The Road Less Travelled
Sometimes you can’t just take baby steps, and you’ve got to commit fully to experience something…
I’m leaving my job, my home, and my country.
I have just accepted a Principal’s position in Dalian China for September. My wife will be teaching at the school and my daughters will be attending it. We weren’t actually looking for different jobs, they found us several years after my wife and I had applied to a number of International Schools for teaching positions. A path opened up before us… it wasn’t the planned path, but it was certainly worth investigating.
I can’t describe the turmoil my wife and I went through deciding whether or not we should uproot our family, and leave great jobs, friends and colleagues that we care about. Then finally we asked ourselves a simple question, “If we don’t do this, will we regret it later?” The answer was ‘Yes’.
And now that the decision is made, I am so excited about the new adventure!
Tags: adventure, career, China, Dalian, datruss, decision, family, International Schools, job, journey, Kai, leap, pairadimes, path, Principal, Robert Frost, teaching
Background
May 13th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Congratulations! What an exciting experience for all of you. I can’t wait to hear whether or not the world is really flat. Take pictures as you cross the horizon.
May 13th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Wow! Again I say Wow! This takes great courage. But you know, there are 3 kinds of people in this world. Those that watch things happen, talk about things that could happen, and those that make things happen. You’re obviously a person who makes things happen, takes risks, steps out in faith, and just does it. Good on you Dave. I am happy for you both from the perspective of the opportunity but for demonstrating the courage to act and not be left wondering what if…
We’ll miss your presence here in Coquitlam for sure, China’s gain is Coquitlam’s loss!
Maybe I’ll visit you one day
Brian
May 13th, 2009 at 8:35 am
An excellent adventure opens up before you. Congratulations! I spent the first two years of my teaching career in Abu Dhabi in the middle east and it truly changed my life. It opened up new perspectives and a new understanding of life around the world. A choice I recommend for anyone.
May 13th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Wow, congratulations! My daughter taught for 4 months in China and loved it. What a great adventure for your kids. Looking forward to many interesting blog posts from you.
May 13th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Well done- wishing you and your family a great new future. You won’t be anywhere different online;)
May 13th, 2009 at 10:23 am
David, this is awesome news. I hope this journey is full of joy and wonderment to you and your family. I hope you’re going to be able to keep up with your blogging with all of the new things in your life.
May 13th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Enjoy and keep blogging!
May 13th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Congrats, David. I know the blog posts will still keep on rolling even from afar. Best of luck to you and your family on this exciting journey. Your kids will be blessed beyond belief through this.
May 13th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read your posts next year from China; will the blog undergo a name change
May 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
This is so exciting and also a dream of mine. I think your reasons for taking the plunge are fitting and real…no regrets! (teacher on-call sd43 and vsb) I am looking forward to seeing more of your posts as well!
May 13th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Exactly the same happened to us 7 years ago, and we’re still loving living in Asia with no plans to go back – yet! A true adventure awaits.
May 13th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Dave, I am so glad that I tried to catch up on Twitter today. Wonderful, exciting news for all of you. How special to have your wife working there and your girls attending the school. I look forward to hearing more news. When I saw the teaching math tweet I wondered what was up with you. I hope we will still cross paths in Boston this July. Congratulations and much peace to you and your family.
May 13th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Whaaaaaaat!! Wow, that is amazing! I am thrilled for you all and so sad for me.
You better have a great send-off…
May 13th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
This is so exciting! That’s exactly what my husband and I did 3 years ago. We moved from Brazil to Key West, FL. We thought it would be great for the family, and a good way for the kids to see the world, adapt to a different culture, learn, enjoy the differences. We spent two years there and just got back to Brazil. It was a fantastic experience that we will cherish for ever and I’m sure in one way or the other it will impact positively on the kids’ future.
Note: It’s amazing how easily they adapt and learn a foreign language!
Good luck for you and your family.
