Peace Corps Polyglot

My Peace Corps "Peeps"

Yes, we know that you know that the Peace Corps Community marched in the Inaugural Parade this past January. You've seen the photos, watched the videos, read the blogs, gotten the latest issue of WorldView magazine....

But you haven't seen this!  Bea Tijerina (Ghana 97-99, Zambia 06) just sent us a photo of her entry in the Washington Post's 2009 Peeps Diorama Contest.  Contestants were told to:

"make a diorama of a famous occurrence or scene or concept. It can be a historic, current or future event. It can be a nod to pop culture. It can be an evocation of an idea or abstraction. The one rule is that all the characters in the diorama must be played by Peeps, those marshmallowy chicks and rabbits plaguing checkout lines in every convenience store this season."

Bea the RPCV naturally thought of her Peace Corps "peeps" marching and came up with the wonderful entry you see below:

And here is the original inspiration, from a photo as it appeared in the Washington Post (naturally):

Bea's entry was one of over 1,000 entries. It didn't win a prize from the Post, but we LOVE it!

Father/Daughter RPCVs Marched in the Parade

Post-Inaugural Parade reflections continue to land in our in-boxes.  John Riggan is a member of the National Peace Corps Association, NPCA Advisory Council member and a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Kenya and then as Country Director in Chad. On January 20th, John marched with the NPCA in the parade. Below is a letter written to the NPCA member group Friends of Chad recounting his experience.

Dear Friends of Chad

As a member of the NPCA Advisory Council, I was invited to join 200 former Peace Corps volunteers to march in the Inaugural Parade.  We carried the flags of the 139 countries in which PC has served and I proudly carried the Chadian flag.  It was a great experience which combined standing around in the cold for hours and then an adrenaline rush of a 35 minute march up Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House reviewing stand with President Obama and party energetically waving at us and we waving back maniacally. 

The pleasure was more than doubled because my daughter Jennifer, a 3 month old when we arrived in Chad (to attempt to fill the large shoes of Charlie Steedman) and later a PCV in Eritrea 1, marched two rows behind me.  Jen entered and won a lottery that NPCA set up to pick roughly 150 former PCV’s to march (over 1000 applied).  We were the only representatives of Eritrea and Chad and the only parent/child so we marched with extra pride.  Jen declared it one of the best days of her life!

As you all know the spirit of the Inauguration event was amazing.  The Peace Corps marchers with our colorful flags was greeted all along the route with shouts and applause.  Immigrants from countries would shout out their native country’s name when they spotted their flag.  My daughter swears that she heard “Chad” and she has better hearing than I do.  Even law enforcement and security people were calling out, “good job!” and such. 

The day started at 7 a.m. at the Pentagon for security screenings and ended at 7:30 p.m., but no complaints from Jen or me. The marchers were great, young or old (Harris Wofford at 82 led us and since he didn’t complain of the cold, neither did I), we danced and shouted and cheered throughout the day while hearing stories connecting to many old friends such as Baudouin de Marcken from his Zaire and Baltics Country Directorships, Tom Corcoran as CD in Benin (or was it Dahomey then?), and many more from my Kenya and Ethiopia PC experiences.  The special place that PC holds in the hearts of Americans was confirmed as part of “best selves”. 

All the best to you -- some of the toughest and finest people I have had the privilege to have met or known by reputation,

John Riggan

Peace Corps in the 2009 Inaugural Parade - Another Perspective

While we were all a-freezin' and a-marchin', Peace Corps Inaugural Parade marcher Audrey Scott's husband, Dan Noll, was having a completely different Inagural experience. 

As soon as NPCA found out that the Peace Corps Community would be participating in the parade, we filed for press credentials.  We wanted to take advantage of the anticipated hours of waiting and have someone take photos of our colorful group and do some interviews.  Audrey (Estonia 98-00) offered us Dan's servicies.  The two of them have been traveling around the world for the past two years, supporting themselves with their freelance writing and photography.

Alas, when the press pass arrived it was for a spot on the parade route (appreciated, but I was fairly certain that somehow we would get shots of us marching) and not the staging area.  Audrey and Dan stopped by the offices on the preceding Friday, I handed over the pass and what instructions I had.  I had no idea what the day would hold.

A few days after the Inauguration I got this message from Audrey:

I hope you have rested up from all the inauguration craziness and fun! It was a wonderful day. Thanks so much for your help in organizing and applying for the press pass for Dan. He had quite an adventure that day as well : )

And what an adventure it was!  You can read all about it on their blog, Uncornered Market.  But here's an excerpt:

“So who are you shooting for,” one of the guys asked as we all shuffled our feet to stave off hypothermia.

