Mr. T.

My parents had five beautiful children, but surely they'd agree that none was more precious than the little fellow you see in the picture on the left. I thought we moved around a lot when I was a kid (because of my father's job), but many of my students at International College have me beat by a mile. In any event, I got through school okay, then college, and then made my way into the world of teaching.


Why teaching? I'm not actually sure why, since I never really enjoyed school myself very much. But I thought it could be a pretty good job, as long as I didn't turn into most of the teachers I had when I was in school. Turns out I was right about it being a good job. And I hope I haven't turned into one of those old people who always seemed to show up in my classes when I was a kid.


I don't have many things that I would call hobbies. My favorite classes when I was in high school were art and Spanish. Art, because I always enjoyed it, and Spanish because my favorite teacher was my Spanish teacher, Mr. Norm Neher. Of course, I like to read books, both fiction and nonfiction; however, I don't really consider that a hobby. It seems like too natural a way to pass the time to call a hobby.


I do enjoy going to a baseball game when I'm back in the US (baseball fans might recognize Milwaukee's stadium and their famous 7th inning Sausage Race in the photograph on the right). In Switzerland, I especially enjoyed hiking in the mountains, and I hope to explore as much of Lebanon hiking as I can.


This country has a lot to offer in the way of history and natural beauty, and in addition sits in what is arguably the most important part of the world at the moment. I want to take advantage of all those opportunities while I'm here.


While I have enjoyed my whole career as a teacher, I have enjoyed my time as an international school teacher in a special way. In general, I am the kind of person who would rather do things than have things. Many of my students here at Escuela Bella Vista are lucky enough to be able to travel and experience a lot of the world. I feel lucky to have been able to do that, as well. Plus, I get to explore even more of the world, in a way, by having so many interesting students bring their experiences into the classroom while I'm at work.


From here, who knows? I'd like to continue traveling and teaching in different places. On the other hand, it's never easy to leave a place, a school, and students, I've come to enjoy. The future and the world are both big. I hope I can see as much of both as I possibly can.


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