AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR FOREIGN TRADE PROGRESS REPORT

THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR FOREIGN TRADE

Four years ago, in the September issue of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, Maxae Kersten told of her husband's plans to attend the American Institute for Foreign Trade, Arizona's unique school at Glendale, which, in eight short years, has made its influence felt around the world.

Her husband, she reported then, had decided to give up a successful teaching career (head of the Department of Speech and Drama at Phoenix College) because he "felt the need to get into a field which held more possibilities for me, both in personal satisfaction and in financial return. More and more I have become convinced that a career in foreign trade would supply the fulfillment of both these desires. Obviously, we Americans must promote amicable business and social relationships with all nations in this time of conflicting ideologies and discord, and I would like to have a part in that promotion."

Cecil Kersten is now halfway around the world from Phoenix-at Jakarta, Indonesia (in pre-war times that would have been Batavia, Java), William P. Olliver, a graduate of Phoenix Union High School, the University of Arizona and the American Institute for Foreign Trade, is now in Valparaiso, Chile, with his wife and their daughter, Julie, where he is with one of the branches of one of America's largest banks. On a visit to Viña del Mar, exclusive seaside resort adjacent to Valparaiso, they examine one of the large sculptured heads, imported from Easter Island.

The central quadrangle at Thunderbird is flanked by dormitories, and the two large swimming pools in the center are the focal point of much campus activity. A veritable oasis in the desert, the Institute's campus is one of the showplaces of the Valley.where he is the “No.

One man” for Goodyear, one of America's largest rubber companies. This is his third assignment, each marking a promotion and additional responsibility, since his graduation from Thunderbird in May, 1950.

Maxine has kept house in Australia—“It was a dream of an apartment and I loved my daily trips to the green grocer's, the butcher's, and the other tens of shops that would all be combined in a stateside supermarket.” She read avidly the books of contemporary Australian writers: “They are wonderful, perceptive people.” Then Cec was transferred to Bangkok and the Kerstens came back to Akron, rubber capital of the world, for a few months' stay before going further into the Far East. “The company let us go to Bangkok by way of Europe,” Maxine wrote, “so we spent our two weeks' vacation enroute in Paris and Rome and other glamorous places I'd read about all of my life.” From Bangkok, the Kerstens reported to other Thunderbird students who might be coming to that land of unbelievable beauty and friendship: “There are no apartments in Bangkok, so you will live in a house. . . in order to operate your 'mansion' you will need at least four servants . . . try to get a cook who speaks some English . . . it's hellish to try to explain through an interpreter who doesn't understand you very well anyway . . . do bring mattresses, unless you like sleeping on a very hard bed . . . don't bring a washing machine; it's too much trouble to heat sufficient water over charcoal, and most servants are too reactionary for such innovations . . . there is absolutely nothing you can't buy in Bangkok . . . there are twelve movie houses, all showing American films with Siamese and Chinese translations flashed along the screen . . . Siamese boxing every Sunday afternoon is fun . . .

people do 'dress' in Bangkok . . . learn the language . . .” When the transfer from Bangkok came, Maxine said, “We do hate to leave but we are happy because it means a good promotion for Cec.” And from Jakarta: “We are going to love it here. This is a new nation and we are seeing it made. Our house is a regular palace and we thought we never had it so good as in Bangkok!” But wherever the Kerstens go, they'll “have it good,” because they've learned the secret of foreign living. They believe in the fundamental concept of the American Institute for Foreign Trade: that international understanding can be served by “fostering constructive, sympathetic, and mutually satisfactory business relations between the peoples of various countries.” And Cecil has found that career which gives him a full measure of personal satisfaction. And because, at Thunderbird, the wife of a student is trained in language and area work, she is a full partner in the Kerstens' Operation International. That's what is known as the Thunderbird Plan: when a student enrolls, his wife is admitted to the language and area course free of tuition charge on the theory that her contribution is as significant as his in presenting the true story of America and its people abroad.

This, then, is a case history of success in a foreign career. Perhaps it is not typical, but neither are Maxae and Cecil. Each individual who enrolls at Thunderbird will make his own story. The Kerstens found their future in the Far East but for the largest proportion of students, opportunity is within their own hemisphere. More graduates of AIFT for example, are in Brazil than in any other one country. Next comes Venezuela, then Mexico, with Puerto Rico and (Please turn to page twenty-six) The campus of the American Institute for Foreign Trade was laid out by Millard Sheets, Hollywood designer and artist, in the form of the traditional symbol of good fortune in the Southwest-the Thunderbird. From this, the school derives its most popular name.