Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, funding cuts, and
many other administrative chores (零星工作) and started to dream of retirement.Sitting in traffic on a
weekday morning, I would find my mind 1 . I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren,
quiet evenings with my 2, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn't
3 myself upfor any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.My first day of retirement
came 4 ! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, _5 read the paper, cleaned a bit of the
house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper.
On the third day ... This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition (过度), that
those 6 moments were right round the corner, and that I would 7 them soon enough. But something was 8 . A former colleague asked me a 9 . A group of students were going to Jamaica (牙买加)
to work with children in the 10 neighbourhood. Would I 11 my new-found "happiness" and return to the
students, just this once? One trip. That's all.
My bags were 12 and by the door. The trip was very inspiring. I was 13 not only by the poverty
I saw but also by the sense of 14 of the young people on the trip. 15 I returned home, I offered to
work one day a week with a local youth organization.The experience was so positive that I was
soon volunteering nearly full-time,working with students across North America to assist them in their 16
work.
Now, it seems that the tables have turned.Some days I am the teacher,and other days I am the student.
These young people have reawakened my 17 to social justice issues by 18 me to learn more about the
situation in the world today, where people are still poor and 19because of greed, corruption and war.
Most importantly, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I've gone from 20 one school to helping
oversee (监督) the construction of schools in twenty-one countries! |