“I’m a freelancer, but I’m taking photos for the Peace Corps. My wife is marching with them in the parade.”

“Oh, that’s great!”

Then a pause. “What’s Peace Corps?”

And so it went.  Be sure to read the full account of his day.

(Part 2) Behind the Scenes: Peace Corps Community at the Inaugural Parade

While we were stalled on Constitution Avenue we did our best to distract ourselves from the cold.  We stamped our feet.  We traded cheers of "Yes! Yes! Yes, we do!  We've got the spirit, what about you?!" with the marching band from Maine in front of us.  We responded to shouted requests from two Argentinian tourists who wanted to take pictures of the marcher holding their flag. We gathered in a "penguin huddle"--it really did help keep us warm!

And we were heartened when Sen. Harris Wofford and his two grandsons joined us.  Sen. Wofford--"there at the creation" of Peace Corps, first Ethiopia Country Director, early Obama supporter and adviser on national service issues--had been at the Capitol Hill luncheon where Senators Kennedy and Byrd were stricken and persevered through numerous layers of security to join us.  He chatted with RPCVs and did a little dance when the Maine band struck up a tune.  I worried that he was seriously underdressed for the cold, but NPCA Vice President Anne Baker was at least able to gave him some of those chemical handwarmers.

The sun was starting to hang low in the west.  Would we end up marching in the dark?  Faintly, then more strongly, we picked up the roar of the crowds a few blocks away.  The Presidential motorcade was finally inching down Pennsylvania Avenue, which meant we would soon be underway.  Hoards of people, defeated by the cold, were streaming away from the parade route.  We got the signal!  Time to march!

Re-energized (and just happy to be moving!) we held our flags high.  Law enforcement officers from all over the U.S. lined the way to the starting point of the parade, and many smiled and took photos of our group.  People yelled and waved at us from behind fences on the Mall.  We walked between the National Gallery of Art and the East Wing of the National Gallery and finally, we were at the official starting point.  We were marching!

The rest is kind of a blur.  We were giddy with excitement, smiling and waving as people shouted out to us from the sidewalks, from the now sparsely populated bleachers--even from the rooftops.  "Woohoo Peace Corps!"  "Go Peace Corps!"  I kept looking back at the beautiful, inspiring sea of flags held by generations of RPCVs--and even two serving volunteers!--capturing the diversity of the Peace Corps Community.  We looked fabulous.

At several points in the parade, we heard an announcer proclaim:

"Also marching is the Peace Corps Community, which includes members who have served with the Corps from the 1960s to the present. The marchers are carrying the flags of the 139 countries where Peace Corps Volunteers have served during the 48-year history of the program.  Many marchers are also wearing the national dress of those host countries.  The Peace Corps Community marched in President Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Parades in 1993 and 1997.  They are led by Kevin F.F. Quigley, President of the National Peace Corps Association and Jim Gore, President of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC, and are marching under the motto, 'Life is Calling, How Far Will You Go?'"

Midway through the parade, Tim Shriver, son of Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver jogged back to  join us briefly, greeting Harris and others.  He and his brother Mark were marching with the Special Olympics, two parade "elements" in front of us. 

Up ahead, lit like a Hollywood soundstage, was the presidential reviewing box in front of the White House.  And then we were there.  On the left, at street level but behind glass, were the Obamas, the Bidens and others--but of course we only had eyes for the President and First Lady.  They were *that* close.  We had put the Kenya and Indonesia flags--both countries with Obama connections--in the first row, far left, so that the President would be sure to see them.  When the President and Vice President saw that Harris was marching with us, they smiled widely, pointed at him and continued to wave and smile at our motley procession, pointing out flags, making eye contact with the joyful marchers.  It was grand.  You can see us at the 37 minute, 44 second mark on C-SPAN.  A YouTube clip of us marching, (lower quality) can be seen here.

We continued for several blocks along a comparatively darkened Pennsylvania Avenue.  It seemed there were more onlookers than along the official parade route, and all were still wildly enthusiastic...shouting to us, giving us the "thumbs up" and "peace" signs.  Tim and Mark Shriver, clad in their bright yellow Special Olympic jackets, had peeled off from the parade, but stood on the sidelines yelling loudly and waving their arms.  "Go Peace Corps!  Go Peace Corps!" 

