Open Writing

For a while recently, I thought it would be nice to work again. I had spotted an advertisement for a job made for me. “Wanted - Literacy Worker.”

To get into the spirit of things and to update my skills, I enrolled for a series of seminars on writing resumes, developing interviewing techniques and networking.

There, I learned that in today’s frantic world, it is necessary to use everything we’ve got to find a professional position. We must sell ourselves and be pro-active if we are to rise above our stations and succeed. This was a hard lesson for me to swallow, since it seemed to fly in the face of everything absorbed and taught at Mount Pleasant Junior School and Thornton Lodge Methodist Chapel, which I attended six days a week throughout the Nineteen Fifties.

On top of that, because in Canada’s competitive, multicultural environment, employers must ensure that all minorities have an equal crack at advertised employment, a second message was apparent - it helps to belong to one!

After careful consideration, I have crafted a letter of application. I think it reads very well.

Dear Ms Petrous Aliah de Galapogas
I would like to apply for the position of Literacy Worker in your evening programme at the Greendale Reception and Community Centre. I believe I am especially qualified since besides the relevant experience, I belong to two minorities - one oral and one visible.

Firstly, hailing from the North of England, I have the distinctive flat and down-to-earth accent typical of that region. (Although some people claim I speak too fast, I can slow down.)

Better still, I have had a lot of practice using simple, direct language, which is so important when communicating with new readers and in emergency situations. This has been gained during my long career of getting people out of bed and off to work in a morning, keeping dogs at bay and dealing with insurance salesmen.

Secondly, since I am well over fifty, I also belong to a minority (growing in this young country of ours) of go-for-it seniors. I boast the usual physical attributes distinguishing this group, namely, greying hair, sagging shoulders and a brave smile.

Having lived for over twenty years in Latin America, I am familiar with the trials and tribulations of learning a second language. (Such as being handed a lottery ticket when I wanted some fried chicken and being unable to explain to policemen, why I was travelling at 70km per hour in a 40kpm zone.).

Before that I taught geography on the beautiful island of Jamaica, so am familiar with that dialect, and the special needs of its speakers when resettling in a non-tropical climate.

I love people and words equally. When I get tired of social bonding, I pick up a book. When my eyes go blurry, I rejoin the crowd.

Maybe I should mention that I thank the once famous writer Enid Blyton for all of this. Her stories were instrumental for getting me started on the literary path and for giving me an early grounding in Adventure. Without it, I don’t believe I would be where I am today.

Everyone has the right to read (books like hers) and I want to help. I know I am well qualified.

Thanking you and hoping to hear,

Yours Sincerely

Susan Siddeley