Exchange Teacher Perspectives, 2002 Celine Garnier-Perrault, France - Upstate New York Public High School French and Spanish Teacher Celine sets the benchmark for persistence and adaptability. She has a strong, independent mind and such a rigorous intellect that the school district in New York State, with some of the highest standards in the nation, asked her to design the curriculum for next year's French Literature High School course. Her wit and spunk endear her to colleagues, students, and supervisors alike. It is teachers like Celine (though she is inimitable) who give the Cordell Hull Foundation a reputation for excellence. Below she describes her progress through three school experiences in New York State teaching both French and Spanish. "Marianne Mason, President of the Cordell Hull Foundation, phoned me in France in early October 2000. I was supposed to have left for the USA in August 2000, two months before. A different exchange organization had offered me a teaching position, but at the last minute they told me that there was no job for me and that I would have to wait until January. But early in October, Ms. Mason phoned unexpectedly on the recommendation of the French Cultural Attaché in New York to CHF. She talked to me in French asking if I would be interested submitting my resumé for a position teaching French in a Catholic school in upstate New York for a few months to substitute for a teacher on maternity leave. Exactly what I needed to hear! Papers were furiously faxed and Fedexed back and forth. The decision had to be made quickly. I said yes, and 2 weeks later I was on a plane headed for New York's Kennedy airport. I was happy to be on my way to the USA to the school in a nice little village, 60 miles away from New York City. All this for me was new and exciting. I was to stay temporarily in the convent, close to the school, with the Sisters. Six weeks later, we still had not been able to locate an apartment in this small community. I was still in the convent, happy with the sisters (the kindest ones on earth) but my fiancé was arriving in a week. Luckily, two days before my fiancé arrived, we found an apartment in a larger city 15 minutes away from the school. It was perfect. The people inside were moving on Saturday and my fiancé was arriving on Sunday! Perfect timing! My contract at the school was only for three months and I knew that if I might have to return to France if I did not find another job. Very few schools hire a teacher in the middle of the year. The other exchange organization offered me a job teaching further south, but we really liked the northeast and wanted to remain in the area. All along I received much positive encouragement and support from Marianne Mason and the Cordell Hull Foundation. She visited me at the school, observed my class, and spent time with my supervisors. But the Foundation did not have any openings available in New York in the middle of winter. So I decided to look for another teaching position in the immediate area. I didn’t give up, sent out plenty of resumes, and luckily found an immediate opening at the beginning of January for a Spanish teacher. Why not? I lived in Mexico and had taught Spanish, too! And there I was! New school, new colleagues, new city and even a new language to teach. Happy life...! My fiancé and I decided to stay in this interesting part of the country. The Cordell Hull Foundation agreed to help set up a J-1 visa exchange visitor program with the new school or district in order to continue sponsoring me for the following year. Teaching only Spanish is great but I am really A FRENCH TEACHER. After sending many more resumés I got some positive answers, went on interviews and also did demonstration classes. I fell in love with one school; I mean, the school itself, the building, the location ... in upstate New York … the healthiest county around here and my classroom had a view of the Hudson J Nice! And it was a position teaching both French and Spanish. Franck and I returned the first week in September 2001 as a married couple. The U.S. Embassy delayed our arrival because they called in Franck for an interview. If you get married after you already have a visa, apparently, they want to make sure you are not "intending to immigrate," a provision of the J-1 teacher exchange visa. They called him into the Paris office, took a look at him, and said okay. A short meeting. I am still in New York and will continue to teach at the same school in 2002-2003, my last year in the CHF J-1 Teacher Exchange Program. Franck is taking graduate courses at the university and working part-time, both activities that a J-2 "derivative" visa allows him to do. As the spouse of a J-1 visaholder, he can work (after obtaining an "EAD" at the local immigration office) and be a student without having to apply for a student (F-1) visa. Thanks to the Cordell Hull Foundation and above all to president Marianne Mason, our interesting experiences are going to last a bit longer. There is so much to learn here, and so much to do. Every month or so, we venture into New York City ... recently, we went to a Yankees game! This year, my school asked me to create a new course in French with the University at Albany. It will start next year and I will teach it. Great opportunity, yes? It is like all this was meant to be."