1. Teaching Opportunities in East Africa

 Teachers College, Columbia University, is recruiting primary and secondary school teachers, aged 26-58, with a Master's degree and at least five years' teaching experience to train teachers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for Two years beginning September 1967. Applications from qualified single persons, married men and married women whose husbands are also applying will be considered. Teachers will receive:

• approximately $9500 per annum
• pre-departure orientation at Teachers College
• round trip travel for you and your family
• comfortable housing at reduced rentals 

For further information and application, write:

    Teacher Education in East Africa

    Teachers College

    Columbia University

    New York, New York 10027

Dear Mr. Cochrane,

    I am happy to inform you that your application to the teacher Education in East Africa Project has passed our preliminary screening. Our initial interviewing session in the Northwest area will take place next weekend. You and Mrs. Cochrane are asked to meet with Drs. Roger Myers and Robert Beckwith at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 8. The interview will take place in their rooms at the hotel Benjamin Franklin, Seattle, Washington. I regret that we have not been able to give you more warning, but as you know, the time is short and we have a number of applicants to interview in the next few weeks.

...

The letter inviting us to the interview came on Saturday, April 2, 1967. As soon as I spotted it among the mail, I ran down to the field where Frank was corrugating alfalfa. How exciting it was to read it, and what a flood of plans it turned loose! At the top of the (my) list was to get me a hair-do and a new dress. Then make arrangements to leave the kids at Grandma's, and get tickets to fly to Seattle. And Frank must get a time to take the MAT test which was given in Caldwell. It is amusing to me now, when I remember the order I gave to the things that should be done that week! Frank's test was very important to his being chosen, but the hair-do and dress took first place!

    We were concerned about the questions that would be asked, especially of me. Frank told me I should have some opinions on world affairs. That was a surprise because my mind was occupied with more important things then... keeping the children clean and fed, and the animals clean and fed, and various other jobs that keep a farm woman busy.

    Mr. Kimmerling and his wife were to be interviewed too. He and Frank had started this project out together, in fact Mr. Kimmerling had found the ad in the first place. They flew up with us. Mrs. Kimmerling was not the least excited and did not want to go to Africa; strange, but then there's no accounting for peoples' attitudes! I was ready to sell my soul to get to go!

    That airplane ride was the most exciting in my whole life! I'm sure my stomach arrived hours ahead of the rest of me! We stayed in the hotel where the interview was to be held. We must have eaten there too, and slept, but very little.

    There were two other couples in the room when we went down for the interview. I was very worried that we would seem too plain and countrified. The ladies both made me wish I had dressed differently and knew more about world affairs. 

    When our turn finally came, we were given the tests first. They were long and most of the time senseless. Some were psychological tests, I assume to try to measure how we could cope. All in all it did not matter what dress I was wearing! And thank heavens I did not have to know anything about world affairs. Frank went in by himself first.

    Then it was my turn. Of the things I was asked I remember two vividly: "How would you feel if the kids had to go to boarding school?" I said, "Maybe the big ones but not the little ones--I'd teach them myself. Maybe I'd teach all of them." He said, "Would you have to have familiar things to eat, like, for instance, corn flakes?" I said, "Heavens no. We could eat what the Africans did." I guess that told him we didn't always have to have "corn flakes" when we were at home! He also said something about hiring a person to help with the house work and the yard and to do the cooking. I probably told him it wouldn't be necessary, I could do all that myself.

  Once back home things were very quiet. Time went on...three weeks passed and no word from TEEA. The suspense was terrible. Finally Frank and Mr. Kimmerling called the TEEA office to find out if we had been refused or if there was still a chance. They told him that there had been letters sent...Frank had been chosen and Mr. Kimmerling had not. Next day we found a telegram had been sent to us and was waiting in Caldwell. We never did find out why they hadn't called it out to us.

        

Western Union Telegram

            1967 May 6 AM 8 04

         Frank Cochrane

            Delighted to inform you TEEA selection committee has selected you for tutor position subject to receipt of medical and government clearances. Please inform us in writing of your acceptance subject to these conditions.

    So now we knew we were going to Africa!