Anita Hamm

原加拿大精英班项目主管及老师

My name is Anita Hamm, or ‘Miss Hamm’ as my students called me, and I had the great pleasure of working in Huamei’s Middle School from 2008-2012 as teaching principal of the school’s British Columbia Select Course Program.

It seems like just yesterday I stepped out from the Guangzhou Baiyun Airport for the first time. It was a fiercely hot August afternoon, nothing like what I was used to back in Vancouver. I was exhausted from my long journey and nervous about starting my new life in a huge city half way across the world from where I grew up. But from the moment I came out of the arrivals gate, Huamei was there for me. I was greeted cheerfully by a couple of the school’s staff and whisked off to my new apartment beside the school.

The warm smiles and eagerness to help me out in any way possible continued. I shared an office with a fellow teacher named Wang Ye (Tessa) and we quickly became friends. Tessa even invited me to celebrate the October holiday with her and her family in Fujian province – I had no idea China had such beautiful beaches!

Tessa is not the only colleague who stands out in my memory. School administrators Jia Xiong (Panda) and Chen Xiaoying (Serene) became invaluable mentors throughout my time at Huamei. They taught me the true meaning of perseverance and encouraged me to use my time in China to learn and grow as much as possible.

But what I will always remember most, and hold the closest to my heart, are the many students I had the pleasure of teaching over the four years I spent at the school. And while I prepared them to write difficult English tests and read challenging books, they taught me about life in China (“this is life!”) and the importance of “good good study, day day up!”. A highlight for all of us was when the Canadian Prime Minister visited the school, I could not have been prouder of my students and the way they worked hard to make it a most memorable day!

Back in Vancouver, I have had the great fortune of being able to meet up with several of my former students. While we talk about new adventures and the challenges of growing up, our conversations always steer back to our shared happy times at our forever home away from home: Huamei International School.

Happy 25th Anniversary Huamei School! Thank-you for all the wonderful memories!