Corps Conversations: Life After Peace Corps Podcast with RPCV Astrid Vinje

Hailey and I chatted one afternoon in May about her Peace Corps experiences in Niger and Senegal.  Listening to her story, it struck me that having served in a rural community in Niger, and then serving in Dakar during her third year, Hailey got to have the best of both worlds in terms of Peace Corps experiences.  She was able to have that rural village experience, which is what you would typically think of when you think of the Peace Corps.  At the same time, she was able to really build up her professional experience, working with an NGO during her third year.  As always, every Peace Corps experience is unique, and Hailey’s experience is an example of that. Hailey served in the Peace Corps first in Niger from October 2008 – January 2011 and then she extended her service to work with Helen Keller International in Senegal from January 2011 – 2012. After completing her service, Hailey returned to her hometown of Seattle, WA to pursue a career in global health. She currently works at PATH, an international nonprofit organization, supporting various maternal health and reproductive health projects. Hailey has continued to feed her passion for learning about new cultures though experiencing world cuisines, dance, and travel and her involvement with the World Affairs Council.

I really enjoyed talking with Yoomie and hearing her story.  Coming to the US as a refugee from Vietnam, it was interesting to hear about her experiences growing up as an immigrant in the mid-West.  I liked how determined and driven she was, and her story really epitomizes the idea of the “American Dream.”  For Yoomie, joining the Peace Corps was a way to give back to a country that had afforded her so many opportunities, and also to help people in other countries who may not have the same opportunities as her.  What an inspiring story! Pre-service training in Mongolia Site-mates in Darkhan, Mongolia Orphanage kids in Mongolia CYNC weekend work retreat to Kazbegi region in Georgia Ms. Yoomie Huynh has eight years of international development experience concentrating in social protection work with local grassroots NGOs, international non-profits, and inter-governmental organizations; five of which were in Mongolia, Thailand, Cambodia, Tajikistan, and Georgia. She specializes in human trafficking, child labor, gender issues, migrant populations, social protection, and reintegration programs. She served as a two-year Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia from 2007-2009 as a Community Youth Development (CYD) volunteer at an orphanage in Darkhan, Mongolia. Additionally, she recently returned from a 6.5 month stint as a Peace Corps Response volunteer as a Youth Program Development Consultant for the Children and Youth National Center (CYNC), Ministry of Sports and Youth in Tbilisi, Georgia. She holds a BA in Psychology, Theology, and Women Studies from Georgetown University and an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Univeristy of London. Yoomie is from Binh Duong, Vietnam and Sioux City, Iowa.

I have known Jason for about five years, so I was excited to have the opportunity to talk with him about his Peace Corps experience.  It’s always fun to exchange Peace Corps stories with a friend.  Jason and I talked about the interesting journey he took to get to where he is today – starting out in IT, working in environmental education in the Peace Corps, and finally ending up as a public health professional in Seattle.  I like how his story doesn’t really follow a linear path, and the many adventurous leaps he’s taken along the way.  That’s something I aspire to have in my own life. Demonstration garden Fuel efficient stoves Improved vitamins Originally from Richmond, VA Jason worked in IT and the dotcom scene of San Francisco prior to heading off to East Africa with the Peace Corps. He served as an Environmental Education volunteer in Palangawanu, Tanzania from 2002-04. It was there where he learned to appreciate the dynamics at play within communities and the inherent challenges confronted in a rapidly changing world. He experienced firsthand the advent of the cellphone and its dramatic impact within Palangawanu. He continues to try and address challenges in access to health care through the utilization of eHealth and improved community health programs through his work at PATH. He focuses on maternal and newborn health, TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria, nutrition and water and sanitation programs throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Following his time in the Peace Corps he's lived in New Zealand, Uganda and South Sudan and worked extensively in Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Ghana. He's thrilled to now call the Pac NW home, but enjoys his opportunities to travel back to Africa. Jason in Palangawanu