It was truly an amazing day on so many levels.  The parade itself was only 30 minutes, but the symbolism of those flags, of marchers representing almost 50 years of service to others overseas, sent a powerful message of hope and new beginnings around the world. 

******

Many volunteers have already written about their experience marching.  Here are a few links:

Rajeev Goyal (Nepal) Huffington Post - Kennedy's Kids Then, Obama's Kids Now
Audrey Scott (Estonia) Uncornered Market - Inauguration Day, She Said: Peace Corps on Parade
Peggy Murrah (Sierra Leone) Cocorioko - Peace Corps Volunteer Marches in Inaugural Parade
Jackie Spurlock (Iran) Iranian.com -  Flying It High!

To see photos of the day, visit our Flickr set.

(The photo of the Peace Corps Community passing the reviewing stand is courtesy of the Washington Post and can be purchased here.)

Behind the Scenes: Peace Corps Community at the Inaugural Parade

Back in November when the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington DC (RPCVW) submitted an application for the Peace Corps Community to participate in the Inaugural Parade, I don't think anyone anticipated all that would be involved. 

The application itself was daunting, and once we got word that we had been accepted, we had one week to submit 200 names, social security numbers, place and dates of birth, etc. for the marchers--and one week to submit still more forms (information for the parade script and media guide, Weapons Security Certificiation Form, Equestrian Element information....) to the "PIC" or Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Meanwhile, RPCVW inaugural task force volunteers were busy securing a source for the flags (Peace Corps headquarters kindly lent us theirs) and a means for their transport, working with a designer on the banner (design services also kindly donated), ordering commemorative polarfleece scarves embroidered with the Peace Corps logo so that there would be a common element to our motley crew, and arranging for 4 buses to transport us to the Pentagon. 

Originally we had envisioned that in true Peace Corps fashion we would all just show up on the Metro.  But no, these are post-9/11 days, and all parade "elements" were required to secure buses for the day.  Not an easy task, given that millions of people were expected to descend on Washington for the swearing in and buses in short supply.  In the end we scored buses, but at the not insubstantial cost of $10,000. (If you'd like to make a donation to help defray this unexpected cost, you can use RPCVW's secure Paypal site or, if you prefer, send a check to: NPCA, 1900 L Street NW, Suite 404, Washington, DC 20036 - note "inaugural parade" in the memo line)

Marchers were told to assemble in front of the Pentagon City mall by 7:15 a.m.  Many were anxious that they wouldn't be able to arrive by car, taxi or Metro because of travel restrictions and made elaborate plans to ensure they'd be on time (your correspondent slept in the NPCA offices).  But just about everyone made it.  Once on the buses, RPCVW "bus captains" distributed special parade IDs and contact phone numbers should a marcher get lost or have to drop out of the parade midway.  We drove a few short blocks to the Pentagon parking lot for our airport-style security screening and distribution of boxed breakfast and lunch.  Everyone and everything had to come off of the buses and we mingled with Inuit dancers, marching band members and Marines in dress uniform.  Back on the bus there was more waiting, but it also provided a time to get to know our fellow marchers, who represented all eras of Peace Corps service.

Excitement built as we drove across the Memorial Bridge to the Ellipse staging area in front of the White House.  It was our first glimpse of the crowds that had gathered.  Amazing. People as far as the eye could see, pressed close, straining against the temporary fences.  Some waved when they saw the "Peace Corps" sign in the window of the bus.

We unloaded the flags, sorted and assigned them, and went into a large warming tent where we could watch--or at least hear--the swearing in.  Our military escort gave us the 15-minute warning and we  started to assemble.  Getting Peace Corps people to stand in even rows of nine, with flags in rough alphabetical order.... Well, it was a little like herding cats. But we did it.  In the most prominent position--front row, left side--were the flags of Kenya and Indonesia.

There were cheers from our group as finally we got underway.  We were quite a dramatic sight--the colorful flags whipping high in the wind, with many RPCVs wearing mementos of their Peace Corps countries.  There were fabulous fur hats (revenge of the Eastern Europe/Russia/"stan" volunteers), beaded shell necklaces, flag pins, leg rattles....and even someone wearing a sari (brrr!).   We crept along Constitution Avenue....and then were stalled (due, we later learned, to Sen. Kennedy's collapse).  So we waited.  And waited.  The temperature dropped.  Soon even those chemical hand warmers weren't doing much good.  We stamped our feet.  We watched the band members in front of us try in vain to stay warm (three were taken away for hypothermia). 

