18
April 2016
Abingdon
Old Abingdonians
International OAs
OAs live around the world. Here are three snapshots of international lives.
Mark Lintott
(1977)
Mark Lintott Design, Taiwan
Eight years after leaving design school, I
managed a project in Taiwan. I eventually
relocated and established a practice there.
Looking back, I couldn’t imagine a harder
place to set up shop, but it seemed like a
fascinating place full of possibilities.
Although my career has been more
opportunistic than planned, the desire
to build and make things, and avoid
a corporate lifestyle, shaped the few
decisions I did make.
Abingdon gave me an independence and
self-reliance that has constantly supported
my choices – choices made on gut feeling
rather than a master plan.
Mike Kendrick
(1979)
Wild Shots, South Africa
Inspired by teaching at Abingdon, I spent 25 years in education in Bristol.
I then leapt into the unknown to follow my dream: living in Africa. I spent five years directing
an educational NGO in Cape Town’s townships, as well as developing an International
Academy in the Northern Cape.
I now live just outside Kruger Park, combining my passions for teaching, conservation and
nature photography. I run an educational outreach programme with local communities -
engaging young people from disadvantaged communities in wildlife and wild places through
photography.
I first worked abroad (for the Japanese
government) after studying English in 1979.
In my 40s, I was asked to set up a
publishing office in Beijing. China had
opened up, and copyright was being
better respected. I hesitated initially,
but I threw myself in and have never
looked back.
I have spent the last eleven years working
abroad, in over 50 countries. Abingdon
started me off with modern languages, to
which I added some Japanese, Chinese
and Dutch. My father was a physicist,
and I feel proud to have served not
only science, but social sciences and
humanities as a publisher.
Paul Evans
(1975)
SAGE Publications Asia Pacific,
Singapore