To commemorate our one year anniversary of this podcast, I wanted to showcase the writing and music created by RPCVs and inspired by their Peace Corps experience.  I invited past podcast guests, Steve Latin-Kasper and Ryan Weber to share with us songs that that they wrote.  I also invited poet and Romania RPCV, Clela Reed, who shared her poetry that she wrote during her time in Romania.  I had a lot of fun putting this episode together, and it really highlighted for me how Peace Corps is more than just service and cultural exchange.  It can also be a very deep and personal journey.  Steve Latin-Kasper playing drums with his band in the Marshall Island Steve Latin-Kasper served in the Peace Corps in the Marshall Islands from 1981 to 1983.  While there, he played drums and sang with a band called Dri Karere Ran.  Upon returning from the Peace Corps, he stopped music to pursue other interests.  At the age of 54, after a decades long absence from music, Steve started a band with his friend called Boks of Rock.  They self published their first album in February 2013, and are currently working on another one. Band info can be found at boksofrock.com. Thinking Outside of By The BOKS of ROCK Clela Reed in Brasov, Romania Haystacks in Romania Students in Romania in early June Village parade in Romania Clela Reed is the author of two books of poetry: "Dancing on the Rim" and "The Hero of the Revolution Serves Us Tea."  She is also author of two chapbooks: "Bloodline" and "Of Root and Sky."  She has had poems published in "Caesura Literary Magazine," "Colere Journal," "The Kennesaw Review," "Storysouth Journal," "Clapboard House Literary Journal," and others. A former English teacher and Facilitator for the Gifted, she is also a returned Romania Peace Corps volunteer.  She lives and writes with her husband and a small herd of deer in her forest home near Athens, Georgia. The Hero of the Revolution Serves Us Tea By Clela Reed Ryan Weber in Kenya Ryan Weber with one of his projects in Kenya Ryan E. Weber originally hails from snowy farmlands on the Western shores of Lake Michigan.  He is noted for playing in indie bands such as the shoegazey-Cambden, emo pioneers-The Promise Ring, Midwestern altcountry road warriors-Decibully, spacey and sublime indie popsters-Eric & Magill and most recently creating the sparse and dreamy - REW<<.  While working in both Kenya and the Republic of Armenia, Weber collaborated over the internet with a host of notable contemporary indie artists including members of Shearwater, The Dirty Projectors, Owen, Volcano Choir, and The Delgados, to name just a few.  These days, he can be frequently found in subterranean tunnels waiting for Metros below the nation's capital. Night Singers

Steve and I had an enjoyable conversation in early March, talking about his experiences as a volunteer in the Marshall Islands back in the '80s, as well as life after coming back from the Peace Corps.  One thing I liked about his story was that music played a big part in his experience in the Peace Corps.  But when he returned to the states, it sort of took a back seat to life and responsibilities.  It's only recently, decades after his service, that he's returned to music, releasing an album with a friend. I often think about the kinds of people that we were during our years in the Peace Corps.  In a way, being in such a unique and sometimes isolating experience frees you to explore parts of you that can sometimes get lost or pushed aside in the "real world."  The trick is being able to meld those two personas - the you before and during Peace Corps - and allowing all those experiences to shape who you are. Steve earned a Masters degree in Economics at the University of Utah in 1979, and started his first job shortly after as an Economic Statistician for the Bureau of the Census. He had expected to join the Peace Corps at that time, but the group he was originally supposed to go with to El Salvador was prevented from going when American nuns were murdered and Peace Corps removed all volunteers from Central America.Apparently Steve was not cut out to be a bureaucrat and one and one-half years later he decided to find out why he never heard back from the Peace Corps. During a visit to the old K Street office in DC, he found out that they had lost his file, so he reapplied. He ended up in the Marshall Islands. While in the Peace Corps from 1981 to 1983, he spent his first year a Community Developer on the outer atoll of Lae. After his group’s mid-tour meeting, he was asked to work with the Republic of the Marshall Islands Department of Development to write the country’s first 5-Year Economic Development Plan as part of the process for joining the United Nations. Upon returning home in August 1983, he found that the unemployment rate in Milwaukee was over 20%, and it took six months to find a job. He finally landed one at Astronautics in Milwaukee, and about one year later took a job with the National Fluid Power Association. Since 1999 he has worked for the truck industry. He specializes in forecasting and is a member of the forecast panels run by Bloomberg and the National Association for Business Economics. Steve had played drums and sang with a band called Dri Karere Ran while in the Peace Corps, and when he and Molli became empty nesters, he found that he missed writing music and performing. So, at the age of 54, he found the time to start a new band with his friend Bill.  They self published their first album in February 2013, and are currently working on another one. Band info can be found at boksofrock.com.

