LAMENT FOR DAVID WILSON: THE LAST SUMMER

Rowena Xiaoqing He

December 16, 2006

Dear Dr. Wilson,

Where are you now? When I last visited you at your home, you told me you would fight; when I last talked to you over the phone two weeks ago, you told me you were still fighting; but when I was at your home again with Ewa last week, you were not there anymore. I saw Mrs. Wilson, your daughters, your sons, your students, but not you.

 It seems like yesterday that we worked together seven days a week for the training of seven groups of education officials from Vietnam. You were always there, the whole summer. You were either teaching with your power-points, or sitting at the back, making arrangements for the new groups. Even in the morning after your “stroke” night in July, you were still there. Now we all know it wasn’t a stroke, but it doesn’t make any difference any more.

 Do you still remember the Vietnamese fast-food restaurant on Yonge Street where we took the groups each week? I passed by the restaurant today; it was as busy as usual. I still remember how we helped to set up the tables, how I took the order for the group and then you went up to pay at the counter. I also passed by the Korean restaurant we went to with Sam and Peter, the McDonald’s we went to with Ewa, the KFC and Harvey’s we went to for lunch; and of course the Croissant Café across the street where we got our coffee during breaks every day. Those restaurants are all still there, but where are you now, Dr. Wilson?

Our pretty translator Thu and our smart organizer Hoai are sending their regards to you from Vietnam; our friends who helped us at Centennial were saying hi… But where are you now, Dr. Wilson?

 You must be resting in peace now. You once said we would be the only people who would work seven days a week, even during public holidays the whole summer and spend each Saturday night waiting at the airport. How did you survive those heavy tasks? I wish I hadn’t complained … I wish I hadn’t gotten frustrated … I wish I hadn’t blamed … But I didn’t know …I should have known…Every time you said you were very tired, you must have been really really tired… I should have known … I should have known…I am sorry that I didn’t…

 Dr. Wilson, I still remember the time you first called me about the summer project when I was at Georgetown University attending the WIIS symposium, but I know you will not call again next summer. I still remember the last time we took the two groups to OISE in August, but I never thought that would be your last visit to the building…I had been hoping  to go with you to your favorite Dim Sum place in Chinatown when you got better, but it is now too late…

 How I wish this past summer had not been your last summer!

 
Rowena

Rowena Xiaoqing He
PhD Candidate, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (OISE/UT)
Doctoral Fellow, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
Student Representative, Division B (Curriculum),
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
email: xhe@oise.utoronto.ca