...it must be old picture day. Here's one from about 1977. I'm sitting at my desk at the offices of the American Association of Teachers of French in Champaign, Illinois. Notice that fancy typewriter on the right, and the map of France. I wore my long hair in a ponytail at that point.
The AATF job was a part-time engagement. I was assistant editor of the AATF newsletter, and I helped organize the annual AATF convention in places including Philadelphia, Fort-de-France (Martinique), and Quebec City over the four years I worked there. I was also a graduate student and teaching assistant in the French Department at the University of Illinois, where I taught French language courses every semester.
I don't know exactly how many professors (12? 15?) or TAs (30? 35?) there were in the French department, but I do know that some 35 or 40 thousand students were enrolled on the Champaign-Urbana campus. Every year, half a dozen French students came to the U of I to give conversation classes, and that added to the atmosphere. I was friends with many of them. For sure, it wasn't Paris, where I had lived and worked in 1974-76 and would return to for three more years starting in 1979, but C-U was an exciting place to live and work.
Nice shot. You look wide-eyed and idealistic. Love the long hair!
ReplyDeleteGinny, hi, I think this picture was taken to be put in the association newsletter. The professor who ran the place wanted to publish photos of all 8 or 10 of the staff members as a way of introducing us to the membership.
DeleteLove the pockets on the bias. And such sleek hair!
ReplyDeletePauline, I liked having long hair for quite a while. Then my father let his hair grow long in the 1980s, and I realized that the style had aged. That was that. And looking back at old pictures, I realize I have always worn plaid shirts -- still do. And yes, I noticed those pockets too. Snazzy, eh?
DeleteI still have the Selectric that I used about the same time! Time flies, for sure.
ReplyDeleteCHM, does the Selectric still work? I remember I got an electric typewriter as a Christmas present the year I was finishing high school and going on to the university. I used it for years. White-out!
DeleteI didn't use it since 1978! I guess it would still work if the ribbons and the white-out were still available. LOL
DeleteBonjour Cousin,
DeleteHeard that the Russians still have them :-)
Putin has not gone digital wrt his govt business
Bonjour Cousine,
DeleteMaybe I could try to sell it to the Russian Emassy, here in Washington?
looks like a ROYAL typewriter. and is that a mimeo machine? oy, the 70s!
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie, I used both Mimeo (black ink) and Ditto (blue ink) machines all the time when I was teaching back in the '70s.
DeleteHave you mentioned the AATF before? I've been a member for many years, and gone to two conventions (conveniently, I chose to go when it was in Paris, and when it was in Québec City ;) ). I get the newsletter and the monthly publication, and now we have a chapter of the Société Honoraire de Français. It's fun to think of you being involved in all of this, too... back when I was graduating from high school :)
ReplyDeleteJudy, the Quebec City AATF convention that I worked on was in 1980 -- probably too early for you. The AATF's national headquarters stayed in Champaign for many years, but a few years ago the whole operation moved down to Carbondale (SIU). I worked at AATF from 1976 until 1980, even though I moved to Paris in 1979. They brought me back to help with the QC convention. I'll post some more photos, if I can put my hands on them.
DeleteJudy, have a look at this web document that I just found. See especially the Editor's Column on page 2 of the PDF files.
DeleteSo cool, Ken!
DeleteAnd, yes, the Québec convention that I attended was in 2005, and the cost for a hotel room (not even at the Château Frontenac!), was waaaaay more than $50/night/double *LOL*. We stayed at a hotel just outside of the gates to the old city--- I had a room on a very high floor, so I could see clearly all of the goings on in the old city, from our hotel room. I took advantage of the airfare and hotel being paid for, to add a couple of extra days, and bring my now husband. We also opted for the (rather expensive) several-day bus excursion up to Saguenay, Chicoutimi, and other parts. Great visit!
I love these flashbacks! Like Polly I noticed the bias cut pockets. We all had long hair back then, a few people my age still do- more power to them, I enjoy gray pony tails. I had no idea Champaign-Urbana was so large. It was a good place for you.
ReplyDeleteHi E., because I went to Champaign-Urbana as a grad student in 1971, I got to spend a year in Rouen, two years in Paris, and then a year in Metz (en Lorraine) between 1972 and 1980, on teacher exchange programs. Those experiences shaped my life.
Deletewow, it is history. Wow what a typewriter.
ReplyDeleteI pounded daily on the keys of that old manual typewriter, sending out a lot of correspondence.
DeleteOf course, I still have tne Paris map poster you got me from the AATF. The poster was free. the framing was about $40 years ago. I look at it often, Ken. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, the AATF gave those maps and a lot of posters out for free to French teachers, and you were one back then. It is a nice map, and you know what? I don't think I even have one of them.
DeleteKen Broadhurst,
ReplyDeleteIts so funny looking at these pictures. This particular picture really had us laughing in the office of the current AATF headquarters that is now located in Marion, IL. We were looking at it and noticed that the filing tray on your desk is the same one that I have on my desk now. We carry your legacy with us everyday. LOL!
Nice to hear from you. I worked part-time at the AATF office in Champaign from 1976 until 1980. I remember the great conventions we organized and held in Martinique and in Québec. Glad to hear you are keeping up the good work.
ReplyDelete