The end of another school year is filled with new beginnings and exciting adventures. But the atmosphere is also tinged with a bittersweet feeling as we say goodbye to our beloved friends and faculty. This year we bid farewell to a number of familiar faces in the Upper School, including Associate Principal Mr. John Vandenboom, librarian and AP Research teacher Dr. Candace Aian and Upper School teacher Ms. Hye Ryoung Rhee (she/her).

Mr. John Vandenboom

After 34 years at Taipei American School, Mr. Vandenboom is known to students not only as a vice principal, but a guiding presence in underclassman class meetings, a cheerful morning greeting into the Upper School building and, perhaps most importantly, his informational Week Ahead emails that have become a staple of Friday afternoons. Although he is entering retirement, Mr. Vandenboom has no plans to leave Taiwan. 

“Where am I planning to go when I leave here? Yes, just across the street. There’s a Starbucks there,” Mr. Vandenboom said. “I’ve lived here for more than half of my life, and so this is home. And I love it here. I’ve loved the working experience, I’ve loved the students, the professional kind of growth, and Taiwan. The people, the food, everything.”

However, arriving at TAS was an unexpected turn of events. 

“If somebody had said to me when I was your age, you know, you’re going to end up living in Taiwan for x number of years, I would have probably said two things. Number one, you’re crazy. And number two, Taiwan? But somehow things just fit when I came here,” Mr. Vandenboom said. “I figured I would be here, probably four to six years, but there was no reason to leave because I felt I had hit the gold mine.”

During his time at TAS, Mr. Vandenboom has worked as a math teacher, a tennis coach and an administrator. But what he most enjoys most about TAS is the overflowing abundance of connections that can be made. 

“I would miss the daily interactions, and the hellos and the sharing of tea. The ‘Mr. Vandenboom I did really good on this quiz today!’” Mr. Vandenboom said. “There are students in the Upper School now who are children of former students that I have. That’s one of the advantages of staying in one place for a long time. And so I’m blessed.”

Ms. Hye Ryoung Rhee

As a former MUN advisor, chaperone and current Upper School history teacher, Ms. Rhee is known for her sweet disposition and close bond with students. After six years of teaching, she is heading to graduate school to study more about education, psychology and counseling. 

“I really enjoyed doing that and just learning about students and their lives beyond History of Europe or History of Asia. But then I also felt like I didn’t know how to support students that might be going through tough times, other than just relating them to the counselor,” Ms. Rhee said. “Then I thought like, it would be cool if I was the counselor, so I actually have the tools, or the practical skills to not just listen.”

For Ms. Rhee, the most memorable moments of her time at TAS have come from interacting with students and creating memories inside and outside the classroom. 

“It’s really hard for me to leave, because I really like working with the students at TAS., I think I came here thinking I was only gonna stay for two years, and I was like, let’s test it out, see if I like it, and then I really liked it. I mean the resources of the school, like colleagues are all great, awesome people but I think it’s really the students,” Ms. Rhee said. 

For a last piece of advice, Ms. Rhee calls upon her own experience as a student and the unexpected nature of her arrival in Taipei. 

“Your life right now and what you do right now and the struggles you’re going through right now isn’t permanent. There are going to be highs and lows but overall I think it’s an upward trend of finding out what you want to do and learning to be more independent,” she said. 

“Now that I’m here, I feel like my high school self would have never seen a future, like me, in Taiwan, but that turned out to be a really pleasant surprise. So basically you never know, and there is happiness in the waiting and there people that are there to support you through the process. So don’t lose hope,” Ms. Rhee said. 

Dr. Candace Aiani 

The only place students flock to more often the Upper School Legacy Commons is the Upper School Information Commons, better known as the library. If you’ve ever taken a class that requires a research paper, Dr. Aiani has been there as a constant source of guidance and knowledge to new and old students alike. 

After 22 years at TAS, Dr. Aiani is returning to Chicago, the city she calls home. “I think what I’m most looking forward to is being closer to family and friends, the change of seasons that I grew up with, including snow, and all of the traditions and celebrations of my home country,” Dr. Aiani said. 

However, Dr. Aiani still appreciates her time in Taiwan. “My experience at TAS has been amazing. The students, my colleagues, the resources at the school, the support of the administration, the culture of the people in Taiwan, the environment of Taiwan [are all amazing],” Dr. Aiani said. 

Dr. Aiani recalls the redesign of the libraries in 2006 as one of her most memorable moments at TAS. “They opened the doors for the first time and the students all came rushing in to enjoy the new library,” she said.

Because of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic limiting her travel abilities, Dr. Aiani feels her return home at this time is right. “The United States became further than it used to be because we haven’t been able to return for quite some time,” she said. “[COVID-19] has made me miss home more.”

Although TAS students and faculty will miss Dr. Aiani’s willingness to help others and her experience, she leaves with words of wisdom to all of us. “Make the most of the time that you have here in Taiwan,” Dr. Aiani said. “For those of us who are coming from other countries, it’s temporary, so I think that we really [have to] try to make the most of our time here.”

