I have found renewed joy in teaching here, not least because of the bright students in our AP programs here in Nanjing.

As a literature teacher, I have found many students who have read widely in Western European literature and American literature in Chinese versions, who are now devouring the texts in the original. In March, we were reading Hamlet, a rich text for advanced students. Recently we also read Faulkner and I again was impressed at the sophisticated level of comprehension of both textual details and of the appreciation of the Southern Gothic symbolism.

The other special aspect here is that all of the students will be going abroad to colleges in the U.K. or America or elsewhere. Thus, we feel a quality here, in addition to the excitement and optimism, of constant improvement.

Both from the principal and also from fellow teachers and even from students, one hears questions about ways we can improve all the time. And when a good suggestion comes along, we can expect the administration to act toward implementing such improvements. Such pro-active attitudes are emblematic of the best institutions; and so we feel fortunate to have become a member of this team.