Ryan and I chatted via Skype earlier this month about his time in Kenya, where he served as a health volunteer with his wife.  I was intrigued by his descriptions of his site, being both very removed from everyone yet connected at the same time.  Although he and his wife were placed in a remote community, their house was in close proximity to a cellphone tower, which allowed them to stay in touch with folks back home.  As a result, during his time in Kenya, Ryan was able to complete an online Master's degree, and record two albums with his band, Eric and Magill.  I am constantly surprised at how much technology has allowed the Peace Corps experience to evolve and change, even in the eight years since I finished my service! Ryan E. Weber originally hails from snowy farmlands on the Western shores of Lake Michigan.  He is noted for playing in indie bands such as the shoegazey-Cambden, emo pioneers-The Promise Ring, Midwestern altcountry road warriors-Decibully, spacey and sublime indie popsters-Eric & Magill and most recently creating the sparse and dreamy - REW<<.  While working in both Kenya and the Republic of Armenia, Weber collaborated over the internet with a host of notable contemporary indie artists including members of Shearwater, The Dirty Projectors, Owen, Volcano Choir, and The Delgados, to name just a few.  These days, he can be frequently found in subterranean tunnels waiting for Metros below the nation's capital. Listen to Ryan's band, Eric and Magill at ericandmagill.bandcamp.com, and also check out Ryan's solo work at rew-music.bandcamp.com.

I recently spoke with Alan Toth, a South Africa RPCV, who has just completed a documentary called "Posh Corps."  The film looks at the lives of Peace Corps volunteers in South Africa, and the challenges they face as volunteers in another country.  We talked a great deal about the film, but we also talked about Alan's own experiences in the Peace Corps.  What I liked about Alan was that he came from a somewhat "non-traditional" background, in the sense that he didn't study international relations, or medicine, or agriculture, or any of the subjects you would typically expect from a Peace Corps volunteer.  Yet somehow, he was able to use his background and combine it with his Peace Corps experience to create something for people to enjoy.Each year during the last week of February, the Peace Corps community celebrates Peace Corps Week, to commemorate the establishment of the Peace Corps by President John F. Kennedy.  It seems fitting, then, that our episode this week features an RPCV who is doing a great job of promoting the Third Goal.  Location scouting in South Africa. Alan Toth was a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa from 2010 to 2012. One of the challenges of serving in Peace Corps South Africa is the extreme disparity between the "first-world" cities in South Africa, and the "third-world" villages. Most of the time, Alan experienced what most Peace Corps volunteers might consider a traditional Peace Corps experience, but development was slowly making its way even to his remote site, and he did have to go to the cities from time to time. The constant adjustment from first to third-world takes it's toll on every volunteer in the country. Alan wanted people to know the story of volunteers in a rapidly developing country.  So he returned to South Africa after ending his service and shot a documentary about the lives of volunteers in South Africa. Alan in South Africa About Posh Corps:Posh Corps is a documentary that focuses on the lives of Peace Corps volunteers in South Africa. South Africa is one of the most modern countries in which Peace Corps Volunteers serve. Through the eyes of volunteers in South Africa, we discover that modernization does not necessarily make life easier. As the third-world slowly becomes the first-world, the struggles of Peace Corps Volunteers in South Africa provide a window into the struggles of volunteers throughout the developing world.Check out the "Posh Corps" trailer on Vimeo or visit Alan's website, Forgotten Archive.

In honor of Valentine's Day, we bring you a Peace Corps love story!  I had the pleasure of talking with Jee and David in their home in Seattle back in January.  It was nice to listen to their story and hear them talk about their respective Peace Corps experiences.  The Peace Corps, like many other novel and exotic experiences, has a way of bringing people together.  Sometimes these connections are short lived.  Other times the experience can lead to a deep and meaningful relationship.  It's always wonderful to hear stories of the couples who do last, years after the experience has passed. David and Jee in front of David's house in Guatemala.