Finally RPCVW Parade Task Force Organizer Extraordinaire, Corey Taylor, called for a huddle.  Everyone pressed in close, "March of the Penguins"-style.  And it actually worked!  Everyone felt a little warmer.

...To be continued.

For a full album of Parade photos, click here.

Obama References Peace Corps at "Be the Change" Inaugural Ball

At MTV's "Be the Change Inaugural Ball," newly inaugurated President Barack H. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walked out the tune of “Hail to the Chief” and were greeted with chants of “O-ba-ma” from a crowded ballroom of young men and women [7,000 strong] hoping to get a glimpse of their president.

President Obama’s every word was greeted with cheers, chants, screams and whistles. He opened “how’s everybody doing tonight?” and “I have been looking for the ball for quite sometime [cheers] because when you look at the history of this campaign, [cheers] what started out as an improbable journey, when nobody gave us a chance [cheers] was carried forward, was inspired by, was driven by, was energized by young people all across America” [crowd chants: yes we can repeatedly].

He went on to say:

“I can’t tell you how many people has come up to Michelle and myself and said ‘I was a kinda skeptical but then my daughter, she wouldn’t budge: she just told me I needed to vote for Obama.’ Or ‘suddenly I saw my son, he was out volunteering and traveling and knocking on doors and getting involved like never before and so a new generation inspires previous generations, and that’s how change happens in America.

It doesn’t just happen in elections and campaigns, it’s happened in service all across America. Young people getting involved in Teach for America and Americorps, people teaching in schools and working in community organizations [pause] joining the Peace Corps! And as this is broadcast all around the world, we know that young people everywhere are in the process of imagining something different that what has come before. Where there is war they imagine peace, where there is hunger they imagine people being able to feed themselves. Where there is disease they imagine a public health system that works for everybody. Where there is bigotry they imagine togetherness. The future will be in your hands if you are able to sustain the kind of energy and focus you showed on this campaign. I promise you, that America will get stronger and more united, more prosperous, more secure. You are going to make it happen and Michelle and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

God bless you and God bless the United States of America.”

(President and Mrs. Obama dance at the Inaugural Youth Ball Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Peace Corps in the Inaugural Parade - See Us, Watch Us!

 

What a day.   Yesterday the Peace Corps Community had the huge honor of participating in the inaugural parade of President Barack Obama.

Following are some links where you can catch us marching.

• NBC Today Show (on Hulu) - January 21, 2009.  (Snippet at approx minute 1:54)
• C-SPAN (scroll to minute 5:30) 
• NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - YouTube version.  Higher Quality PBS - "Barack Obama Sworn in as President" January 20, 2009 (minute 18:21)

Photos have also been uploaded to our Flickr account.

And most are now available on Facebook here and here.

The Washington Post featured a very large photo of us passing the Presidential reviewing stand in Section A13.  We were the sole illustration for their story on the parade and you can purchase the photo from the Washington Post directly.

And of course there is this little video we put together (thanks Clare!).

If you learn of any other mentions, please post them to our new social networking website! You can photos, post videos.  Add comments too.

More about the day coming soon.

  

If You'll be in DC and Plan to Watch the Inaugural Parade...

To all RPCVs interested in watching the inaugural parade in DC:

Upon further consideration, RPCVw has decided to move the Peace Corps Community's inaugural parade viewing location.

The new location will be on the north side of the intersection at 12th St. NW and Pennsylvania Avenue. 

The closest metro is Federal Triangle, however, according to the PIC, the fastest and most sanity-saving mode of transportation will be your own two feet.  The closest security checkpoint is at 12th St. NW and E St. 

We are still looking for volunteers willing to arrive early in the morning with homemade "Peace Corps" signs (no sticks and they can't be too large).  If you're interested, please contact [email protected].  Otherwise, please just show up at 12th and Pennsylvania wearing as much Peace Corps garb as you can muster and look for others doing the same.  The crowds are expected to be large and wait-times at checkpoints will probably be long, so you should plan to arrive well before the parade's estimated start time of 2:30pm. 

Thank you for supporting the RPCVw and NPCA's efforts to represent Peace Corps in the parade honoring the inauguration of Barack Obama.  See you on Tuesday!

Inaugaration Weekend Events

Inauguration is January 20th but why waste the weekend waiting? Get involved!

