Seattle-Tacoma Reflections on the Peace Corps

“During 1986, 18 years after leaving Brazil, I returned to Safo José dos Campos for the first time since leaving in 1968. I was delighted to find that the rural electrification cooperation (then known as the Cooperativa de Electrifica da Regio do Alta Paraba (CEDRAP)’ had grown more than tenfold, with about 2,500 member rural properties. Several of the original workers that I hired in 1968 and 1969 were still working there.” Richard Wagner Brazil 1966 – 1968 Bellevue, WA 98004

“The Peace Corps Community is made of special people doing special things for many people. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to build these memories.” Michael Barthol Ethiopia 1973-1974 Mill Creek, WA 98012

“After returning home, I worked briefly in the for-profit sector and found something missing, and the last seven years I have been comfortably working in IT at a great non-profit organization. The other large impact is that I will never be comfortable being a tourist again. Learning how people actually live is so much more interesting to me than a carefully curated tour.” Oliver Hansen Jamaica 2004 – 2006 Seattle, WA 98023

“The Peace Corps means) the opportunity to bring home some of the lessons learned about getting along with people of different cultures and backgrounds.” Elmer Skold United States (Staff) 1962 – 1965/1967 – 1970; Malaysia (Staff) 1965 – 1967; Tonga 1970 – 1972 Kenmore, WA 98028

Seattle-Tacoma Reflections on the Peace Corps

“It sounds like a cliché, but living in a developing country made me realize that every human being wants the same basic things in life and that we all have much more in common than different.” Courtney English-Neubauer Solomon Islands 1997-1999 Redmond, WA 98052

“Peace Corps led me to complete a master’s degree in Madison, WI, at the university’s ’Center for Development,’ then one of the first programs of its kind in the country. From there, I went directly into the US Agency for International Development, culminating 28 years later as director of USAID’s Rwanda office following the genocide there.” George E. Lewis Nepal, 1967-1969 Vashon, WA 98070

“I think the main impact was learning how it is not necessary to have a lot of material possessions in order to lead happy and dignified lives. The people in Ghana, where I lived (in the Northern region), were a happy and proud people, despite having very little in comparison with what we have here. I have never forgotten that.” Marc W. Franco Ghana 1971 – 1973 Seattle, WA 98106

“I feel that there’s so much we have to learn from people who don’t have a lot of material things. The people of Chuuk shared what they had. I knew it before from my family, but the Peace Corps reinforced the idea of loving and caring for one another.” Carol L. Ingram Federated States of Micronesia 1980 - 1982 Seattle, WA 98115

Seattle-Tacoma Reflections on the Peace Corps “(My proudest Peace Corps accomplishment was) seeing the completion of a new panaderia (bakery) for el Instituto de Rehabilitacion San Juan de Dios, a vocational school for deaf and developmentally disabled children in Potosi, Bolivia. Thanks to a small grant from USAID, we were able to build a second room and buy a brand new oven and other equipment for the students. The project was completed only two days before I left the country, and it was so rewarding to see the joy on the kids’ faces and to eat the special farewell cake they baked and decorated just for me.” Jennifer Kooiman Bolivia 1966 – 1968 Seattle, WA 98115

“The hospitality of former family, students, and even complete strangers was incredible. After a little Q and A about what we were doing in Korea, the taxi driver who took us to the train to go to the airport on the day we left told us how much Korea owed to Peace Corps, how much he appreciated what we had done for them, and he even refused to let us pay the fare!” Sue Ann Allen South Korea 1970 – 1971 Seattle, WA 98122

“I am still out volunteering help, wherever I can.” MaryLee Smith-Mahar Costa Rica 1991; Jamaica 1992 – 1994 Seattle, WA 98133

“(Peace Corps) has had a huge impact on my life! First and foremost, it provided an opportunity for me to attend graduate school at the University of Chicago, and that opened doors to further education and jobs that would never have been available if I had not served in the Peace Corps. It also opened my eyes to the realities of the third world. It was a tremendous maturing experience.” Donald F. Theiler Lesotho 1971 – 1973 Burien, WA 98146

Seattle-Tacoma Reflections on the Peace Corps

“(Peace Corps is) an elite group of selfless people willing to give years of their life to help others abroad and, usually, return with more than they were able to give.” Steve M. Shepard Fiji 1986 – 1989 Seattle, WA 98146

“Peace Corps led to a lifelong commitment to working in less-developed countries. Initially, my wife and I worked on development projects in Africa and later in Asia. Most recently, I’ve been a part of a growing Rotary-led effort to eradicate malaria in Africa.” James R. Moore Nepal 1966 – 1969 Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

“Like many other people who immerse themselves in another culture, I was changed forever in the way I saw my own culture and the world. More importantly, the experience deepened my own commitment to finding some way of serving and being more open to differences in the world.​
​” Millard Mott Pakistan 1962 – 1964 Seattle, WA 98199

“(My proudest Peace Corps moment was) Opening a new school for deaf children in MayPen (Jamaica)” Dolorita Reandeau-Wynne Jamaica 1976-1978 Port Orchard, WA 98366

Seattle-Tacoma Reflections on the Peace Corps

“(My proudest Peace Corps moment was) Living as a single, Christian, female in a Muslim village that contained elephants, water buffaloes, land crocodiles, and two nests of king cobras, and emerging a beloved ’sister’ who was welcomed everywhere, indulged, and included in every activity. I earned their respect by fasting during Ramadan and refraining from eating pork in their presence. I helped amend their preconceptions of what Americans were.​
​” Tommie L. Marsters Thailand 1963-1965 Poulsbo, WA 98370

“The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Each individual contribution by individual Returned Peace Corps Volunteers contributes to have a cumulative effect and makes us a better country.” Howard L. Graham Costa Rica 1965 – 1967 Tacoma, WA 98402

“Ethiopia, along with my time in Kenya, have essentially given me my career as a historian specializing in Africa. Thank you Peace Corps!” Dr. Neal W. Sobania Ethiopia 1968 – 1972 Lakewood, WA 98498

“Peace Corps has expanded my deeper attraction and appreciation of people’s similarities and differences in our world. My Peace Corps volunteer service, 1963-1963 in Costa Rica and Girl Scouts USA Far East district advisor, 1968-1972, have been a godsend.” Helen (Garcia) Talbo Costa Rica 1963 – 1965 Lakewood, WA 98499

Seattle-Tacoma Reflections on the Peace Corps

“I built a cement water tank for a rural family in the bush. I had no experience building a project like this, but a Peace Corps volunteer engineer in town drew up some plans for me. I purchased the wooden forms for the project. The family carried sand from the ocean and purchased the cement for the project. This tank made a great difference in the lives of the family. We built this for $35 tala ($50 US dollars). The family was enormously appreciative to have this built.” Dr. Richard L. Langill Samoa 1967 – 1969 Olympia, WA 98508

“The friendships made within the Korean community of Peace Corps volunteers will forever remain in my memories. I learned the meaning of ’service.’ “ Winston Mullen South Korea 1980 – 1981 Lacey, WA 98513