When I first heard about the upcoming documentary, 27 Months, I knew that we had to get someone from the film on our show.  This film follows three Peace Corps volunteers during their service, and focuses on the transformation that occurs during those 27 months.  Although Ashley, the director of 27 Months, did not actually do the Peace Corps, her experience making the documentary gave her a lot of great insight into the Peace Corps experience.  I had a wonderful time chatting with Ashley about her process in making the documentary, and also learned a lot about what it takes to bring a project such as this into fruition.  In a way, her film project is a perfect example of a Peace Corps project - working with little to no resources to create something that is powerful and amazing and meaningful.  I'm excited to see how the film turns out. Filming in Liberia Hanging out in Azerbaijan. Spending some down time in the Philippines. Ashley Archer Tindall produces educational videos for Stanford University and Sheryl Sandberg's leadership organization LeanIn, and independent directors.  She has worked as an Associate Producer for National Geographic TV and Earth Island Institute's Sacred Land Film Project, directed research for HBO's Rolling Stones documentary "Crossfire Hurricane," and was Assistant Director on Sea Studios Foundation's innovative "Otter 501" hybrid film.  She holds Masters degrees in Documentary Film from Stanford and in Public Policy from UCLA.  She received her BA from the University of Chicago in Literature and French. Check out the film on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.  Watch the trailer for the film at Vimeo.com.

As the first season of our podcast winds down, I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to sit down with our creative producer, Clint Bush, and take a look back at some highlights from the season.  It was fun to listen to clips of some of our favorite episodes.  There were humorous moments and serious moments, light-hearted moments and profound moments.  I think with 17 episodes under our belt, we have a pretty good idea of what worked and what didn't work. It was also great to give our listeners a chance to get to know Clint, who has put so much time and effort behind the scenes to make this podcast sound good.  This has been a wonderful learning experience for the both of us, and we look forward to what the next season of Corps Conversations will bring us. Riding the bus in Paraguay with our daughter, Mira (April 2013).

At first glance, Byron and Denise seem to have it easy.  They are able to serve in the Peace Corps with their significant other.  They have internet in their home which allows them to Skype with their friends and family.  And they live in a relatively large city, which affords them many luxuries and amenities.  However, after talking with them, it was apparent that they still faced many of the same challenges as other volunteers: being far from home and loved ones, feeling isolated, and having to cope with the difficulties of living and working in another culture.  I am always struck by the universalities of the Peace Corps experience, and how despite the differences in time and place, Peace Corps continues to be a life changing experience for those who serve. Thanksgiving dinner with host mother, Halyna (in red), and her friends. At Byron's university's English immersion summer camp. With PCV Whitney Milton at the English immersion summer camp. Byron with his Teachers Class. Byron and Denise Williams are a husband and wife team who served as TEFL volunteers in Ukraine. Byron served as a university instructor and Denise served as primary and secondary English school teacher. They are from Las Vegas, Nevada.  Following Peace Corps, both hope to explore careers in the international field, along with starting a family and preparing for the zombie apocalypse, but not at the same time. At Denise's end of school year concert at the Ukrainian school where she was a teacher.

I was quite impressed with all the things Travis has done in the Peace Corps and in the years after.  But what struck me most was his desire to do something meaningful with his Peace Corps experience.  I think every returned volunteer has that desire in some form or another, and it manifests itself in various forms, whether it be pursuing an international career, marrying someone from your country of service, continuing to live overseas, starting an organization, or even starting a podcast.  Every volunteer I've talked to so far has managed to make those crazy 27 months into something that stays with them for a lifetime. Travis enjoying the view in Mongolia. Working on a health training in Mongolia.  Travis at his third year ceremony. Travis Hellstrom is 50% Writer, 50% CEO and 100% committed to helping everyday humanitarians change the world. He founded Advance Humanity after serving for three years with the Peace Corps in Mongolia and is currently a Peace Corps Fellow completing his masters degree at SIT Graduate Institute. You can read more about him at travishellstrom.com. Travis and his Mongolian family before his wedding day (photo credit: Kate Brokowski). Unofficial Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook By Travis Hellstrom

