Third Goal

Two Years in Three Minutes

How I joined the Peace Corps--from Ecuador to Kyrgyzstan

  Up until the age of 16, I had no idea of what I wanted to be as an adult.  Then, in 1999, one event changed that and put me on an 11 year path towards serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  This is the story of that event.  I was living in Riobamba, Ecuador as a foreign exchange student.  I lived with a host family in a second story apartment on a street near the town’s market.  Every morning, after breakfast, I would sit on the family’s little patio outside the kitchen and drink coffee and w...

Home Therapy

A young girl, 14 year-old Brenda, applies ground curry root to PCV Dorothy's bruises to help heal it.

Teaching English in Anketrakabe, Madagascar

PCV Dorothy instructs an English class at the CEG in a rural town in the North of Madagascar.

Hard Efforts and World Peace

Showing off the finished World Peace Day crafts project. Each flag was made by one of the students of our special education center. 

Colorful Shopping

Bright green duali, or grape leaves, next to deep purple koch, or plums, creates an aesthetically pleasing food shopping experience. Jordanian produce sellers know how to attract a customer!

Patriotism

Walking around with another volunteer, extra early on a Friday morning before the noon prayer so that there weren't enough people around to notice us whipping out our cameras, we ran into this young man in the souq, or market. He asked to have his picture taken under the Jordanian flag in exchange for some raspberry gum. Of course, we obliged. 

BBQ Night

Welcoming the beginning of summer's warm nights by setting up this stone and coal stove, and grilling some kebab. 

Wadin' In the Water

 Friday, October 15, 2010. In Cambodia, to be eligible to become a lower secondary school teacher, one must hold a certificate of general secondary education, pass an entrance exam and undertake two-years training at one of the six regional teacher training centers (RTTC), which are located in Battambang, Prey Veng, Takeo, Kampong Cham, and Kandal provinces. Upon successful completion of the RTTC training, graduates are warded a certificate of pedagogical training, qualifying them to teach 7t...

Grace Admist the Challenges

My memories of her would suggest that my maternal grandmother, Jennie Inge Vester would probably call what I felt on the morning of July 22, 2010, one year after boarding the plane to Cambodia -- grace. Loaded down with a large backpack of “just in case” outfits, at 5:45 a.m. I walked the 1 kilo to P’sa T’may (New Market) to catch the Battambang City bus to Phnom Penh for my 50th birthday celebration. Walking along Highway 5, witnessing the sunrise and responding to calls in Khmer to buy brea...