it because those are the best parts, much better than the speeches, which I can't understand anyway....

So once again, I would like to congratulate all the students who graduated this year. I admire and respect all the hard work you put in over the last 6 years and I want to thank you for your friendship and for making my life in Taiwan more interesting. I hope that as you move forward in your lives, you will think of me from time to time and keep in touch. I know I'll never forget you guys...

Contact information:

E-mail and MSN: CraigGDodge@gmail.com

Yahoo: CraigGDodge@yahoo.com