I had a great time talking with Sara in early October.  We really hit it off, and I enjoyed listening to her stories about Madagascar.  I could tell that she truly loved the time that she spent there, and that the country had become a part of her.  It was inspiring to hear about the ways that she's managed to stay connected to Madagascar.  Often times, we RPCVs tend to let that connection fade, and as the years pass, it becomes just a memory to file away in our catalog of experiences.  I'm glad that there are people like Sara out there, who continue to nurture and expand their connections to their country of service.    Sara with some of her students.  Sara with her friend, Marthe, planting trees on International Women's Day.  On the day Sara witnessed her first cow-killing ceremony. Sara LeHoullier grew up in North Carolina, and after high school, she made the bizarre but excellent decision to go to Minnesota for college. Armed with a BA in English from Carleton, she returned to North Carolina in 2003, and made it only two years in the corporate world before joining the Peace Corps in 2005.From 2005 until 2007, Sara taught English in Madagascar. In 2008, she went back to perform a needs assessment for her proposed NGO, Spotlight Madagascar. Alas, the political crisis put a halt to her dreams of starting her own organization, and she returned to school to get her MA in Sustainable Development from SIT Graduate Institute. Thesis research afforded her yet another opportunity to visit Madagascar, and in 2009 she went back for three months, during which she searched far and wide for innovation in development, and wrote her first travel companion.In 2010, Sara decided to return once again as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer and lived in Ambositra, Madagascar for 6 months, working on ICT education and Micro-enterprise development with Human Network International. A short break and she was back on the plane again to research her next book in the spectacular deep south; this next travel guide, that will be published in 2012 just in time for high tourist season!Sara spent two years with RTI International, first as a Project Administration Specialist, then as a Program Development Coordinator for the Education Policy and Systems group. She has written articles about Madagascar in Worldview Magazine and Remedy Quarterly, and continues to be involved in several initiatives on the big red island, including a silk-weaving cooperative called Federation SAHALANDY and a burgeoning new NGO, Nofy i Androy, that establishes educational opportunities for girls and women in the south of Madagascar. She is currently a Business Optimization Consultant for a small firm in Seattle, Washington, working on some very exciting initiatives that are aimed increasing human happiness and promoting environmental sustainability across the globe. Sara at Olympic National Park in Washington state. Madagascar (Travel Companion) By Sara LeHoullier Madagascar (Other Places Travel Guide) By Sara LeHoullier, Maya Moore

Justin was really easy to talk to, and I enjoyed listening to his stories of his time in the Peace Corps.  Listening to him, it made me realize how the Peace Corps experience often pushes people to step out of their comfort zones.  Though we may be skeptical or hesitant at first, the results of that step are often quite spectacular.Another thing that struck me about our conversation was how Peace Corps can serve as a catalyst to propel your life into a direction that you may not have considered before.  In Justin's case, he came into the Peace Corps with a background in Computer Science, but is now pursuing his MBA.  Justin with his neighbor's daughter next to a completed energy efficient stove. Performing surgery alongside one of the doctors at a medical mission (left). Reading a book on the summit of Mt. Chirripo in Costa Rica. Justin graduated with a degree in Computer Science from California State University Sacramento.  He served in the Peace Corps Dominican Republic as an IT Education volunteer from 2008-2010.  Justin extended his Peace Corps service in Costa Rica as a Community Economic Development volunteer.  After his Peace Corps Service, Justin was accepted to the Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program.  He lived just outside of Tokyo where he taught English at two public senior high schools from 2011 - 2013.  Justin met his wife Cecilia in the Dominican Republic where they both served as Education volunteers.  Cecilia gave birth to their first child (Samantha Ai) in Japan.  Justin is currently a 1st year MBA candidate at Thunderbird School of Global Management and he is pursuing a career in Organizational Development and Change Management. With his wife, Cecilia, and their daughter, Samantha Ai, in Japan. 

Brian was a fascinating man to talk to.  From listening to his story, I could tell that he definitely faced some tough challenges during his first Peace Corps service in Morocco, and even during his second Peace Corps service in Jordan.   What impressed me most about Brian, though, was his insistence on standing up for what he believed was right.  Some people shy away from making waves, for fear of what it might cost them.  For Brian, even though it ultimately led to ending his second tour of Peace Corps early, doing the right thing was more important. Brian (middle) with other PCVs in Melilla, a Spanish town in Morocco Brian (far right) on the beach in Agadir, Morocco Brian (back row, second from right) with his Peace Corps Jordan cohorts In Petra, Jordan Dr. Brian Kuhn is currently a researcher in zoology and palaeoanthropology at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. His current work studies modern carnivore ecology, taphonomy and the fossil carnivores associated with Australopithecus sediba.Brian served in the Peace Corps in Morocco from 1994-1996 as a health and sanitation volunteer. He was assigned to Jemaa Sidi Laaroussi, but lived in the nearby village of Talmest, in the Essaouira Province. In 1996, after discussion of extending and switching sectors to Parks, Wildlife and Environmental Education (PWEE), it was decided the best option was to COS from Morocco and join the first group of volunteers going to Jordan as a PWEE in 1997. In Jordan he was assigned to the Shaumari Nature reserve near Azraq out in the eastern desert.Brian earned his undergraduate degrees in Zoology and Anthropology from Washington State University in Pullman, WA.  After the Peace Corps, he completed his Masters (MSc) degree in Palaeoecology/Zooarchaeology at the Institute of Archaeology at the University College London, and then completed his doctorate degree in 2003 at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.  Brian currently lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. With Dr. Jane Goodall in June 2013

