This book, of course, owes its existence to those I met along the way. Some of you appear in the book (and, except in one instance to protect his safety, I haven’t changed your names), many others don’t appear directly, though your voices and thoughts resonate on every page. You told me your stories and answered with delight the many questions I had about your languages and cultures. I thank you and hope you are all well.
I would like to thank the professors I had while doing my graduate work. You fostered well the philosophical turns I took and always pointed me toward the right books and theories. Equally, I would like to thank my students and fellow teachers at the Calgary Board of Education. Many of my students came from war-torn countries, and they told me much about places to which even I dared not go.
For my family, especially my parents, I’m indebted beyond repayment for their endless support and encouragement (“Where’s he off to now?”).
For my editor at Dundurn Press, Michael Carroll, who saw the promise of the book proposal and continued to support and advise me through the long process of publication, I’m also thankful.
Finally, I thank my friends for their love of adventure and intelligent conversation, with special thanks to Dr. Charlene Elliott for her editorial comments on every one of the several hundred drafts of this book that I managed to fumble my way through.