Thank you, Asia "Wishlist" (1 more day until seeing Adam)

"Wishlist"
 

10:05 PM in Hong Kong

Airport Terminal 1. Gate 26.

2 hours until the plane takes off.

We are waiting now.  These are the final moments of being a Hong Konger.  

Yesterday was full of goodbyes and emptying an apartment and getting to a hotel.  

It was an emotional roller coaster.  

Today was calm.  

Time for a Messenger chat with Adam. 

Time for a nice breakfast.  

Time for tea.  

Time for a perfect message at Luxe in Wan Chai.  

Time for Starbucks and cream puffs.  

Time for floating in the pool at the appointed slot.  

Time for room service with the family.  

Time for a tiny nap before leaving Ocean Park Marriott at 8:30 pm. 

The city lights were clear and beautiful as we passed by for our final time as residents.

I wish I could have seen Siem Riep in Cambodia.  

I wish I could have gotten to Taipei, Taiwan and Jeju, Korea and Tokyo, Japan.

I wish I could have visited Seoul and Boracay one more time.

I wish I would have seen Victoria Harbor from Ozone (on the 101st floor?) one more time

And walked through the Old Walled City park.  

I wish I could have given our helper a goodbye hug, but our paths didn't cross in person yesterday to do that.

I wish I could have eaten with my HKIS cohort (7 years!) at a local spot once more.

I wish I could have gathered the Super Moms together once more.

I imagine I shall think of many more things I would have liked to do or do again, 

but that is the nature of endings - 

there will always be some things left unfinished.

Therefore, let me instead now blow my wishlist to the wind and let it go.  

As Brent so eloquently reminded us all at Baccalaureate, "It is well. It is well with my soul."

Thank you, Asia "A Blessing for HKIS" (2 days until seeing Adam)

It has been a wonderful and emotional and long, exhausting, last day at HKIS.  I am so grateful for the kind words, well wishes, hugs, and gifts from my wonderful colleagues.  Goodbye to all!

I would like to leave you with this blessing:

May the light of God surround you.

My the love of God enfold you.

May the power of God protect you.

May the presence of God watch over you.

May you always know that wherever you are, God is.

Here is an image from yesterday's graduation pre-ceremony social.  Our 7-year cohort of Brenda, Heatherly, Hamlet, Simon, and Brent.  

Thank you, Asia "An open letter to HKIS" (13 days until Green Bay)

 Dear HKIS,

We have had seven amazing and eventful years together.  You were my employer, my foundation for friendships, and the school for my children from fifth grade through twelfth grade.  

As my employer you stretched me to teach subjects that were virtually unfamiliar to me (Humanities II and French 1).  And you allowed me to teach subjects I love (Junior English and AP Literature). You asked me to coach and shepherd students in the Drama Club and Forensics Speaking club.  We travelled all over Asia Pacific with some incredible success.  With your facilities and support for creative curriculum, my own students enjoyed all sorts of experiences in and out of the classroom.

The many administrators over these years - Patrick, Brent, Lauren, Sue, David, Carrie, Linda, Don and Ron - supported me professionally.  Sometimes it was performance assessment and reviews which were somehow never as intimidating as at other schools; sometimes it was by making the faculty a pancake breakfast. The fact that your leadership cared about me as both employee and human being mattered. 

My colleagues became friends (and in some cases friends became colleagues)!  We celebrated Christmas together singing carols at the main gate.  We watched in awe as school spirit manifested in games and class videos and lipsyncs.  When Covid-19 forces us to shut down the campus and go virtual, your capable leadership teams found ways to keeping us moving forward online while still caring for our well-being.

My children experienced everything from learning opportunities in the classroom to PEAK and Interim trips as well as Self-motivated learning projects in Middle School and, for Alec - choir.  I watched gratefully as the school supported Adam coming out as transgender at his eighth grade graduation - the name being printed in the program as Adam for the first time.  And when Alec sang solo bits including "My Shot" from Hamilton, I couldn't have been more proud.  In the care of colleagues and friends, my own children were supported through thick and thin.

And the students themselves have also been a great support and joy to work with.  I have loved coming to school each day and class each day where I can be myself and teach subjects I love with students who are open and polite and engaged. You have been willing to do some silly things along the way. One of my favorite events of each year has been the National Honour Society students putting on a Thanksgiving Dinner with food and entertainment for faculty.  What an affirmation we receive from personal notes to videos.  Such expression of gratitude fuels me for months afterward. 

While certainly there have been more ups than downs, the very elements themselves have challenged you. Your campus itself suffered damage at the hands of Typhoon Mankhut.  Incredibly, you rebuilt back better.  And the building improvements, changes, and even new building projects at the other divisions were absolutely jaw-dropping. (I can't wait to see the high school campus  5 -7 years from now when the current plans have been executed).

And so, as we hit just over a week of school left, I give my deepest gratitude to you, HKIS.  You have supported me in every way imaginable.  

Thank you.  Merci.  唔該

Brenda Brayko

Carolling at the gate for students as they enter. 

Social at the Braykos - Janet and Chris win the drink mixing competition

Brent (Assoc. Principal) and Patrick (Principal 2014-17)

HS Christmas party at Sugar, a rooftop bar in HK.

2014 photo of the women in the Humanities Department (AKA Wombies)

Seniors show what school spirit looks like

Adam's 8th grade graduation attire, first official day as Adam

Alec's eighth grade graduation day (hint of blue in his hair)

Drama Club ready for APAC

Forensics competitors at ISKL

Brent (and all HS administrators) making pancakes for the staff

Typhoon damage

AP Literature students re-enacting Hamlet

Adam nostalgically overlooking the middle school campus before graduating in 2020

All photos by © Brenda Brayko.  All rights reserved. 

Thank you, Asia "The Wombies" (32 days until Wisconsin)

Who is there to support you at work?

Who is there to make you laugh?

Who is there to allow you to blow off some steam?

Who is there to hold you up through the tough times?

The Wombies!

This group of women within the Humanities Department has supported its own for many years.  They readily welcomed me with open arms 7 years ago.  (And everyone who has come onboard since.)

Norbyah, Janet, Elsebeth, Brenda, Meredith, Sunny, Sarah at graduation 2015

Photo Credit: Norbyah N.

Little did I know they would collectively help me through a  challenging first teaching year at HKIS and the rocky year when Adam was transitioning as a trans kid.  

And then there is the fun.  Like tonight.  At least a few times a year we head out to do something fun together.  We have, for example, hit The Bucket for foot soaking in rose water and foot massages and a rooftop bar overlooking Hong Kong. 

Nancy and Sarah at The Bucket

Upon occasion it's a simple gathering for wine on a Friday.  Tonight it was a going away celebration at the JW Marriott for "tea" (imagine a huge buffet but with mostly hors d'oeuvres both savory and sweet).  The ladies kindly crowned me queen for the evening.  We obediently sat at our two tables of four (Covid restrictions, you know) while somehow managing to chat as a group.  

LeAnn, Norbyah, Zella, Betsy, Sarah, Sarah, Kelly, Brenda at the JW Marriott

Photo Credit: Zella T.

It's a rare thing to work at a place where people not only get along but enjoy hanging out with each other, too.  To be accepted as you are unconditionally is a true gift.  Thank you, Wombies.

Kelly, Elsebeth, Meredith, Janet, Sarah at a rooftop bar in HK