Chapter 2 - A Dream Come True

Louisa settled on her sofa with a cup of tea and she reread the letter from the Council for International Teacher Exchange (CITE) with greater care. This was totally unexpected. She had applied with this program in January and in March had received a letter telling her that all positions had been filled. Her name had been placed on a list of alternates should there be a future vacancy. She had not been disappointed because it wasn't something she had ever expected to happen in her life. She honestly had not given it another thought.

Louisa had to be certain that what she had quickly read in the post office was correct. She did not know that her smile kept expanding as she read. Indeed, at this late date, she was being offered a summer job in the program because someone had dropped out. She read it again, out loud.

Dear Miss Glasson:

Congratulations! Because you were selected as an alternate for our summer program with our International Teacher Exchange program, we have kept your application open. You indicated an interest in being placed in the United States, and the position listed below has suddenly become available, due to the sudden change of plans by the person originally selected.

You are at the top of the substitute list to contact for a primary school opening. We are sorry for the lateness of this offer, but there is a need to find someone to fill this position as soon as possible. Please contact Ms. Kimberly Lawson of our office by email or phone (222-333-4451) with your acceptance or rejection of this summer teaching exchange opportunity.

Location: Millersville Elementary School
35 Cedar Street
Millersville, Illinois 22334

Size: Millersville is a municipality in the north central area of the state of Illinois, with a population of 965 (approximately 120 miles from Chicago). The Millersville Public Schools (K-12) average from 15-21 students in each primary grade. The junior and senior high school grades enroll students from a larger area with an average of 34 students per grade.

Length of school year: The Tuesday after Labor Day (first Monday in September) through the first full week in June following Memorial Day (May 31).

Summer school runs for 6 weeks, beginning the week after the end of the regular school year. Summer school is offered for primary grade students who may benefit from additional instruction in basic subject areas and/or individual direction to achieve desired behavior.

Requirements: Teaching degree or certificate issued by an accredited college, university or institution of any
participating country affiliated with CITE.

Position: First 2 weeks work as teaching assistant with lead teacher, assignment thereafter to be forthcoming.

*Stipend: The amount is determined by location of school, whether urban or rural. Housing is provided.

Again, congratulations on your selection. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions. We look forward to welcoming you to an exceptional experience of sharing knowledge and expertise in an atmosphere which creates new friends amid the joyful discovery of cultural differences and similarities.

Sincerely,

Mr. Robert J. Siegel, President
CITE, Inc.
New York, NY

*A stipend of $150.00 per week is offered instead of a salary, which is lower than for a regular wage. However, this payment is accompanied with the reimbursement of the full cost of transportation to and from your home country and a housing allowance is also provided.

Louisa let out another long squeal of excitement and this one did not have to be squelched until she was almost out of breath. She'd had a fantasy years ago of visiting America, but it was expensive to travel abroad. That dream had slipped away as she grew up. But this enticing opportunity was totally affordable. She had not felt so honored since she was named Head Teacher of Portwenn Primary School two years ago.

Louisa had settled into the routine of life in Portwenn quickly. It was almost as if she'd never been away. People were so friendly and helpful that her move had almost been too easy. She missed the excitement of London, but she knew she was really a homebody at heart. The older village folk were delighted that someone of the younger generation had returned after sampling big city life and it was hoped that her example also would help lure other young people back home to Portwenn. People spoke to her who remembered her as a little girl, or they knew her parents, and some even remembered her grandparents.

It had been winter when she happened to read an article about this organization commonly known as CITE. It had surprised her how strongly the idea of meeting and working with educators and their students while being given the opportunity to travel appealed to her. This did not have to be a lengthy commitment and could, with proper planning and the cooperation of her peers at the school, fit into her professional life. Broaden her knowledge and enhance her skills. Ah, her peers, this is how she thought of the other teachers as she relinquished her role as administrator after some morning scheduling tricks so that she could walk into her own classroom with her own students for the rest of the day. Would they cooperate or view this as taking unfair advantage of the fact that she had no parents, no husband, and certainly no children of her own to keep her continually in this lovely place? Well, she would start small. Just a summer adventure, and perhaps only a one time posting abroad would satisfy her curiosity and wanderlust.

Louisa hadn't told anyone except the chair of the school governing board, who had written a simple but sincere letter of recommendation about her which was forwarded to CITE to fulfill an application requirement. So she'd sent off her application and then promptly forgotten all about it with the busyness of every day. Except sometimes at night, her eyes would suddenly fly open as a random thought pushed through her drowsiness before sleep. Would she hear from CITE about her application? When, soon? Or her mind leaped ahead and the thought was, should I buy a larger piece of luggage if I'm going to America? Slow down, Louisa, she'd tell herself. You have to get accepted first.

And now she knew she would be going to America. After becoming Head Teacher, this was another of her childhood dreams coming true!

This news deserved a proper drink. She rushed to the kitchen and poured red wine from an opened bottle into a glass. As she raised it with a happy shout of "Louisa, here's to you," in her mind she pictured the residents of Portwenn all gathered in the local pub and raising their glasses in this happy toast to her. Soon it would be time to tell them of the adventure that awaited her for the summer.