May 14th, 2009 at 2:21 am
You never cease to amaze me…..Congratulations to your whole family since I know this is a Truss family decision. I hope you all enjoy this wonderful opportunity and I look forward to reading your posts , I don’t think China is any farer than Canada for me. Always believe that beneath the surface veneer of race, ethnicity etc all humanity is the same…kudos to you
Silvana
May 14th, 2009 at 5:05 am
Thanks everyone:-)
As Frances said, I ‘won’t be anywhere different online;)’ and that makes the transition a little easier.
I won’t be changing/moving/renaming my blog… ‘pairadimes’ has a special meaning to me and it took a lot of effort to move my blog here from Eduspacaces, (and previously elgg). Here is where I’ll remain, digitally, until the unforeseen day that I decide to hang up my ‘blogger’ status.
So our geography will change, and with it our perspective… but it seems the online connections will remain. How comforting!
Thanks again,
Dave
May 14th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Congratulations to both you and your family on the start of your next adventure.
Remember that Perth, Western Australia is just one short flight (relatively) from China so now you have no excuse not to visit. I may even chuck a shrimp on the barbie, Mate!
May 15th, 2009 at 6:56 am
I’ve been a principal here in China for the last four years, and I really enjoy it. Just signed a new contract at another school in Beijing. Enjoy!
May 15th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Well done David!
I too turned down a new position at a private school and a tenured position here in Montreal for the chance to go teach in England and Africa for a year. But like you said – would I regret it later? Definitely.
Cheers and best of luck!
TW
May 15th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Dave,
WOW. This is a courageous family decision that will change the lives of all of you forever.
Congratulations as you prepare to embark on the next chapter of your lives together. And what an adventure it will be.
May 16th, 2009 at 3:25 am
T?n? koe e David!
Wow! That’s great news and a great step to make. What an experience for you and your family!
Ng? mihi nui – Best wishes
from Middle-earth
May 19th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
A teacher-friend of mine tells his students that they should go away to university, even if it’s only to move out of their parents’ houses to attend UBC, because somehow in the coupling travel with learning there is created a “triple education.” As someone who enjoyed university south of the border, I can verify this 1 + 1 = 3 logic. Way to go on making this leap, taking this chance, and creating an opportunity for not only personal growth, but family bonding and enrichment. May we all be so willing to jump!
May 20th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Ni Hao-
I’m currently in my third year in Shanghai and you and your family are in for quite a treat!
The most tricky thing about being over here is getting to bed at a reasonable hour and not getting sucked into the morning happenings in the states:)
Good luck in your big move.
May 30th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
David,
I"m a little late to the news, here! (My excuse: Son graduated high school, and then I took off to the mountains for a week without technology.) Anyway, I am so thrilled to hear your news. I do think it is a fantastic opportunity and you would indeed regret it. Bold moves are often necessary in order to grow.
Congrats. Bummed that I won't see you at BLC, but I'll be there virtually.
Best,
Laura
May 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Hi Laura,
A chapter closes for you too! Congrats to your son.
I still think it is funny that we met in Boston because @shareski inSaskatchewannoticed you across the room via my Ustream of Alan’s pre-conference presentation.Your presence will be missed at BLC09… but I’m sure we will keep in touch. China isn’t that far away when we have Twitter, blogs, and a wealth of other communication and collaboration tools.
Thanks to you, and everyone else for their well wishes!
Dave
June 4th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Hey Dave. well, what can I say that I haven’t said face to face? You know I don’t hold back, so…I am so proud of you. It took a lot of courage to make the choice you’ve made and you know the definition of courage don’t you? It is “being scared but going anyway”. I know that this experience will bring you and your family a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Hey, I just realized that this could be some subversive way of you to get me blogging more and sleeping less!
Anyway, I will miss your presence, your advice, and our conversations around leadership and learning.
I wish you well my friend and I will miss you dearly.
Your fellow Peaceful Warrior – “The other” Dave
July 30th, 2009 at 9:51 am
[...] opportunity to meet once (and a half, counting the November session)). It might seem odd, but to be losing Dave to an administrative post in China is saddening – as our enclave of Coquitlam techies will no doubt miss his influence and [...]