Archive - March 31, 2020

Living with Africa for a Lifetime by Mark G. Wentling (Honduras 1967–69, Togo 1970–73; PC Staff: Togo, Gabon, Niger 1973–77) My friends say I was born and raised in Kansas, but I was made in Africa. After a lifetime of doing almost nothing except dreaming, thinking, reading, writing about and working in Africa, I can see why this is said about me. I first stepped on the continent in 1970 as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo and stayed much longer than expected. I ended up knowing firsthand in varying degrees each of Africa’s 54 countries. My marriages to African women, the raising of our children in Africa and my close involvement with my extended families taught me a great deal about what makes Africa tick. I never planned to spend a lifetime so wrapped up with Africa. One thing led to another and most of the time I did . . .

                                 But Not PCVs! They had to come home on their own.

Thanks for the ‘heads up’ from Mark Wentling (Honduras 1967-69) Evacuated Peace Corps volunteers face uncertainty back home For the first time in its nearly 60-year history, the Peace Corps suspended all operations and evacuated volunteers as the coronavirus pandemic spread around the globe. NBC News reporters Julia Jester and Maura Barrett spoke with returning Peace Corps volunteers about what it’s like to suddenly be back in an America that they don’t recognize. Read in NBC News: https://apple.news/Am4tMaTIeQrqRdZKr_MnF0A