Archive - 2023

“I began writing as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala as a form of self-defense. The goat herder’s shack where I lived had been built out of green planks by an American Baha’i. When the wood dried, huge gaps appeared in the walls. Poetry became my wallpaper and my insulation. Over the years I’ve often wondered whether writing has gotten me into more jams than it has gotten me out of.” Guy Biederman (Guatemala 1981-82) is the author of six collections of short work, including his most recent, Translated From The Original: One-inch Punch Fiction from Nomadic Press, and 300 of his stories and poems have appeared in literary journals such as Carve, MacQueen’s Quinterly, great weather for MEDIA, Flashback Fiction, and Exposition Review, where he was twice a winner in their Flash 405 contests. His work has received a Publisher’s Choice Award, an Editor’s Choice Award, nominations for Best . . .

“I made a special stop to visit my friends at the Peace Corps office in DC today. My career of service really began with my three years with the Peace Corps teaching English in Thailand. A lot has changed since then, but I carry that experience and the lessons I learned with me to this day.”   Suzanne McCormick is the 15th person and first woman to lead YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the Y — a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Collectively, the nation’s YMCAs engage 11 million members — 4 million of whom are under the age of 18 — annually. Suzanne became President and CEO of Y-USA in September 2021. She has 27 years of experience as a local and national executive leader in the nonprofit sector, most recently as U.S. President of . . .

David Fox (Ethiopia 1965-67) is a self-taught artist who has been drawing most of his life. He works in oils, watercolors, and pen and ink and has won several awards for his oils and acrylics. While serving in the Peace Corps, David lived in Ethiopia. His travels and his interactions with the Ethiopian people have served as a lifelong source of inspiration for his figure studies and landscapes. David is well known for his three-dimensional views of major American cities. This series, which includes Boston, Chicago, Lower Manhattan, New Orleans, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Washington D.C., has earned him international recognition. More recently, David has created architectural sketch coloring books of New York and Philadelphia, which include line drawings of iconic landmarks of these two major cities. David has also authored a coloring book of the Borough of Narberth, depicting life in small-town USA. Prints of David’s watercolors are available at the Philadelphia Museum of Art . . .

The current New Yorker, (July 3, 2023) has an article by Peter Hessler (China 1996-98) entitled ” A Double Education” on getting his twins daughters into school in China.  He writes how education in the US and China are “two disparate systems, despite a history of mutual influence.” Heller’s article goes back to the end of the nineteenth century when John Dewey, “the American philosopher and educator, had pioneered the concept of the experimental, or laboratory, school.”

While most Volunteers successfully complete their assignments, some do leave before the designated end date. This blog explores the reasons behind Peace Corps Volunteers’ early departures and shed light on the challenges they may face during their service. 1. Personal Health and Safety Concerns: One of the primary reasons Peace Corps volunteers may choose to leave their posts is due to personal health and safety concerns. Volunteers may experience physical or mental health issues that require medical attention beyond the capabilities of their host country. In some cases, the political situation in the country of service may deteriorate, exposing volunteers to heightened risks, such as civil unrest or natural disasters. 2. Incompatibility with the Host Community: Cultural adjustment can be a significant challenge for Peace Corps volunteers. Cultural differences, language barriers, and unfamiliar living conditions may lead to feelings of isolation and frustration. Some volunteers may find it difficult to . . .

  David E. White Jr. currently serves as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel (PPO). Prior to this role, he served on the National Security Council as Senior Advisor to the White House Coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome, where he facilitated whole-of-government efforts to provide housing, health care, education, employment, and other resources at scale for nearly 90,000 Afghan allies resettled in the United States. An attorney by training, White joined the Biden-Harris Administration as Deputy Associate Counsel in PPO. He was previously a member of the Biden-Harris Transition Team and an attorney at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York City. White began his career in public service as a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army. He served on active duty in a variety of domestic and overseas assignments, including as a Scout Platoon Leader in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of . . .

Calling all RPCV Writers Are you writing a novel, a memoir, a scholarly essay, poems, and/or short stories? Whether what you’re working on is about the Peace Corps or not, you are invited to the Second Peace Corps Writers Workshop this October on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. The Workshop—open to a maximum of 15 RPCV writers—will be held from Thursday, October 5, to Sunday, October 7, at Shore Retreats on Broad Creek. The cost ranges from $100 to $500, depending on the applicant’s economic circumstances, and includes shared living quarters and most meals. If interested, please contact Matt Losak (Lesotho 1985-87) at: tokamaphepa@aol.com. The Workshop, organized by Peace Corps Worldwide and supported by the Peace Corps Fund, will be led by Mark Brazaitis (Guatemala 1991-93), an English professor at West Virginia University, where he directs the Creative Writing Program and the West Virginia Writers’ Workshop. The author . . .