1. Botswana Xi and I: Tales from the Kalahari

    In the semi-blockbuster movie The Gods Must Be Crazy, the protagonist, Xi, a bushman from Botswana, finds a Coca-Cola bottle in the Kalahari Desert. The bottle, dropped from a plane, is hitherto unknown to Xi and his people. As the story unfolds the mystery and newfound significance of this “gift from God” turns Xi’s uncomplicated world upside down. Separate characters appear and plotlines evolve–most affecting emotions and encounters Xi never had before–but the central theme is that the bott...

  2. Ukraine Kiev Pechersk Lavra

    The Kiev Pechersk Lavra, one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine, with its golden tops and intricate ornamentations, is best when visited on a sunny summer's day. Its sprawling grounds, home to a number of underground caves, overlook Kiev's Dnieper River.

  3. Panama Coconut Monster

    The little kid next to me ate more coconut then anyone I have ever seen.  He at least took down two and a half all by himself.  And sense coconut meat and milk are natural laxatives....

  4. Panama Kids at Play

    Two Ngobe-Bugle children at play. 

  5. Panama El Gigante y Hato Chime Tour Guide

    During tech week in Hato Chami de la Comarca Ngobe-Bugle, a group of 5 volunteers set out each morning at 4:30 AM to hike the local summits.  On one of our many sunrise morning hikes we were accompanied by a local inhabitant and his horse.   Upon reaching the top our guide was insistent upon two things; one, taking a pictures with "El Gigante" (which is me) and having his current tenant ride the horse back into the village.  

  6. Ecuador Bad Fruit

    Actually, the Guayaba is delicious!  And there is nothing wrong with these particular fruits.  I do not understand why the breathing subjects in the photo are running away from them.

  7. Paraguay How I Learned Guarani

      The Peace Corps is not a travel agency.  I sat nervously in the recruiter’s office, exhausted from the two-hour interview, when I was asked the golden question.  “What part of the world would you like to serve?  Remember, we assign volunteers where their skills are most needed, not because they want to be tourists.”             I desperately wanted to live in Central America.  The climate! The food! The beach! But I was better prepared than that.  “I would like to serve in Central America s...

  8. Paraguay How I Learned Guarani

     @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } The Peace Corps is not a travel agency.  I sat nervously in the recruiter’s office, exhausted from the two-hour interview, when I was asked the golden question.  “What part of the world would y...

  9. Armenia Wolf Story

    Verbatim conservation about wolves dictated by Will Dickinson. Sometime during the winter that never seemed to end 05’. Dusk I am walking home…..  Thinking: Just finished a marathon language class. My head is about to explode. Of course I need a walk. Why I am studying this language? How is this going to help me in the future?   Continues to the open plains around Jermuk inhabited by wolves and bears.   Lost in his thoughts he forgets to watch where he is going avoid a hash(sp?) party.   1st...

  10. Guyana Smoke Ceremony

    Before the Deep South Games that are held every August, the audience gets to participate in a smoke ceremony.  

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