For the record, this is not a ChatGPT annual letter. We’re still a year or two from that… For now, what you get is what our own brains are able to reproduce, along with lots of love and our hope that you have a meaningful 2023.
We usually get our annual greetings out by MLK’s birthday, but this year it’s President’s Day! As has become our tradition, here are our updates…
Jeannette
Many of my 2022 highlights are notable visits and trips, but also include the simple joys of my day to day. The year kicked off with a joyful reunion when two friends from Chile came for a two-week stay and got the full Jeannette-as-non-stop-tour-guide treatment. March travel to the east coast included great work with D.C. Public Schools and an in-person celebration of my dad’s 80th birthday. And Dylan’s college spring break visit home allowed us to hit the slopes and cycle the Bay. We kicked-off Adela’s college campus tour series with a trip to the Pacific Northwest in May, and Matt’s and my long-deferred birthday trip to Montreal for his 50th was a fabulous get-away with precious in-person reconnections. After I completed a successful engagement with nearly 20 schools in Rhode Island in July, we met up with my parents and brother’s family for a fabulous trip to France. We enjoyed so many wonderful aspects of French culture while we explored different parts of the county: amazing food, exciting sport, rich history (from the Lascaux caves to the Versailles Palace), exquisite art, impressive architecture, and stunning natural beauty.
But without question, the most impactful part of the trip for me was connecting with the places of my ancestors. It was really something to put my feet on soil where Héberts had lived centuries ago before they left for Nova Scotia. And seeing my dad walk up to the site where Jacques Nompar de Caumont lived centuries ago as the Duc de La Force — an ancestor who fought his last battle at age 80 and died at 93 on the same day Matt was born 318 years later. It’s interesting (and mind-boggling) to contemplate ways that our ancestors navigated natural, cultural, political and economic forces: surviving plagues of several centuries as we continue to cope with COVID, suffering persecution for religious beliefs as we see the vital separation of church and state weaken in our own country; surviving both civil war and international conflicts, economic depression, and no doubt personal grief. Despite these immense hardships, they held onto their faith and dreams.
Throughout the year, witnessing Dylan and Adela do the things they love to do was particularly exciting: Adela and her high school Mock Trial team made it to the state final (via Zoom), and she continued to sing as part of her school’s vocal department and the San Francisco Girls Chorus premiere ensemble. Through both, she contributed to an amazing set of performances that included multiple school concerts, two shows at SFJazz, a summer trip to Hawaii, and a happy return to the SFGC annual holiday concert at Davies Symphony Hall.
Matt and I got to see Dylan in his element over the Williams College Family Weekend in October, and again with extended family at Roanoke College when he and his team made it to the NCAA Division III soccer championship game in December. We could not be more proud of how much he and his teammates achieved during the season. Go Ephs!
We spent the holidays out east with family and returned to San Francisco to ring in the new year with delicious food and dear friends. I’m so grateful for my precious time with friends and family, for the great books I’ve read and discussed with friends, for my Bethany community, contemplative moments soaking up Nature’s beauty, for having meaningful work, and the gift of continuous opportunities to learn and grow. I mourn the loss of valued elders in both my given and chosen families, but find so much to celebrate from the lives they led: JoAnn Bennett, Bruce Petit, Sam Yu, Uncle Bob, Aunt Joyce, Uncle Bill, and Uncle Roy.
Matt
Jeannette already covered a lot of ground on our comings and goings. I’ll double down on how good it was to travel again this year. To Montreal for quality time with Maurice and his adult humans (Jason and Emily). To the northeast with Adela for a barnstorming review of the full slate of liberal arts colleges, with a wonderful quick visit with the Roth clan in Newburgh as a bonus to our itinerary. To Providence for a 30th college reunion and the chance to reconnect with friends and classmates. To the east coast to see Dylan on the pitch and to catch up with family. And, of course, to France. Ah, France. What better place to go after the enforced hold on travel that COVID imposed on us, especially when kind inlaws sponsor the trip!!! Thanks to Kary and Nanette, I have these wonderful memories: The glassiness of the river in the early morning in Bergerac. The majesty of Mont St. Michel. The surprise of yet another chateau popping up around the bend of a country road. The awesome sense of the long arc of human history you feel at Lascaux. The vibrancy of Bordeaux’s cobbled streets, a city that feels like a better-sized Paris to me. And, of course, the food.
But what I liked best was experiencing our children as adults, as we found ourselves in a society that affords some of the responsibilities of adulthood earlier in life than does our own country. It was a gift to hear Dylan’s stories of traveling alone in advance of our meeting up in Paris. It was quite a treat to see the two of them experience the particularly culinary joy of pairing food and wine — a mind-blowing thing when done well, which it very much was at L’Huitrier Pie in St. Emilion. I was especially pleased by their adventurous spirit, whether the courage to jump into the Dordogne River from a 60-foot cliff or the willingness to sample fois gras, sea snails, and other unfamiliar foods. I took real pleasure in watching them do a bit of adulting and deepen their relationship with one another.
