Two and a half years ago, choir director Kevin Allen-Schmid and his family packed up and moved to the Canary Islands. While the Allen-Schmid’s loved living over seas, they also found that living in paradise was not always ... well, paradise.

   "We didn’t make didley squat," said Allen-Schmid. "We went into debt, in fact."

   Kevin and his wife, Genia, who teaches history at FHS, received a leave of absence from FHS to pursue their overseas adventure. Along with them went their children, Katy and Caleb.

   "We wanted t hem (the children) to have the experience of living in a different country and learning the language," says Kevin.

   Katy and Caleb now speak fluent Spanish, play soccer and excel in math.

   At The American School of Las Palmas, Kevin taught music to grades K-12, while Genia taught history.

   "Over here I put on about two concerts a year," says Allen-Schmid. "Over here I put on about 20."

   "There was no pressure or expectations put on me as the music teacher," he says, "so it was a lot less stressful."

   Mr. Allen-Schmid has for 20 years taught all kinds of music. During his high school years he sang in choir, and then after high school went on to Pacific Lutheran University to get his degree in music.

   After 20 years of teaching, the Allen-Schmids went to Washington, D.C., for the International Recruiting Teachers Conference, where both Allen-Schmids had interviews with the superintendents from schools in Bolivia, South Africa, Greece, Madrid, Spain and the American School of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.

   Later they had a call from Las Palmas for Genia to teach history and Kevin to teach music.

   When the Allen-Schmids’ teaching contract ended last spring, the family was delighted to return home.

   "I prefer working with high schools kids," says Allen-Schmid. "I’m in heaven to be back here (in the states)."

News | Features | Opinions | In-Depth | Sports | A & E | Backpage

Contact us: Submit feedback, send a letter to the editor.

The Arrow is Copyright © 2000 by The FHS, a High school Newspaper.