CLAUDINE LIPPERT

Claudine Lippert was born and raised in Tournai, Belgium. She has authored many short stories in French, English and Spanish, and wrote her first book “The Jewels of Paradise Village” in English, her second language. Her next book “Les Bijoux de Paradise Village” is a French adaptation of the English version. Claudine married an American in 1972 and moved to Monterey, California with her husband in 1976. She was then 28 years old. Her new life in an environment and a culture very different from her own presented many new options, but numerous hazards and difficulties as well. Four years later, the couple moved to Colorado. Claudine fell in love with the friendly Coloradoans and the majestic Rocky Mountains. She grew as a person and discovered a lot about herself in that milieu. Her life revolved around home, career, and education but she also had a lot of fun skiing in Keystone and waterskiing in the Pueblo reservoir. Dick and Claudine purchased a newly built house in 1981 and lived in their new home for the next 33 years. While pursuing her career in finance, she resumed her education and obtained a Master’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, and International Business in May 1994. Two months later, she started teaching business classes three evenings per week at National American University, while continuing her career in finance. She retired from Ford Credit in 2001 and accepted the position of French Teacher in the International Baccalaureate Programme at Palmer High School. This “Retirement Job” was her “Reward”, after a long enjoyable yet very stressful career. Educators have a highly demanding occupation filled with serious responsibilities. They also have the privilege of contributing to the development of young minds and of learning from their students. Claudine’s experience as a French Teacher brought her back to her roots. She thoroughly enjoyed sharing her language, her history, and her culture with her young American students for over a decade. She is now fully retired, has survived breast cancer and lives with her husband in Arizona.