A New Face in A Familiar Place: An Introduction to Mr. Amiel

7 November 2012Lindsay B.E. Alex ‘14

A few nights ago, I had the pleasure to sit down with Mr. Oliver Amiel and conduct an interview. We bantered jovially for a time. Born in Sechelt, BC, Mr. Amiel has also lived in Gibsons, Vancouver, Pender Harbour, Calgary, and Mill Bay.

A graduate of Brentwood, Mr. Amiel was in Whittall House, where he is now a duty master. He went on for post-graduate study at McGill in Montreal, QB. No stranger to Canada, he has also lived internationally in places like Pocatello, Idaho; Goring, England; Whakatane, New Zealand, and in Daegu, South Korea where he taught English for some time. He also taught in two schools in Melbourne, Australia.

A traveller of the world, he has returned to Mill Bay to teach full-time alongside his lovely fiancée Mrs. Willow.

LBE: What brought you back to Brentwood?

OA: Well initially, it was just a temporary position, but I met Mrs. Willow when I taught here a couple years ago, and then we were both given the opportunity to come back to Brentwood. (Smiling to himself) When we first met, she actually didn’t like me. She thought I was loud and talked too much.

LBE: What courses are you teaching this year?

OA: Physics and Chemistry AP 11, and one section of Science 9.

LBE: And anything outside of academics?

OA: Junior Novice Boys Rowing.

LBE: Now for the less formal questions. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

OA: Still teaching I think. I don’t know, I mean I’m getting married this summer! I see myself with Mrs. Willow and a couple of kids, still on Vancouver Island maybe? Maybe at Brentwood? Maybe teaching overseas? Who knows?

LBE: Favourite artist?

OA: Aw man… Uh… See I like that question because it’s open ended. It doesn’t just have to be a singer. Far out man… I can only name one artist? Pearl Jam – Eddie Vedder. I can listen to that all day and never get tired of it. Or Louis C. K. He’s amazing.

LBE: Favourite TV show? Movie?

OA: (No hesitation) How I Met Your Mother. Oh! No! The John Daily Show! As for movies, probably Garden State.

LBE: Favourite book?

OA: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.

LBE: What are two things we probably didn’t know about you? Do you have any hidden talents?

OA: Hmm… Well I practice Tai Chi. And I learned how to play the bagpipes for a year once.

LBE: Coke or Pepsi? Nikon or Canon? Mac or PC? Star Wars or Star Trek?

OA: Coke. Nikon. I don’t have a preference. I have a Mac at home, but I use a PC at school. I’m not too bothered. Star Wars, definitely.

LBE: What are some of your nerdiest moments?

OA: Haha, see this would be a great question for Mrs. Willow because she always notices when I do that kind of stuff. Every day something happens to me that I interpret in a nerdy way. Somebody would tell me something and I’d make it so geeky. I nerdify it.

LBE: If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?

OA: I’d have to go with Ironman. So Tony Stark.

LBE: What is your favourite quote?

OA: I read something by Bruce Lee recently that I loved: “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” I also save a bunch from nerdy scientists, but I can’t remember them all off the top of my head.

LBE: If (and when) Hollywood makes a movie about your life, whom would you cast as yourself?

OA: (Laughing) Matt Damon. For sure.

LBE: If you could have dinner with any famous person (dead or alive), who would it be?

OA: I can’t imagine I would enjoy myself, I’d be too nervous to ask anything. Obama would be amazing, but I’d be scared stiff the whole time… Yeknow what, Jesus. Maybe? I’m not religious, but I know he existed and I have some questions for that guy. Wait, John Daily, what am I saying? Of course! Absolutely! Or Louis C. K.

As the delightful conversation drew to a close, I thanked the light-hearted Mr. Amiel for his time. We look forward to getting to know him and Mrs. Willow more over the coming years. Welcome back you two!

Lindsay B.E. Alex ‘14