ThirdGoal.org

The Peace Corps at 50

I was a student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1960 when John F. Kennedy famously spoke to students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The campaign was running late, and by the time his plane arrived in Ann Arbor it was 2:00 in the morning. Even at that late hour, a crowd of more than 5,000 showed up at the Student Union to listen to the young Senator from Massachusetts who was running for president. During his speech, Kennedy challenged students to use their educa...
A Ukrainian Spring

It’s Spring. Warmer weather, longer days. Granted, I wear a sweater and a coat when I go on walks, but! — I go on walks. In Russian, there are two versions of the verb “to go by foot.” “Идти” means to go to a certain place in a particular moment; my Russian teacher translated it as “to head to” somewhere. “Xодите,” on the other hand, lacks that sense of immediacy; it is more general, more leisurely, less tied down to a specific time. This winter, when the ice and cold were brutal, I practice...
Spread Hope

One of the greatest challenges Moldova faces is the high number of Moldovans leaving home to support their families. Through film Peace Corps volunteers and the children of Hincesti and Rezina have begun to discuss this issue in order to reinspire their community. This film was created as a message to all the children of Moldova who have someone aboard to be strong and happy and above all to spread hope.
Flowers

Babushkas line the pathways of the local markets in eastern Ukraine, selling flowers and other colorful goods. On a holiday, most of them will go through scores of roses, tulips and carnations.
Men's Day

Male students at a village school in eastern Ukraine participate in an annual Men's Day competition February 23, 2011. The strongest and wittiest wins a bronze trophy and the affection of many female students.
Soviet-era factory rubble

Before the fall of the Soviet Union, the city of Konstantinovka bustled with more than 20 factories, which provided thousands of jobs. Today, less than a handful of factories remain in operation. Two PCVs stand atop the rubble.
My favorite english class

I think I can safely say this was my favorite class while teaching in Stebnyk, in the Lvivska oblast of Ukraine. This was one day where they all wore traditional Ukrainian shirts to celebrate one of the many many many Ukrainian holidays. I just had to get in and take a picture with them. Now I have my own traditional Ukrainian blouse and love to wear it for my annual Ukrainian Christmas party back home.
Gone

Derilict orthodox Georgian church, in a town almost boarding Russia
Engagement party

Streamers for the bride, groom and bridesmaid
Shish kebabs

Father and son frontyard bar-b-q. My favorite family

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