外師Carmel的來信

親愛的陳校長和Jilda

從我離開康乃爾到現在已經近八年了，當時Jilda您是在我離開前才剛來到康乃爾的，可惜那時我們沒有機會能一起工作，而我也不期待碧華校長您會記得我，因為您有太多優秀傑出的老師了，比較起來當時的我並不是特別的突出，要您記住每一個人也不太可能。

然而，在康乃爾任教的回憶是那樣的生動，讓我學習最多和最讚賞的地方就是學校為家長和學子們提供的優質教育，而校內的團隊人員都有相當的能力達成父母的期望。

…也因為如此，我由衷的感激仍然能知道康乃爾的最新消息，藉著這些消息讓我能夠持續參與你們當中，好比我所教過的「鱷魚班」，雖然是以遠距離的方式，但或多或少都讓我與你們連結一起。雖然我並不常有時間閱讀你們的來信，但無論如何都還是會找時間閱覽的，今天讀到了你們寄來的聖誕節問候，看來你們有一個充滿活力和豐盛的一年，真是恭喜你們。

我要特別感謝碧華校長總是無私地分享您的家庭，這在非洲與我生活的文化和經驗是格外的不同，我想在這不同的文化當中我們都能一塊兒學習。我為您家人的成就感到開心，而相信其他人也是這樣想的。

最誠摯的祝福
Carmel

註: Carmel任職於南非兒童社會心理發展中心主任

 

原文如下：
Dear Bihua and Jilda

Almost 8 years has passed since I taught at Cornel. Jilda arrived just before I left and, unfortunately, we did not get the opportunity to work together. I also do not expect that Bihua would remember me as I was less vocal or audible than most of the other teachers, and besides you have so many amazing people passing through your doors, that it is not possible to remember everyone.

However, I remember my time at Cornel vividly. I learned very much and most appreciated the superior standard of service provided to learners and their parents, and the intrinsic expectation that every person who joined the team had the competence and ability to deliver at that standard.

…It is for this reason, that I am truly thankful for continued updates from Cornel. It enables a sense of continuity of the work that I participated in, and even begun with ‘The Crocodiles” at least, and, in some remote way, a connection to your learners. I do not always find time to read the updates at the time that I receive them but always make the time at some point. I only read the Christmas Message today!. Congratulations, on what appears to have been a very productive and energetic year.

A special thank you to Bihua for always sharing so openly about your family. This is a practice that is so different from my own culture and my experiences within the rest of Africa, and I think that we can all learn from it. I rejoice with you in the achievements of your family, and I am sure others do too.

Sincere regards,
Carmel