The Los Altos Tennis Club is fortunate enough to have not just good tennis players, but people with fascinating backgrounds and sparkling intellect. Where else could I have the opportunity to interview a person who has lived all over the world, speaks three languages fluently, French communicably, is happy and makes friends wherever she goes, and is ready to move tomorrow if her husband’s job takes him to a different part of the world.

Grace started life in Taiwan, where her family still lives and where she visits once each year and where she met her American husband. Chris was in Taiwan because he wanted to learn Mandarin and because he is interested in varied cultures. He is now working with a firm that supplies medical devices. This firm sends him all over the world. Grace says that as soon as they buy a house he gets transferred. And, unlike most wives, Grace doesn’t mind! Everywhere she goes, she makes it permanent. Grace is proudest of her ability to live anywhere and be happy.

The Haigs have been happy in a surprising number of places: Taiwan, Brussels, Los Altos, Foster City, San Diego, San Mateo, Chapel Hill,North Carolina, (where her father-in-law is a French professor), Berkeley. Their main language at home is Mandarin, though her husband speaks English with the two children (a girl, 12 and a boy, 10). The children don’t seem to mind the moves either and have learned to make friends as easily as they pick up a new language.

Grace started tennis rather late in life, about two years ago. She enjoys the less competitive Interclub rather than USTA. She also enjoys skiing and takes off with the children for Tahoe where they enjoy the slopes. Chris is less often able to go because of travel demands.

Grace regrets most that she used Cliff Notes to get her English major instead of reading the originals.

Grace knows a lot about Buddhism, Taoism and meditation and I believe I will use her as my guru from now on.