Evelyn and I spoke in late June about her experiences as a volunteer in the Philippines.  Having traveled to the Philippines myself, I was keen to exchange stories with her about life over there.  What struck me most about Evelyn was just how positive she was when talking about her Peace Corps experience.  I'm sure that there were some challenging points for her, but I think on the whole, serving in the Peace Corps was something that influenced her life for the good.    Evelyn with her students and colleague Wearing traditional Filipino attire  World Map Project Teaching a career seminar Evelyn grew up in San Jose, California and got her BA in Communications and Spanish from UCLA. After graduating, she started her Peace Corps service in the Philippines in 2010. She taught English to rural high school students, and on the side she conducted leadership trainings, facilitated professional develop training for teachers and supervisors, coached boys and girls soccer, and directed a choir at a local Filipino church. She completed her service in 2012, and she is currently enrolled in the MBA program at The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. She will obtain concentrations in strategy and finance, and she hopes to go into management consulting after graduating. Long-term, Evelyn wants to break into the field of microfinance and social enterprise. Read more about Evelyn's Peace Corps experience here: http://epowphilippines.blogspot.com Also check out Evelyn's new blog focusing on social entrepreneurship: http://mysocial1mpact.blogspot.com 

I really enjoyed talking with Nicole about her life as a volunteer in Togo.  Since we both served in the same village, it was good to share and compare some of our experiences with each other.  And at the same time, it was great to hear about some of the projects she did with the community, many of which I never would have thought to do.  It's clear that we both had very positive experiences in Kemeni, where we served, and I'm glad that we finally had this opportunity to connect.We also spent some time talking about what it was like coming back to the states after the Peace Corps, and how she dealt with issues of feeling lost or not knowing her place anymore.  That's definitely a common theme in the post-Peace Corps experience, and it's interesting to hear how different people handle that adjustment period. Nicole with some boys in Kemeni Nicole is currently a graduate student at the University of Hawaii Manoa studying Natural Resource and Environmental Management. She works with the Hawaii Forest Institute as a Project Coordinator for the Children's Discovery Forest at the Honolulu Zoo. She served in the Peace Corps from 2008-2010 in Kemeni, Togo as a Natural Resource Management volunteer. She lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Nicole in Hawaii

I spoke with Susan and Kelly in Susan's home in Seattle, WA back in June.  It was a gorgeous late spring morning, and we had a lovely view of Lake Washington.  Having served as health volunteers in Cameroon from 1991-1993, Susan and Kelly both had interesting stories of their time in the Peace Corps and afterwards.  Susan was a part of the beginning incarnations of the Peace Corps Masters International program, and had a very structured Peace Corps experience, working on a campaign to eradicate Guinea Worm.  Kelly's experience, on the other hand, was a little less structured, working with rural community centers to do vaccination campaigns and train village health committees.  I enjoyed talking with the both of them and listening to what volunteer life was like twenty years ago, before email, cellphones, Facebook, and blogs.  A view of Susan's region Susan riding a motorbike Kelly at her local market Kelly during Public Works Day at her regional hospital View of Kelly's region Susan Graham is a member of the Kenya Research Group at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.  Her work involves research on HIV prevention and care in Kenya.  She also directs the University of Wahsington Scholl of Medicine's Global Health Pathway, as well as serving as the Track Director for the Univeristy of Washington's concurrent MD-MPH program in Global Health.Susan received her medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and her Masters degree in Public Health from Boston University in Boston, MA.  In conjunction to completing her Masters degree, she served as a Peace Corps health volunteer in Cameroon through Peace Corps' Masters International Program. Kelly Kajumulo is a Research Coordinator in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.  She earned her BA from the University of Virginia, focusing on Women in Development.  After serving as a health volunteer in the Peace Corps in Cameroon from 1991-1993, she continued working on a variety of programs focusing on health and HIV/AIDS prevention and education.  She received her Masters in Public Health from the University of Washington, and has been living in Seattle for the past 17 years.

