SASA Newsletter Summer 2011
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Issue No. 65 Summer 2011 Romance on the Orient Express Larchmont Chronicle, Februrary 2011 The Nelsens are fornia. “The first time I saw him, he was wait- proof that love ing for the train in Manchuria, wearing a Rus- isn’t only for the sian hat with a glass of champagne in his hand. young. Jan was He was tall and quite elegant-looking.” She a 64-year-old walked up, introduced herself and asked if he widow was Ned Nelsen from California. “He looked when she met down and said, ‘yes, I’m Ned Nelsen,’” re- Ned, 75, a wid- members Jan. And the rest, as they say, is his- ower, on the tory. “There was an attraction, and then we Orient Express. got to know each other on the train. It’s a very They were intimate place…you’re together all the time, among 45 peo- and we just hit it off. ”The two talked about ple traveling the experience of losing a spouse and about across Asia California, and by the time they got to Lake Photo Courtesy of Larchmont Chronicle from China to Baikal—the largest freshwater lake in Sibe- Manchuria to ria—“we had fallen in love,” said Jan. After Siberia to Moscow with a group from New courting for about a year, Jan and Ned married, York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the and she moved from San Diego to his Windsor National Geographic Society. “We had the Square home. Jan supposes it was she who entire train, which was an old, refurbished Ori- made the first move 15 years ago by introduc- ent Express train,” recalled Jan. “Not as fancy ing herself. “And we’ve had a wonderful life as the ones they used in Europe, but quite ever since.” nice.” She soon met most of the people in the group, but not Ned. However, she knew he was the only other traveler who hailed from Cali- The SASA News Summer Issue, 2011 Published by the Shanghai American School Association Editor Marybelle (Mimi) B. Gardner ‘52 SASA Representative in Shanghai 7 Glover Square Betty Barr ‘49 Marblehead, MA 01945 70/2/503 Dong Tiyuhui Lu Email: [email protected] Shanghai 20081, China Contributing Editor Email: [email protected] Ted Stannard ‘48 4328 Frances Avenue Past Editors David R. Angus ‘50 (2003-2008) Bellingham, WA 98226 Angie Mills ‘42 (1998-2003) Email: [email protected] Alexander Liosnoff ‘38 (1991-1998) James H. Hoffmann ‘37 (1989-1991) The SASA News 2 The SASA News Summer 2011 From the Editor Mimi Gardner ‘52 As this goes to press, a goodly group of us will soon be gathering at Split Rock Resort in the Poconos for the 2011 Alumni Reunion – September 12 to 16, to be exact. We wish you could each be there. If you have a sudden notion to join us, call Split Rock to see if they still have room – 888-802-2348 and ask for Laura Lee Wren. No big features this issue, just several wonderful offerings from a number of you, so we did an expanded “Notes from You” section with lots of pictures. And the In Memoriam section, however sad, is always a tribute to some extraordinary folk. What I hope you will pay attention to is the list of Star Dues Payers and get yourself on it ASAP, if you haven’t bothered or remembered when you last paid up or whatever good reason you’ve had to keep your distance. Your annual $15 goes to cover the expenses of SASA News, provide assistance to reunion attendees who otherwise could not afford to join us, and are the basis for the annual award to two outstanding students, especially in community service and general integrity . You will read about last school year’s awardees in this issue. Finally, we hope some of you can consider going to Shanghai in April, 2012 for the Centennial Celebration of the founding of SAS. See the article with details. A trip to China is always wonderful and this one should be all the more so. A Journey Home Lois Bartel Pringle (SAS ‘52) This past spring son and wife, and my dear China-loving friend most of my family who was my roommate. and I made a senti- After a few days of sightseeing in Beijing, we mental journey boarded a night train for Shandon Province and home. My son and the town of Caoxian. This is where my grand- daughter had re- parents started their mission of raising orphan quested that I put children. Before long they had hundreds of together a trip that kids. As these children grew up, so did my would take them to father. After he received his higher education places that were in the States, he and my mother took over the significant to us. work in Caoxian. They wanted to There was need for higher education for all visit the town these now grown orphan children so my father Lois Pringle (Top Center) and SAS classmates; where I was born, opened a Bible School. As things got quite Courtesy of The 1946 Columbian where my Dad died, well established, my grandparents moved on to where my grand- begin a new work in Shaanxi Province. mother was buried and where I attended school We had a warm and fulfilling experience at- at Jigongshan after SAS. Our group included tending worship at our Caoxian Church and my daughter and husband and three sons, my visiting with the church leaders. (Continued on next page) The SASA News 3 The SASA News Summer 2011 We then traveled on to Xian to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, followed by a private bus trip through the mountains to Fengxian where my grandmother is buried. The church had moved her remains to this church yard some years ago with a special celebration and had erected a very nice new tombstone for her. We enjoyed a wonderful homemade meal with the pastor and some of the church folks – a truly blesses time together. The next morning we were surprised to find the mountains covered with snow – a gorgeous sight but a bit unnerving to think of the hair Photo Courtesy of Lois Pringle pin turns ahead of us. All went well and on to Kigungshan American School, founded in the scribe. I am thrilled that my kids and grand- early 1900’s, that I also attended. We hiked to kids wanted to see these places. the “head of the rooster” as many students did A little side line: in the Spring issue of SASA years ago. Again we were so cordially wel- News, someone mentioned reading “City of comed, this time by local government officials. Tranquil Light”. This story was written by Bo They were impressed that three generations Caldwell whose grandmother was a sister of would come back to visit and thus we are now my above mentioned grandmother. Much of in a documentary that they were making. the novel comes from the biography of my Our time in Shanghai was far too brief, but the grandparents, Nellie and Henry Bartel. We are family all agreed that they would make a trip delighted that “Tranquil Light” has received back just to see Shanghai. My memories of very good reviews. this trip, of “going home”, are difficult to de- Notes from You Agnes McClure Alden, SAS ‘39 Agnes wrote a note with her SASA dues update: “I attended SAS the school years ending in ’36 and ’37 as a Freshman and Sophomore. I was in the class of ’39. Both my brothers were there four years. John McClure in the class of ’35 and George in the class of ’36. “In the summer of ’37 we were evacuated from Foochow and came to the States because it took two days travel by coastal steamer to get from Foochow to Shanghai, so there was no way my younger sister and I would be going to an occupied city so far from home. The American Con- sul evacuated 33 women and children to Hong Kong where we got passage to the States on a President Liner. (Editor’s note: I believe my family was in that same group from Foochow.) It was late October and we had left our winter clothes in the dorm at SAS. Our ship went within 50 miles of the Aleutian Islands on the way to Seattle so you can guess that we spent most of the trip below deck… “I’ll admit that most of my SAS friends have died but I still like to read news about SAS. Both my older brothers have died and my sister who was an eth grader in ’37 is in a wheelchair. I have happy memories of my two years as a boarder at SAS. One day for lunch we had cold sliced boiled potatoes on white bread sandwiches. Oh well, it could have been worse. “Thanks for the effort you make to keep the memories going.” The SASA News 4 The SASA News Summer 2011 A List of Star Performers Mimi Gardner ‘52 Guess what! This list is of all those wonderful alums who have paid their dues to SASA re- cently. If you are not on it, but send in just $15 quick, quick, we will consider you paid up through 2011, even if you are 5 years behind! You will, however need to renew in 2012. Make your $15 check (or more, if you want to be ahead of the game) to Shanghai American School Assocation and send it to Charlie Way, Treasurer, 222 Highland Drive, Bellingham, WA 98225-5414.