A Letter Written on Oct 25, 1960

Tuesday evening
October 25, 1960

Dear Andy,

At the moment there is a sorority meeting here. We are voting on future pledges.

I received your letter today and although I was extremely glad, I felt very guilty! I have started several letters to you, but each time I don't finish them, so then they are outdated. But, I promise, tonight I will finish this one, because I want to!

Your letter was terrific! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I wonder if you are aware of the fact that it was sprinkled with British phrases?! My, it sounds like a complete different world! Do you like it there? How is the school? What subjects are you taking?

Will you receive American college credits for your courses from this year? Do you have any idea if you will attend Antioch College?

All four of us say "hello" to the four of you. And a "Happy New Year!"

School is terrific! I adore it and I adore being a junior. I just love the kids at Niskayuna. They are so friendly and so nice to me. Things are very great. I would just like to stay a junior, I think, for ever! There is much work and it is very hard, but social activities, the kids, extra-curricular activities, etc balance the work!

There is not much new in this area. Our football team is unbeaten, and we will probably win the suburban council title. The team is really terrific and is made up of some excellent players.

You may or may not know about the American Field Service (AFS) program. It sends students abroad for a summer and brings European students to America for a school year. It is to promote friendship and understanding, etc. Anyway, a student is sent the summer after the junior year. Our school is a member of the AFS. Last year we had a girl from Switzerland as our foreign exchange student. This year we have a girl from Sweden. Both are terrific kids. This past summer one of my friends, who is a senior this year, was sent to Greece.

Interested kids apply in the fall of their junior year to be the Niskayuna AFS student. Sixteen juniors applied. Last week there was an interview with the student council officers, principal, school board members, and faculty members, etc. They selected four of the sixteen to send applications to AFS in New York for the final selection. Guess what - I was accepted!! Now I am busy completing a huge application now. I do not expect to be selected, of course, but it is fun and a great honor to be chosen to go this far. (Wouldn't it be simply fabulous if I were chosen as the final representative and saw you in Europe next summer!?)

Anyway, I am very excited and honored. I just never expected to be selected.

Thank you very much for the post card with the picture of skiing in Norway. It came at a time when several of the boys and I had been speaking longingly of skiing. It was just perfect. It made our us more anxious than ever for winter to come!

I am just completing this now, Andy. It is 11:45 Wednesday night. Last night I got to bed at 2:30!! There are twenty-two inches of snow now on Whiteface! Isn't that terrific? It was extremely cold here, but today it suddenly became mild again.

I took my driving test after school today. I will know Friday if I passed or not!

The following is from a letter I started to you on Thursday, August 25.

Hi! I am now sitting in bunk 2 at the camp for Living Judaism in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. This conclave began today and lasts until the thirtieth. (It was simply great!) There are about 126 kids here. Most of them are from the New York area - Received your first letter - What a trip!

This summer I did go to summer school. I took Driver Ed. and Great Music. Both were interesting. I got that precious little blue card! Although there were lots of terrific kids at summer school it did not leave me much of a vacation. It was hard work and a long grind. Had to be in class at 7:30 am, every day for driving!! Imagine! - Next summer I just loaf!

Please write as often as possible?

Love,
Sue Ellen