Idaho Daughter combines two passions as a teacher in Taiwan
By Lena Anthony
Like many college graduates, when Dawnine Clews received her diploma from the College of Idaho in 1997, she wasn’t sure what should happen next. Science and math were easy subjects for her, so she considered applying to medical school, but she didn’t relish the amount of time and money it would take to become a doctor.
Enter the Peace Corps. At the suggestion of a friend, she applied, and was offered two options. The first was to be an economic adviser to small businesses in the former Soviet Union.
“I had a minor in economics, but I didn’t think that qualified me to help someone make business decisions,” said the member of Idaho Pocahontas Chapter, Caldwell, Idaho. “Plus, I hate the cold.”
That left the other option—teaching math and science at the Epako Junior Secondary School in Gobabis, Namibia.
“I always loved my teachers and admired them so much, but I never saw that for me,” she said. “I never expected to have what it takes to be a teacher, but I fell in love with it because I felt like I was making a contribution to the world, to society, and to these kids specifically.”
Fast-forward to today, and Ms. Clews is still in the same profession, albeit in a very different location. After her post in Namibia ended in 2000, she traded the dry heat of sub-Saharan Africa for the subtropical humidity of Taichung, Taiwan, where she has taught various subjects to students of all ages for the past 20 years. She also develops curricula, trains new teachers and has even written songs that teach English to young children.
“I still love it,” she said. “It’s all about seeing your students make progress. That’s the best part of teaching, when you get to see that growth.”
Ms. Clews acknowledges that her upbringing likely had something to do with her unwavering wanderlust. Her mother was an officer in the Army Nurse Corps, and her father served as a military recruiter. As a result, the family moved around a lot. By the time she turned 18, Ms. Clews had lived in Colorado, Germany, Virginia, New York and Oregon, and was going to school in Idaho.
“I was always learning to start over again, always having to find a way to adapt,” she said. “That life taught me that you can do anything and go anywhere, you just have to put the pieces together.”
After her Peace Corps assignment in Namibia ended, Ms. Clews knew she did not want to return immediately to the United States. She stayed on to finish the school year as she searched for her next adventure. She was drawn to the idea of teaching English in Asia, and after receiving several job offers in multiple countries, she accepted the one that would provide her the most flexibility to continue seeing the world.
Ms. Clews uses her vacation days to travel both near and far. Her bucket list was checked off 10 years ago and included destinations such as Egypt, the Greek Isles, Turkey, Japan and Thailand. While the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t had much impact on Taiwan, where mask-wearing is ingrained in the culture and contact tracing was implemented early, COVID-19 has put a temporary halt on her world travel plans.
“When my mother was alive, I always said I would never miss more than five Christmases in a row,” she said. “Now that my siblings have kids, I’ve made a new promise not to miss more than two in a row. I love seeing them grow up.”
Her job in Taiwan allows for a full month off every year, which she usually takes in December to be home with her dad and siblings for Christmas. Staying in touch with her DAR chapter, despite living 8,000 miles away, also helps keep her connected to home.
“I take pride in the fact that my roots run deep through American history but are flexible enough to allow me to be a citizen of the world and bring my American heritage with me,” she said.