Taipei American School will not forget Dr. Aiani, and Dr. Aiani will not forget Taipei American School. “Taiwan is now my second home, and maybe even at this point it’s my first home. It has a special place in my heart, and it always will,” Dr. Aiani said. 

Final PRINT

Farewell to Upper School faculty 

The end of another school year is filled with new beginnings and exciting adventures. But the atmosphere is also tinged with a bittersweet feeling as we say goodbye to our beloved friends and faculty. This year we bid farewell to a number of familiar faces in the Upper School, including Associate Principal Mr. John Vandenboom, Librarian and AP Research teacher Dr. Candace Aiani and Upper School teacher Ms. Hye Ryoung Rhee (she/her).

Mr. John Vandenboom

After 34 years at Taipei American School, Mr. Vandenboom is known to students not only as a vice principal, but a guiding presence in underclassman class meetings, a cheerful morning greeting into the Upper School building and, perhaps most importantly, his informational Week Ahead emails that have become a staple of Friday afternoons. Although he is entering retirement, Mr. Vandenboom has no plans to leave Taiwan. 

“Where am I planning to go when I leave here? Yes, just across the street. There’s a Starbucks there,” Mr. Vandenboom said. “I’ve lived here for more than half of my life, and so this is home. And I love it here. I’ve loved the working experience, I’ve loved the students, the professional kind of growth, and Taiwan. The people, the food, everything.”

However, arriving at TAS was an unexpected turn of events. 

“If somebody had said to me when I was your age, you know, you’re going to end up living in Taiwan for x number of years, I would have probably said two things. Number one, you’re crazy. And number two, Taiwan? But somehow things just fit when I came here,” Mr. Vandenboom said. “I figured I would be here, probably four to six years, but there was no reason to leave because I felt I had hit the gold mine.”

During his time at TAS, Mr. Vandenboom has worked as a math teacher, a tennis coach and an administrator. But what he most enjoys most about TAS are the abundance of connections.

“I would miss the daily interactions, and the hellos and the sharing of tea. The ‘Mr. Vandenboom I did really good on this quiz today!’” Mr. Vandenboom said. ““There are students in the Upper School now who are children of former students that I have. I’ll see their parents around campus once in a while That’s one of the advantages of staying in one place for a long time. And so I’m blessed.”

Ms. Hye Ryoung Rhee

As a former MUN advisor, chaperone and current Upper School history teacher, Ms. Rhee is known for her sweet disposition and close bond with students. After six years of teaching, she is heading to graduate school to study more about education, psychology and counseling. 

“I really enjoyed doing that and just learning about students and their lives beyond History of Europe or History of Asia. But then I also felt like I didn’t know how to support students that might be going through tough times, other than just relating them to the counselor,” Ms. Rhee said. “Then I thought like, it would be cool if I was the counselor, so I actually have the tools, or the practical skills to not just listen.”

For Ms. Rhee, the most memorable moments of her time at TAS have come from interacting with students and creating memories inside and outside the classroom. 

“It’s really hard for me to leave, because I really like working with the students at TAS. I think I came here thinking I was only gonna stay for two years, and I was like, let’s test it out, see if I like it, and then I really liked it. I mean the resources of the school, like colleagues, are all great, awesome people but I think it’s really the students,” Ms. Rhee said. 

For a last piece of advice, Ms. Rhee calls upon her own experience as a student.

“Your life right now and what you do right now and the struggles you’re going through right now isn’t permanent. It’s an upward trend of finding what you want to do and learning to be more independent,” she said.

Now that I’m here, I feel like my high school self would have never seen a future, in Taiwan, but that turned out to be a really pleasant surprise. So basically you never know, and there is happiness in the waiting and there people that are there to support you through the process. So don’t lose hope,” Ms. Rhee said.

Dr. Candace Aiani 

After 22 years at TAS, Dr. Aiani is returning to Chicago, the city she calls home. “I think what I’m most looking forward to is being closer to family and friends, the change of seasons that I grew up with, including snow, and all of the traditions and celebrations of my home country,” Dr. Aiani said. 

“My experience at TAS has been amazing. The students, my colleagues, the resources at the school, the support of the administration, the culture of the people in Taiwan, the environment of Taiwan [are all amazing],” Dr. Aiani said. 

Dr. Aiani recalls the redesign of the libraries in 2006 as one of her most memorable moments at TAS. “They opened the doors for the first time and the students all came rushing in to enjoy the new library,” she said.

Because of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic limiting her travel abilities, Dr. Aiani feels her return home at this time is right. “The United States became further than it used to be because we haven’t been able to return for quite some time,” she said. “[COVID-19] has made me miss home more.”

Although TAS will miss Dr. Aiani’s willingness to help others and her experience, she leaves with words of wisdom. “Make the most of the time that you have here in Taiwan,” Dr. Aiani said. “For those of us who are coming from other countries, it’s temporary, so I think that we really [have to] try to make the most of our time here.”

Taipei American School will not forget Dr. Aiani, and Dr. Aiani will not forget Taipei American School. 

“Taiwan is now my second home, and maybe even at this point it’s my first home. It has a special place in my heart, and it always will,” Dr. Aiani said.