Page 8 - Priorities #18 2002-April

A Whirlwind
Tour of Asia
To Meet Prospective and Former Students
Director of Admissions Al Zappelli—on a mission to meet prospective students, discover the cultures of this year’s students, and build ties with alumni and their families—found it was a lot to do in a week.
When The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) group embarked on its annual recruiting tour in the Far East, Al Zappelli, Director of Admissions for the Priory, was among the group.
ForAl,itwashisfirsttripthroughAsia. He sought several opportunities: a face-to-face introduction with prospective students, an exposure to the cultures of current students, and a strengthening of friendships with the Priory community—this time on their home soil.
First Stop: Tokyo
After an 11-hour flight and a lengthy cab ride, Al arrives at Le Meridian Hotel in Tokyo just moments beforetheTABSreceptionbegins. Feelingrumpled and weary, his long day becomes much brighter when he sees the familiar faces of Rex and Keiko Valentine, parents of Eric (’02), waiting to greet him. They quickly take charge of the Priory’s table at the
reception, giving Al a welcome chance to freshen up in his room.
With the essential support of the Valentines, and Mrs. Michiko Tsuchiya, mother of former student Takahashi, the Tokyo stopover goes extremely well.
"The Tokyo stop is such a great example to me of the Priory’s community all over the world—helping me with language, local customs, gaining a better understanding of our students’ cultures, and making the most of the opportunity to tell the Priory’s story to prospective students," Al says.
Next Stop: Seoul and Taipei
Young Bae Lee (’95) invites Al to experience a more authentic Korea. They travel to a small town outside Seoul to visit the English language school where Young teaches (until his upcoming entry into the Korean military as a translator).
There, Al witnesses a life quite different from that in Portola Valley. It provides him with an insight to the disequilibrium that a boarder from the Far East may feel in his first experiences with American culture.
Dr. Jung Sin Lee, father of Michael (’05), and Young Bae are essential to the success experienced in Seoul. Both worked at the TABS fair and talked with families in their native language.
For Al Zappelli, the trip offered a strengthening of friendships with the Priory Asian community—this time on their home soil.
Alumnus Young Bae Lee (‘95), in Seoul, was a great asset in meeting and talking with prospective Priory students. The support of Priory alumni and their families were what made Al’s trip a success, he said.
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