mercier sent him to the université catholique de louvain on 4 august 1906 for sociological and political sciences education but recalled cardijin in 1907 for a teaching position in mathematics and literature; he called the position a "providential misfortune". he travelled during his vacations to france and england, where he visited manchester and london. he became a teacher in wavre in 1907 and travelled abroad during vacation periods, meeting people such as baden powell and ben tillett (august 1911). in 1912 (after being ill for a time), he was appointed to the parish of laeken near brussels where he started creating and improving workers' organizations in earnest.