We were delighted to hear from some of our 50 or so classmates who are currently living outside of the United States! Kevin Frank wrote, “My family and I are just finishing up a two-year career break living in Paris (it was supposed to be just one, but the first one went so well we figured we’d stick around). My daughter is now better in French than I ever was (my language study abroad got me only so far) and enjoys correcting me in classic preteen style. In between coffee and croissants (or perhaps as a result of them) I wrote a book on leading creative teams, which was just published. It is bittersweet to head back to the states—we are excited to go back, but it has been an incredible experience and we’ve made a true home here. One of the things that I’ve learned is that home doesn’t have to be only one place.”
Angela Dadak wrote, “I am writing to you from the professor’s room of the European Humanities University, a Belarusian university-in-exile located in Vilnius, Lithuania. Since October I have been working here as a U.S. Department of State English language fellow, teaching academic, legal, and professional English to students, faculty, and staff. I also conduct English conversation and speaking club events in the area, and I’ve traveled the region giving presentations and workshops for English language teachers in Poland, Latvia, and Estonia. Outside of work I’ve been learning Lithuanian, attending a knitting group and the local ParkRun, spending time at the cat cafe, and going to concerts (both classical and Eurovision-connected). Jeff Middents ’93, my spouse, has visited twice; Jeff Bird visited in March; and Jeff Cobb may be here in July. It’s a wonderful city, and we recommend it.”
Ann-Marie Tung Hermelin emailed to tell us she is a teacher of creative writing at the Stockholm University of the Arts and at a “folk college” in the south of Sweden. She lives with her architect husband, Peter Hermelin, and two dogs in an orangery built in 1828, which they have restored together. In the summers they host a classical music festival called “Sommarnattens toner” and often arrange art exhibitions as well as readings in their house in Skebobruk.
Kenta Takamori wrote: “I base myself out of San Francisco but spend many months out of the year in Hakuba, Japan, for my work in the ski resort industry. There are more than 400 ski resorts in Japan, and international interest in skiing in Japan has surged in recent years. Hakuba just had a record snowfall winter at 25 feet. Hope to see more ’92s visit Japan in the near future!”
—John L. McWilliams IV, 7429 Marquette St., Dallas, TX 75225; Kelly Shriver Kolln, 3900 Cottage Grove Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403;
dartmouth92news@gmail.com