Pasir Ridge International School

Coming around again to something brand new is traveling to a
foreign port and being met by familiar faces. 
Didn’t we meet before in Seoul? 
Didn’t we have dinner in Kota Kinabalu? I remember you from Cairo!

Michael and I have been on the international circuit long
enough that we are more certain to be greeted by folks we’ve met before than
not.  Still this trip was extra special
as this is the third time we have had the privilege of working for Principal
Seamus Marriott and his dynamic teaching wife Theresa.  First meeting in Wisconsin, traveling to work
at their school in Shanghai, followed by Cairo American College and now
Balikpapan, Indonesia. 

Pasir Ridge is a small school by any measure except quality,
where they are overflowing, stacked to the ceiling tiles and busting out the
windows. 

But, by far the best part of the week was Friday afternoon
assembly — they came with poems about
happiness, anger and frustration, from the points of view of slaves, sun bears
and the Empire State Building. They spoke with the kind of confidence that
comes from feeling safe, to parents, teachers and their classmates.  Every voice blending into a harmonious chorus
celebrating individuality. Thank you Pasir Ridge, Balikpapan.