1. Senegal Queen for a Day!

    Near the end of my Peace Corps tour, I received a call from Chicago. It was from the Oprah Winfrey Show. She wanted to know if I would like to be a guest on her Mother's Day Show. "Why of course!".  I prepared a short video clip from Senegal for Harpo Studios which was shown on the show.  We surprised my daughter who thought I was still in Senegal,  with  my presence. I was given limosine service and great hotel accomodations. I felt like a queen for a day. What a way to top off my...

  2. Senegal Queen for a Day!

    Near the end of my Peace Corps tour, I received a call from Chicago. It was from the Oprah Winfrey Show. She wanted to know if I would like to be a guest on her Mother's Day Show. "Why of course!".  I prepared a short video clip from Senegal for Harpo Studios which was shown on the show.  We surprised my daughter who thought I was still in Senegal,  with  my presence. I was given limosine service and great hotel accomodations. I felt like a queen for a day. What a way to top off my ...

  3. Togo Building wells

    We built 3 hang-dug wells in Kouloumi with the help of Peace Corps Parnerships funds

  4. Togo With health volunteers at Kouloumi Dispensaire

    Outside our village health clinic with volunteers trained to do family planning talks

  5. Malawi The Lions of the Gule Wankulu

    The Gule Wankulu, means "Big Dance" in Chichewa, the main language in Malawi. It is a dance performed by men who dress up in eleaborate costumes to conceal their identities. Legend says they are possessed by spirits so women and children run away from them. The members of the Gule Wankulu usually perform for ceremonies like funerals, weddings, pillar ceremonies, etc. Towards the end of the dance there are large "animal" costumes that come out as a finale of sorts. These ar...

  6. Malawi Even Chickens Ride the Bus

    These are just a couple of young girls I sat next to on a mini bus who had a live chicken with them.

  7. Malawi Everyone Loves to Dance in the Rain!

    One day during rainy season, we had a particularly heavy down pour so I was just sitting in my house, reading and enjoying the thundering cacophony emanating from my tin roof. I was laying on my sofa when I thought I heard laughter and singing drifting in my open front window. When I sat up to investigate, I discovered a few neighbor children dancing and singing outside my house, half-naked in the pouring rain. Needless to say, it brought a huge smile to my face and was a great photo op!

  8. Malawi Africa's Fallen Angels

    Their crumpled, lifeless bodieslitter the cold cement floorAn unlikely graveyardRemnants of a long, overnight battle,a struggle to survivea fight for fooda buzzing debacle of sorts.Fallen soldiers,ripped limb from limbSilent, sleeping amputees,With no more song left to sing.The casualties were highon every side.Each army’s dismembered comradescreating a eery obstaclefor their gods to tip-toe by.No one gives a second glanceto their twitching,spazzing appendages.We cannot entertain the thoughto...

  9. Malawi Third World Super Women

    You haven’t seen a silent strength like this beforeThe long hours of physical labor“women’s work”I wonder if their necks aren’t made of steel orTheir hands of thick, soft kevlar.I’ve seen these women accomplish impossible featscarrying so much water atop their heads, a friend must help to hoist it up there.I’ve seen them grab angry, red coals with bare handsand hold the edges of cooking pots with no complaintsThese women come complete with night-visionas they walk calmly with ease besidemy st...

  10. Nicaragua Intrigue

    I have watched this little girl, who is my neighbor, grow over the past two years.  I have had the pleasure of being around for her first step and her first word, NO!  She is 4 months in this picture and is  now an active and happy 2 and a half year old.

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“Sunset at the Railroad” by PCV Nicholas Baylor Hall. Namibia, 2011.