Organizing Committee

Don Thomson, Chefoo Nanae - 1965 - 1969

I have never been to a Chefoo Reconsidered event, but was fascinated when I first heard about it. First of all, I never thought I would see the word “reconsidered” associated with “Chefoo.” Going to Chefoo Nanae from 1965, was something like the Ten Commandments that was etched in stone, non-negotiable, and never to be reconsidered.

The second thing that fascinated me was that I was hearing testimonials from participants that were very similar to my own experience. To find out that former Chefusians, regardless of country, had been thinking & feeling the exact same things I had had during my Chefoo experience, was quite a revelation. We all shared similar bitter-sweet memories , told me that it wasn’t just me that had been thinking and feeling a particular way. For me, it was encouraging.

The whole subject of the pros and cons of ‘boarding school’ is an endless debate, & the point of a gathering is not to fire up that debate, nor place blame on anyone for any unintentional trauma that may have occurred. Nor is it a time to justify the reasons for the boarding school experience. It will simply be a time to reconnect, and encourage one another, whatever stage in life we are.

Miriam Dyer (Mim), Chefoo Malaysia -1990 - 1992

Being an MK and a TCK is a complicated thing, after unexpectedly staying in England a after a furlough as an 8 year old I was lost and missed my friends, my cat, Chefoo and Thailand so much. England was a foreign country and to my shock was not like the idyll of the famous five or St Clare's books.

In more recent years I've begun grappling with the realities of life as an MK. Watching my Godchildren reach the 5/6 the age of being sent away to Chefoo, made me think about the sheer craziness of sending children away to school for months at a time. The Chefoo Reconsidered movement has been great. To find people who understand and truly get things has been a revelation. I attended a weekend event in the UK and despite no one else of my generation being there and not knowing anyone it didn't matter. Attending CR 2 in Malaysia in 2016 then going back to Thailand for the first time since childhood was an incredible experience with tears of pain and joy. I've been reunited with childhood friends and made new ones which has been wonderful. Since then I've helped organise CR3 in 2018 and am looking forward to the CR Japan event taking place.

Douglas Hayman, Chefoo Nanae - 1970-1976

My wife and I first went to a Chefoo Reconsidered (CR) weekend in Sydney and loved catching up with other Chefusians – some we knew and some we didn’t. It was on the strength of warm invitations at that event that we went to CR Malaysia 2016. And I went back again in 2018.

Hearing each other’s stories and the talks and activities also helped my understanding of my own journey. And on top of that I just loved hanging out with people who “get me” in ways no-one else does. I find the laughter and tears through the sharing of stories is profoundly connecting and it’s always hard to say goodbye. Going to Malaysia for the first time was a bit like having “a reunion with people I had never met” and I came back with good friendships. I hope we can get CR Japan happening and it will be a true reunion!