It was a blast catching up with Laraine and hearing about her post-Peace Corps experiences.  We were in the same training group in Togo, and although we didn't do any projects together, we did see each other quite a bit at social events and  volunteer gatherings.  Laraine is such a free spirit, and you can see that in the experiences she's had since finishing her service.  From recruiting new Peace Corps volunteers in Chicago, to attending graduate school in Denver, to working with Doctors without Borders in Sudan, and now working with youth in the outdoors in Steamboat Springs, CO, it is evident that Laraine is the type of person who continually seeks out new adventures.In a way, all of us have a little bit of this adventurousness in our personalities.  It's important that we remember not to let it slip away too much. Laraine with her Agricultural Development group Dancing with the ladies in her community Posing with one of her water pumps.  Enjoying a full calabash of tchouk, the local millet beer.  Laraine served in Peace Corps Togo (Kara Region, northern half of the country) from 2004-2006 in the Community Health/HIV-AIDS Prevention program. She trained community health workers, contributed to country-wide summer camp programs, served as co-editor of the Togo PCV literary publication "The Griot", and spent many an hour relaxing alongside her fellow villagers at the Pessare and Siou weekly markets. Upon her return to the states, she earned her Master's degree in International Development and Global Health Affairs at the University of Denver, where she got involved with volunteer programs like Snowsports Outreach Society (SOS) and the Steamboat-based non-profit Rocky Mountain Youth Corps - where she serves as Project Manager to this day. She returned to Africa for a temporary contract with Doctors Without Borders in rural South Sudan in 2010. Enjoying the mountains and snow of Colorado.  Competing in a race. 

George and I spoke in the spring in his home in Seattle, WA.  One of the things I liked about our conversation was being able to compare how his service was like as a volunteer in the '80's to how my volunteer service was like twenty years later.  Some things are quite different: volunteers now have so much access to information about Peace Corps service, and even within their service, it's much easier to stay in touch with home.  At the same time, many things remain the same: African kids continue to sing the "Yovo" song, and volunteers still continue to deal with the challenges and successes of adjusting to and understanding a culture different from their own.Another thing I liked about our conversation was just hearing the different experiences he's had in the Peace Corps.  From serving as a volunteer in Benin, to serving as a training coordinator in Kenya, to eventually becoming Country Director in Togo.  It was interesting to hear the progression his career went through to get him to where he is today.  It certainly serves as inspiration to RPCVs who may just be starting out in their careers. George with his Pre-Service Training Group in Benin, 1981.  (Front row, far right) Thanksgiving in Benin, 1981.  Riding a moto in Kenya, 1986.  With the Peace Corps staff in Nepal, 1993.  Riding a boat in Peace Corps Fiji, 1995.  A street mural in Togo, 2005.  George is currently working as the Director of Operations at Health Alliance International (HAI), a small international health programs NGO, in Seattle.  HAI has projects in Mozambique, Cote d’Ivoire and East Timor.George served as a Secondary Education Volunteer in Benin, West Africa, from 1980 – 82.  He taught Biology and Chemistry at a High School in Porto Novo called C.E.M.G. Davie.  During his two years as a Volunteer, George got involved in training programs for new Volunteers.  After completing his service, George worked as a training contractor for Peace Corps in Togo, Belize and Kenya.  In 1987 George went to work at Peace Corps Headquarters, first working for Peace Corps Director Loret Miller-Ruppe and then in the Staging Division as a Training Specialist and ultimately as the Director of Staging.  George went overseas again in 1991 as the Training Officer for Peace Corps/Nepal where he was responsible for all pre-service and in-service training for Volunteers.  After finishing his tour in Nepal, George returned to Peace Corps Headquarters where he worked as the Training Officer for the Asia/Pacific Region.After finishing up with Peace Corps in 1996, George and his wife, Annie, moved to Seattle, WA.  George worked for the Boeing Company for seven years in Workforce Diversity, Affirmative Action and EEO programs.  In 2004 George returned to work for the Peace Corps in Togo as the Country Director.  George with a member of the HAI Cote d'Ivoire staff. Find out more about the work that Health Alliance International (HAI) does at www.healthallianceinternational.org