7. A New Door Opened: Meeting Barbara and the Lives and Enterprises That Ensued

Some time in the late 1960s the National Teachers Magazine had published an advertisement  for teachers to go to African countries to train Native Teachers.  A fellow teacher pointed this out to me suggesting that we both try for a position.  Here was an opportunity for Barbara and I to realize our college dream of world travel.  

I discussed the program with Barbara and what it  would mean for both of us and the Family. It was potentially a career and financial disruption of a nature that might never be retrievable. The ten year pledge to make the farm work had hit some rough spots; like we were at the mercy of the meat-packer buyers. When the buyers would go out for coffee, the price would drop a few dollars, regardless of the quality of your pigs.  With that experience as part of our rationale, we decided that Columbia University Offer was worth a try. 

This Program was offered by Columbia University out of New York and sponsored by the Federal Agency for International Development.  The first requirements were a Master’s Degree and 5 years of teaching experience; which I had.  The next question was, "Would they take the whole family?"; the answer was yes.  Both the other teacher and I started the application process which was many-faceted and lengthy.  I had to take several tests such as the Miller Analogy and Rochard among the many.  Eventually the other teacher and I were both offered an interview in Seattle. Columbia University provided the round trip airfare to Seattle. 

I  believe that it was the first time Barbara had been on a Commercial Airliner.  We tried to prepare ourselves for the interview with up-to-date information about international affairs. Barbara didn't think it was necessary and she was right. She did buy herself a new dress to wear for the interview. Her interview was separate from mine and her questions were more about how she would handle unfamiliar living conditions. She gave practical answers which were her way of doing things. Her answers probably were more important than mine, as the recruiters were well aware that she would hold things together if the situation was tough. After getting this far, both of us felt that we had gained a lot, even if it went no further.  Grandma Cochrane’s  opinion was that she and Grandpa Cochrane would never see us again, and Barbara’s mother did not believe that we would ever get an appointment.  

Time went on without any word or communication whatsoever, and the end of the school year was approaching. If we were accepted we would have to be ready to leave by the 4th of July.  The fellow teacher who had applied with me and I decided we would pool our resources, make a long distance telephone call to Columbia University to see if a decision had been made.  We were both on the line and they asked us to hang up and they would call us back.  The recruiters did just that, the call back confirmed acceptance for me and not for the fellow teacher.  

We had a telegram the next day confirming the appointment, that gave us a month and a couple of days to rent the farm and house, pack up for a two year stay in a foreign country, clear all our debts and be ready to leave for New York.  Needless to say it was a 30 day flurry of activity. When we arrived in New York the only thing we had missed and could not do without, was Kiva’s white Teddy Bear.

As country kids going to New York, we had a lot of questions about how to conduct ourselves and what to look out for.  Fortunately none of those fears manifested themselves.  On some occasions we were chastised for being slow, but there were very many kind people also.  

Moving from Idaho to New York was a shocking experience, but we survived and had some fun doing so.  Columbia housed all thirty five participants and families at Barnard College. Training consisted of language, history, culture, health care, and many other topics that would help one adjust to a new environment. Language was paramount and the children  learned far faster than us adults. The six weeks  of training were soon over.  There are a lot of tales to tell about our New York experience. Everything from riding the subway, visiting the Statue Of Liberty, the naked lady outside our building one morning, and much more; but it will have to wait for another writing. 

With training completed the time had come for the crew of teachers and their families to depart New York and head for our African teaching assignments. Columbia had chartered a four engine propeller driven airliner, well equipped with food and beverages,  enough to supply 35 families as they transited the Atlantic Ocean. The entourage loaded the plane and arranged themselves in their assigned seats, and as we were sitting there we spotted our box of emergency supplies on the tarmac, waiting to be loaded.  This box was four feet long two, feet wide and eighteen inches deep. The box had been built by Barbara’s father for another occasion and we were reusing it to hold our very special supplies.  It was big and heavy, we had to wonder if it ever got on the plane. Our flight path was from New York across the Atlantic Ocean on a diagonal with a landing in Dakar, Senegal, for a fuel stop, and then east, across the African Continent to Nairobi, Kenya.

Barbara's Passport Photo - children included

At this point I want to express my admiration and gratitude for the collaborative participation Barbara Line Cochrane has contributed to all the many endeavors in which we have engaged. Although she is no longer with us, her tremendous contribution will always be acknowledged and appreciated. We miss her participation greatly.

Frank