On the work front, this year saw me re-engage as a full partner in Kelefors Education Partners. Jeannette and I are partnering with amazing organizations at home and across the country, working to create more equitable outcomes in our educational system. It’s been especially inspiring to launch a new project with the San Francisco Unified School District, supporting a citizens’ task force to examine our high schools.
Dylan
As a sophomore at Williams competing for the NCAA National championships through December 3rd, I didn’t have much time for anything else. Thus, in the spirit of efficiency — and because it gave me a good laugh — here is my 2022 update in resume format. I spent a fair portion of my winter polishing up my resume, conducting informational interviews, and applying for internships, and I am happy to share that I will be spending this summer working as a government affairs intern at K&L Gates in Washington D.C.
EDUCATION:
Williams College (Sophomore Fall)
Aug 2022 – Dec 2022 Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Environmental Studies and History
As most liberal arts colleges advertise: “You have so much time to decide your major!” The time to decide is approaching quickly. While the official Williams deadline for declaring you major sits at the completion of your sophomore year, I have made my [un]official decision. This past semester, I had the opportunity to delve into both my interests in History and Environmental Studies, cementing my pursuit of this unconventional pair of majors. A few academic highlights I want to mention are:
— Researching and publishing an op-ed on cutting edge oil-spill removal technology for my Environmental Law course.
— Interviewing a professor in the History Department for a final project, exploring both the scope of his work and dissecting his methodology of both historical research and publication. By the way, his name is Professor Tyran Steward, an incredibly talented educator and scholar. If you have the time you should look him up.
Williams College (Freshman Spring) Jan 2022 – May 2022
Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Environmental Studies and History
Coming back for my second semester of college, I was hoping to be greeted by a winter wonderland. Unfortunately, I quickly found out why we west coast skiers call it the ice coast. However, Jiminy Peak still provided some enjoyable ski days with friends when I wasn’t busy hitting the books. A few highlights from the spring were:
— Teaching friends to ski on the bunny hills at Jiminy Peak while showing off skiing backwards.
— Exploring the dance genre of flamenco and its origins in Andalucía, Spain.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Bill Jackson for Supervisor May 2022 – July 2022
This summer I worked as a Campaign Coordinator for a local campaign. It was a great experience to hone my knowledge of local politics, and deepen my understanding of the current issues in San Francisco. Almost verbatim from my resume, here are some of the responsibilities I was tasked with:
— Published campaign literature and weekly policy newsletters on local issues for a city council politician.
— Executed voter outreach, facilitated community interaction, and supervised campaign finances.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Williams Men’s Soccer Formal March 2022
A night where the team gathers together for a multiple-room themed venue, dressed to the nines, and ready for a party
Sunday Brunch Every Week (2022)
Every week a group of my friends and I pile into 2 or 3 cars on Sunday morning to go be obnoxious and enjoy a leisurely brunch at one of the three diners in the area (Renee’s, Chef’s Hat, and Moonlight). Kary & Nanette (aka “Grandpa & Grandma”) and my parents got to experience this phenomenon when they made trips into the depths of the Purple Mountains.
SOCCER:
Williams College Men’s Soccer Aug 2022 – Dec 2022
This season was definitely one of ups and downs to say the least. After suffering a severe concussion a few weeks in, I was unsure whether I would play another game in 2022. Thankfully I made a full recovery and was able to come back to play in the end of the regular season, the NESCAC championship, and the NCAA tourney. Noteworthy highlights:
— Beating #1 ranked Messiah in Mechanicsburg, PA on penalties to advance to the Sweet 16.
— Finishing 2nd in the NESCAC after beating Middlebury on their own field.
I now wear a Q-Collar, a preventative technology that sits on your neck (the science is pretty cool).
TRAVEL:
“Le Tour de France” (…and Belgium… and the Netherlands) July 2022
As was described by my parents, I too am grateful for the wonderful traveling we did as a family in France. Since it was mostly covered above, I am going to focus on a few highlights from the week I spent on my own in Europe prior to meeting up with family in Paris:
— Touring the beer gardens of Brussels with Benjamin, eating Belgian waffles, and laughing at the Manneken Pis.
— Taking a boat ride through the Amsterdam canals, making my grandma happy by visiting an art museum, 🙂 and meeting other travelers from around Europe.
— Watching the electric sprint finish of Stage 19 of the Tour de France in Cahors!
Mechanicsburg, PA; Gambier, OH; & Roanoke, VA Nov 2022 – Dec 2022
Since I already shared a bit about soccer in the previous section I will keep this short…
I was really grateful to have both friends and family come watch my team play as we took unconventional flight paths and 8-hour long bus rides around the east coast and midwest on our quest for the National Championship. It was special both to see family and feel all the support (including my mother’s facebook comment section) for the team!