The Parade will certainly be our most visible activity during Inauguration Weekend (with millions of people watching worldwide) but it's not our only one. If you'll be in the DC area during the weekend leading up to January 20, please join us at any or all of the following events:

MONDAY, JANUARY 19

Community service activity to be announced in early January (watch the www.rpcv.org and www.rpcvw.org websites for updates).

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17th

The Grand Hyatt Hotel is the place to be.

The People's Inaugural Gala Weekend and Ball ("TPIGW") Host Committee is extending a 10% discount to any of their six inaugural events sponsored by TPIGW for RPCVs. Simply mention that you are a RPCV to receive the discount. The Chair of the Host Committee of TPIGW is Bill Davis, former director of the Africa Region of the Peace Corps during the Carter Administration.

• At 1 pm: in the Independence Ballroom: The People's Inaugural Women's Leadership Luncheon will honor women's contributions in politics, business, and public service. The luncheon will culminate with a tribute to the new First Lady, Michelle Obama.
• From 4 to 6 pm: The National Peace Corps Association is co-hosting with TPIGW a RPCV Networking Reception of RPCVs and their guests. Further information about this special Inaugural Event will be posted shortly to the TPIGW web site.
• At 7 pm, again in the Independence Ballroom: The People's Inaugural Gala Celebration is a semi-formal/after-five event featuring music/dancing, wine tasting, exhibits, casino, "live-auction" fashion show, great food and great fun.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18th

From 4 to 7 pm: Peace Corps Inauguration Happy Hour at THE HEIGHTS (3115 14th St NW), Columbia Heights Metro.

From 7 pm to midnight. The African Diaspora Inaugural Ball welcomes RPCVs at the discounted rate of $150 (limited time only) for their event at the HARMAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS. Their theme - "I AM THE CHANGE: Educating, Empowering and Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders," - highlights the importance of investing in the education and empowerment of the next generation. 100% of proceeds will go to: Angelique Kidjo's Batonga Foundation, ensuring that the organization is able to continue its outreach to children throughout Africa; and First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides new books to children in low income communities. Angelique Kidjo is one of the scheduled performers. NPCA is one of the sponsors of the event.

From 9pm to 2 am: All for Africa and Africare present An Inaugural Celebration of Unity at the Zanzibar on the Waterfront! There will be live performances by Lebo M., Francis Jocky, and surprise guests. An excerpt from the dance production "the Audacious One" by South African Warren Adams. Fashion Show, DJ Rich Medina and DJ Joe Spinning! and African Market silent auction. This is the celebration dance party event of the Inaugural Weekend! Proceeds are going toward the purchase of two Oil Palm Trust for Africare. These trust will generate almost $2 million to cover operational expenses for Africare programs. Special guests attending include Warren Adams, Brandon Victor Dixon, Francis Jocky, Jeff Johnson, Angelique Kidjo, Lebo M., Jeffrey Wright, Declan Joyce. Please download your NPCA Discounted Tickets Invitation or order tickets by calling Diane Burstein at 212-351-0055.

Peace Corps Community Inauguration Parade Marchers

The e-mails have now gone out to those who will be representing the Peace Corps Community in the Presidential Inaugural Parade on January 20 in Washington DC.  (You can see a list here.)

Here are some quick stats:

203 individuals will represent the National Peace Corps on Inauguration Day 2009.

• 136 Females (67%)
• 67 Males (33%)

The ages and experiences of these marchers span over three generations:

• The eldest (Sen. Harris Wofford) was born in 1926 is now 82 years of age.
• The youngest marchers will include grandchildren of Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver.
• Marcher Mitchell Kent (Thailand 92-93) shares a birthday with the man of the hour (August 4th).

All possible decades of volunteering in the Peace Corps will be represented in this march.
Peace Corps Volunteers make up 165 of the 200 Marchers

• 1960s – 12.7%
• 1970s – 7.9%
• 1980s – 11.5%
• 1990s – 24.2%
• 2000s – 43.6%

The marchers have volunteered in 100 of the 139 countries where Peace Corps has had a presence, representing 5 continents and 7 different regions.

• 6 PCVs will represent Bolivia and Thailand.
• Honduras, Madagascar and Ukraine all have 5 PCV marchers.
• 4 for Ecuador.
• 3 for Benin, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Cote D’ivoire, the Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Nepal, Romania and Sierra Leone.
• 2 for countries such as Belize, Botswana, Columbia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Phillipes, Zambia and others
• Afghanistan, Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Pakistan, Palau, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Yemen are among some of the less "typical"/less well known Peace Corps countries with a representative in this parade.

Once more, a complete list of all marchers can be viewed here.