9.1 September 3, 1967 Dad's letter home

 Sept . 3

Dear Folks,     

    It is getting to be that time of year that we generally are getting back to the old grind of teaching. I'm wondering how you feel, this year for the first time in many, not to answer the call. I envy you your trip to Wheeler and I imagine that you  will be on your way shortly after Labor Day. I remember how peaceful and pretty that place was when we were over there before I went to Korea. We sure hope you enjoy your selves and we are looking forward to hearing about it. If I knew an address I would send this letter there.

    We heard a few new items about Idaho via the Voice of America in the last week or so. One ws about all the fires, range and forest, and we figured Jim would be busy until we realized the time of year it was. There was another item about the U of I's Education TV...We do get a little news that way, in fact we were rather surprised to hear it.

    You asked about Christmas presents some time ago and we have discussed it. At one time we thought food would be the best but now that we are finding out where to get stuff and finding how to make it palatable that doesn't seem to be so important. Most other things have such high import duty on them that it is questionable that it is worth it. All the necessities of life are available here and all the luxuries we can get  in Nairobi at a price, so I do not know what to tell you. Probably money would be the best. Particularly when we think of the vacation time we will have in December. This fall term is over about the fifth of December and school does not start the new year until January, so we might try to do some traveling and money would come in handy for that, but I don't know how to send it.

    By the way Mom, I want to wish you a Happy Birthday now to let you know we are thinking about you. We planned to send some little memento from New York but didn't get it done so will send something from Nairobi next week end. Many Happy Returns! By the way, I wrote you a letter about one and a half weeks ago and Jim's last Sunday. We would like to know how long it takes mail from here and also how reliable it is, so if you could make a note of the letters for the first couple of months we ought to be able to tell. We will do the same here.

    We got our car lst Wednesday. it runs alright, but there are a few things they said they would fix that didn't get done so I will have to ride them about it. I also bought a refrigerator, a repossessed one that cost like the dickens but to keep food cool compensates somewhat for it. All I could find in my inexperience was an electric one, so we run it from 6:30 to 11:30 pm on as cold as it will go and it holds fairly well until the next evening. We still have ice at 3 pm the next day. I wrapped about four layers of insulated paper around it to help it out.  Taped the paper so the door can open. It seems to be working.

    I rode down to Nairobi in a truck from Embu which brought our sea freight backup, then I sent them off and stayed in town until I got the car deal done. I have never seen so much red tape nor a bureaucracy at its worst. What made it worse everyone was so darn nice about it that you could hardly jump on to anyone individual. Everything was always out of their control but they would do what they could. Before that was done -- car, high priced insurance, and high priced refrigerator -- I had uttered several cursed ruing the day I had thought of Africa. But now that a few days have soothed my feelings I think I will make it.

    Barbara is going to teach half time in Home Ec. and it sounds like she will have an interesting job. Lots of work in nutrition, general health, and sewing. The principal liked some of her ideas about teaching baking which they do not do here, using a home made oven, (Wish we had one of those old ovens we use dot set on top of the gas stove) how to use swamp coolers, and using native fibers on a Navajo loom, so it seems like quite and interesting job at least from the stand point of doing something useful. My job is mainly to teach Science correlated closely to Agriculture without them knowing I', teaching Agriculture. Main purpose is to teach a useful science. I have some ideas about using natural laboratories that should be interesting too.

    They are going to move us to a bigger house next week so we are still living out of boxes...no more room, got to quit.

            Love, Frank.

 Sept. 5

Dear Mom and Dad (Cochrane)

    We just received your letter of the 30th so thought I would write back although I just mailed a letter to you day before yesterday. No. 1 you are paying too much postage for your letters. We have received several of those Areogrames and all of them have come on thirteen cents and they are air mail. We have received a regular letter from New York and it only cost twenty five cents. Some of Diane's friends have written, Barb's folks, and Bill and all came on the thirteen cents so some one is taking advantage of you. Just send one and see if it doesn't come through. Our letters do not cost what you think. Those are 50 cents African money. A schilling is worth about fourteen cents U.S. and there are 100 cents in the schilling so our stamp cost 75 cents U.S.

    Item no. 2 That I wanted to mention was Dad's proposed operation. I think it is good that they can do something positive for it. I know it is hard to consent to have it done but I'm glad you are going ahead with it. It  undoubtedly will be a big help. Will this take the place of crutches, or will you have to use them besides the operation? (operation to have hip joint replaced)

    I'm sure glad Jim Spofford is looking better...been some worried about him since last summer's episode at McCall.

    We had our first faculty meeting this morning and things are beginning to straighten out so we can see what we are doing. My job (if I haven't told you before) will be general science but they call it Rural Science. Science and Agriculture combined and taught from a very practical standpoint. Both Barb and I will observe and learn the ropes for the first three weeks starting Monday then we will supervise student teachers for three weeks them back to the class room again. This time we will be teaching. It looks like a good staff, quite congenial and I can see lots of things to do and am getting quite enthused about it. I think I can rig up a laboratory in the natural surroundings that will teach every area that they cover. It also looks like Barb can do a great deal too. But I will let her tell about it. I know I wrote some of this on Monday so please forgive the repeat. I will quit now and let Barb finish. 

        Love, Frank