Adela
Anyone looking at my weekly schedule in 2022 might faint from exhaustion right on the spot. I spent 16+ hours in singing rehearsal, not including the time I practiced on my own. I spent six hours a week practicing Mock Trial, first as the defendant, Jamie Cobey, in our 21-22 season, and then as a prosecution pretrial lawyer in our 22-23 season. I spent an hour a week volunteering as a mentor/coach for young singers through a program called One Voice Mentors that makes music lessons accessible to all. I get to school early Mon-Thurs to do additional classical chamber and jazz a cappella ensemble rehearsals. On Friday mornings, I wake up even earlier to go swimming at the nearby public pool for an hour. I spent four hours a week planning, organizing, and editing for the school newspaper. Oh, and then there’s homework — with at least an hour each night on math alone. “How did I do it all?” you may be asking? Beats me too, to be completely honest. This past year has been a complete blur. But all this hard work has allowed me to see and do so many incredible things.
My Mock Trial team placed 2nd in the California State Mock Trial competition, and I was nominated MVP in the State Final. I was so proud of how hard my team had worked and how far we made it in competition. Most of all, I was so grateful to be a part of a community that was so loving, supportive, and passionate.
I passed all my AP exams (whew!), which I took during the same week as performing in an incredible musical work, “At War with Ourselves: 400 Years of You” with Kronos Quartet, Nikky Finney and Micheal Abels. This project opened my eyes to the power of music as a tool in the fight for social justice. This was just one of the 22 performances I took part in through both SFGC and school.
I attended my final SFGC summer camp and performed in my final San Francisco Girls Holiday Concert. They were both bittersweet, filled with moments of joy, friendship, and reflection. It’s incredible to think that after my 11 years of being a chorister, this will be my final one. I couldn’t be more grateful for the exceptional group of people I get to sing with. They have taught me so much about myself, the world, and music. I couldn’t have asked for a better second family.
I completed my junior year of high school and began the college application process by visiting nearly 30 schools! I learned a lot about myself and started to imagine a vision for my future, even if so much is unknown.
I traveled to Hawai’i with my chorus where we performed multiple musical works and excerpts from a commissioned opera, and I even got to sing a traditional Filipino song, “Gabi at Araw,” on a local radio station. It was amazing to connect with the Filipino community in Hawaii and share music together. We had the opportunity to learn about the history of Filipino migration to Hawaii and California, and deepen our understanding of the commissioned opera, Tomorrow’s Memories that we will perform in full during the Summer of 2023.
I founded a school newspaper to create a forum for student activism and art. (Go check it out at: https://rasotadailydragon.org). I’ve learned how to create, design, and maintain a website. I’ve learned how to manage a team of writers and content creators. The experience has been immensely rewarding, and I hope to leave behind a foundation for future generations of students at my school to build on.
2022 was an extraordinary year filled with hard work, incredible experiences, and LOTS of music. I couldn’t be more thankful for the friends I made along the way and the lessons I learned that I will carry with me for all the years to come.
Mojito
Same old, same old for me. Sleep, eat, play. Repeat. And cry when those things don’t happen when I want them.
*****
In April of 2022, researchers found the wreck of Endurance, the ship that was crushed in the ice of Antarctica, forcing Ernest Shackleton and his crew into an epic land-and-sea journey to save their own lives. When Shackleton first set out to sail south and then cross the Antarctic continent on foot, he posted an ad for people to join him on his quest. It read, “Men Wanted: For hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.”
We find ourselves amidst many hazardous journeys these days. However this note finds you, we hope that this year brings you, if not honor and recognition, at least survival. Slava Ukraini.
Drop us a line when you have a moment — we’d love to connect, catch up, laugh, cheer and/or cry with you.
2022 by the numbers
1 – Live Tour de France stage finish that Jeannette, Matt, Jean-Paul and Dylan traveled to see
2 – International visitors to Chez Kelefors in 2022
5 – Upsets that the Williams College Men’s Soccer Team pulled off to reach the NCAA Division 3 championship match
12 – Number of family members who made it to NCAA tournament games to cheer on Dylan and his fellow Ephs
27 – Difference between the number of college campuses Adela set foot on compared to Dylan before they submitted applications. (Dylan got to two before the world shut down with COVID.)
50 – Number of Dead Poets Society Zoom calls that brought the Kelebosquims & Co clan together
75 – Pounds of fresh-caught fish generously gifted to Chez Kelefors by Jean-Paul & Cole after their Alaska fishing trip with Dad/Grandpa and Uncle Tom!
80 – Milestone birthday for Jeannette’s Dad, Kary (aka “Grandpa”)
180 – Population of the town (La Chaussée) where we visited La Maison de l’Acadie to learn more about where our Hébert ancestors came from before they emigrated to Nova Scotia in the 17th century
2022 Year in Pictures
