Basic HTML Version
4
Summer
2014
Dear IC Community,
Mary and I wish to bid a fond
farewell to the amazing IC commu-
nity. When we came in
2006 we fully intended
to stay at IC and in
Lebanon for four
years. Here it is eight
years later and we are
now reluctantly de-
parting in July, 2014.
One Chinese proverb
that we both respect
is “It’s better to light
a candle than to curse
the darkness.” When
we arrived in Beirut
in September 2006 it
was one of Lebanon’s
historical dark periods.
The war had just ended
and the future was very
uncertain. However, we
were welcomed into
the IC community with
open arms and warm hearts.
Naturally, there were plenty of dark days
ahead even after the war, but we found
great support from the IC community and,
in turn, did our best to show support.
Even when others left suddenly because
of the “situation” we stayed to try show
it’s better to keep lighting candles for the
future. What we could do was mostly
symbolic by showing that we too had
hope. We opened school as quickly as it
seemed safe to do so in order for our stu-
dents to regain a sense of normality. We
tried to navigate
troubled times
with a sense of
optimism and
a belief in the
future.
It will be hard
to leave. Natu-
rally, I probably
won’t miss the
petitions over
various prob-
lems, the some-
times angry phone calls and meetings,
and the very tough decisions that had to
be made about IC’s future, however we
will leave with a deep sense of accom-
plishment and gratitude. IC’s program
has advanced and we were even able to
make some improvements to the school’s
facilities. The new elementary school,
gymnasium and theater and the new
facilities that will be built soon in Ain Aar
and Ras Beirut are a tribute to IC’s strong
community. These accomplishments are a
symbol of the college’s supportive parent
and alumni communities and the belief
in the great educational program here at
IC. They are also a symbol of the belief
that Mary and I share with you about the
bright future for Lebanon.
We want to express our gratitude to
the IC community which includes the cur-
rent parents and students as well as our
alumni and friends for the time that we
have had in Lebanon. It has been a rich
and rewarding experience for us and we
hope for IC. We have no misgivings that
we decided to come to Lebanon in those
dark days of 2006 in spite of the warn-
ings of our friends and families (not to
mention our government) in the States.
We came to light a candle and found
that there were thousands and thousands
in the IC community lighting candles with
us. Now there is a bright beacon of light
shining from IC, and this is the light of
the future for Lebanon. As we leave, we
entrust those of you who are staying to
keep the beacon shining brightly!
Sincerely,
John and Mary Johnson
Farewell from President
and Mrs. Johnson