Peace Corps Polyglot

A World of Knowledge Via Peace Corps-Rotary Connection

On November 5th, 2008, we highlighted how local Rotary clubs, in conjunction with Rotary International, are helping RPCVs "maintain the volunteering spirit."

A good example of a local Rotary playing its part in fostering global citizenship is the Tehama County (California) Rotary. Its scheduled mid-April trip to Ethiopia and Kenya will bring people's of various backgrounds closer through cultural exchange. The five-person delegation will be lead by Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Melissa Mendonca.

As a veteran of the Peace Corps, Melissa has dedicated much of her time to service. She gave two years, three months in the Federated States of Micronesia and nine months in Zambia as a Crisis Corps volunteer. She also spent time in Cuba and Guatemala as she obtained her degree in international health and development.

The well-traveled Rotarian ambassador confessed "Ethiopia has been a dream destination for awhile." She hopes to get an authentic experience by staying with Ethiopian and Kenyan Rotarians, while showcasing the uniqueness her hometown--Red Bluff--brings to the world.

To read an article about the trip in the Red Bluff Daily News, click here.

RPCV Organizing Cruise to the Inauguration

In light of the scarcity of Inauguration weekend accommodations in Washington, DC, we are passing on an offer by NPCA member Ulysses Hudson (Ecuador 88-91), Vice President of Yes We Can Cruise, Inc. http://www.yeswecan2009cruise.com/.

Ulysses has organized a 6-day round-trip cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Baltimore, MD with transportation into Washington, DC for inaugural events.  Writes Ulysses:

I have secured discounted pricing for the Peace Corps community to book passage on this cruise for a limited time.  This offer is good until December 22, 2008.  After that a limited number of discounted rates may still be available, but only on a first come, first served basis.

For now this cruise special is offered to RPCV’s for prices starting at $1,100.00 per person.  After 12/22/08 the prices will start at $1,999.00 per person – which is still a good deal.  So please get on board quickly, because this cruise will most likely sell out fast.

If you are interested in learning full details, you can contact Ulysses at 954-926-2355 or via e-mail.

RPCV's Daughter Tells the Tale of Her Trip to Cameroon

We know the children of RPCVs often have unique experiences from their peers.  Some (like the founder of Goodie Goodies, we blogged about here) are moved to make a difference from what they know about other places in the world.  One RPCV's daughter recently wrote a letter describing her trip to Cameroon, the homeland of her father and the place her mother served as an PCV.  Here's what she had to say about the experience:

My trip to Africa was amazing.  I went to visit my family.  We go every three years because my dad was born in Cameroon and he met my mom while she was in Peace Corps.  It took a very long time to get there, 20 hours!!!!!. I went with my mother, my father, my sister and my brother.  When we got off the plane the airport was packed and extremely HOT!  My dad went to go look for our luggage. Usually I look for his black bald head, but there were so many black bald heads I couldn’t spot him!  The next stop was our hotel. The hotel was pretty boring.  

Whenever we go to Cameroon, the first stop is always Bandjoun, my father’s village.  My grandmother still lives there. We popped a tire on the way there so we arrived around midnight.  Every one was very happy to see us, but very tired.  Soon we were shown to our beds.  Despite Liza’s (my little sister’s) constant kicking I immediately fell asleep.  I discovered work in Bandjoun is very fun.  It’s very different from the work here in the U.S.A.  Liza and I thought it was much more entertaining than cleaning our rooms!  We helped my grandmother gather beans in her field, then we had to shell them, so that they cook them for dinner.  We also helped wash clothes in the morning, but not my brother’s diapers!!  I was also in charge of crushing up the garlic, onions, leeks, and ginger on a stone in my grandmother’s kitchen. Soon it was time to leave to head to the big city. Before I go on I just want to say that Africa isn’t just wilderness.  My cousins have a 2 story house with satellite TV and cable! Isn’t that awesome?! 

Finally the place I had been waiting for: Yaoundé!!  I couldn’t wait to play with my cousins, but when I knocked on the huge, dusty, orange gate I felt shy.  What if they were different?  Marlene (14) opened the gate she looked pretty shy herself.  I entered the compound and saw Anaelle (9).  She’s my cousin of exactly the same age.  She looked like my opposite, strong and determined.  She then said ‘bonjour’ so suddenly I jumped.  “Oh! Bonjour!”  I said and smiled.  We both ran off to play in the grass.  At night I asked Anaelle about the fireflies.  Last time there were millions!  She said that they never came back after I left.  Oh no! I thought.  Then Anaelle said “look!”  I turned my head and saw fireflies.  Our nighttime was booked solid.  Soon it was interrupted by Cyrielle (16) “Time to take a bath!”  She called. I rolled my eyes but reluctantly started inside. My brother, sister and I stayed here while my mother went to her village to visit the family she stayed with in Peace Corps.  When my baby brother gets a little bigger, we will all go visit her village.  It is a long trip to get there. Every day in Yaounde was filled with fun.  We played and played, watched Disney Channel in French and played even more.   “Noooooooooooo!!!!” I cried “I don’t want to go home!”  We loaded up the car.  We were headed back to Bandjoun to say goodbye to my grandmother and then to Douala to catch our flight home.  I missed Yaoundé already.  Bandjoun here we come. We said goodbye and then got our flight to Miami.  I miss Cameroon a lot, especially my cousins.