1. Mali How do you say massage?

    During a training break in our homestay village, Peace Corps Volunteer Matt receives a massage from a local boy. One of the many benefits of speaking a local language.

  2. Madagascar American Canvas and Malagasy Yarn Or Malagasy Yarn and American Canvas (It depends how you look at it.)

      I wanted to bring back to America something I could show my family and friends. I knew that Returned Peace Corps Volunteers’ stories ware out quickly with those who have not had similar experiences so I wanted something people could see that would, perhaps, lead them to ask me questions.  I had a piece of American needlepoint canvas with me. I remembered the amounts of free time I had had when I was a volunteer in Iran long before I went to Madagascar. Not having a TV really gives you lots...

  3. Ukraine A Long, Wonderful Winter

    Winters in Ukraine are very long and very cold.  However, sunny days always bring people out.  This picture shows two typical Kosiv men sitting on a wool blanket that was woven in Kosiv with some beautiful homes in the background.  The men are hauling a "sleigh" that is full of hay that was cut and stored in the spring/summer.  Horse-drawn vehicles are a typical sight in Kosiv.  It is called a sleigh because of the "skates" used in winter instead of wheels (which are found...

  4. El Salvador La Ceiba El Mico

    LA CEIBA EL MICO by Matthew J. Newman    The Peace Corps’ mission has three simple goals:   1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. 2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. 3. Helping promote a better understanding of the other peoples on the part of Americans.   For twenty-seven months, I served as a Community and Economic Development Specialist in Peace Corps El Salvador.  I was a foreig...

  5. Guyana Beware of dem holes in da bridge

    Road shut down for hours.... expect some major delays 

  6. Guyana True Guyanese...

    Never shy to greet new people. 

  7. Guyana Mixing the old with the new

    Older women traditionally dress in their best dresses while shopping in the chaos of the market. Everything is done the old fashion way, yet ironically an internet address is painted on the building. 

  8. Vanuatu A bridal shower, Paama style

    The oldest of the Avock family is my sister Lenneth age 24 who lives on another island with her daughter and husband to be. It’s not uncommon for couples to bear children before the official marriage ceremony. There are several parts to custom marriages that lead up to the actual religious union. Similar to our engagement parties and bridal/groom showers, one of them is when Aunties of the bride who had given the bride a name when she was born*, dress the bride. (*Most Ni-Vanuatu have severa...

  9. South Africa Don't Worry, Be Happy!

    The bridge spanning the river between our village and the neighboring village was never well-constructed.  Oftentimes it cracks or pieces of it collapse and the repairs are always temporary and poor in quality.  One morning a taxi driver's van fell right through the middle of the bridge as it collapsed beneath him.  But, why worry?  I think this picture of the taxi driver and his van greatly demonstrates South Africans' ability to look past adversity with a smile, and not worry about circumst...

  10. South Africa South African Summers

    There was a small river between our village and the neighboring village and summer rains would help fill it up enough for swimming.  It was also about the only way to cool off during the horriffic heat of South African summers and the local kids weren't shy to take advantage of it.  Here's a late afternoon picture of our brother in our host family following his friend with a large leap into the cool waters, while his sister in the background looks on.

Countdown to Weekly Contest Deadline!

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