THE VEGETABLE GROWS AND THE LION ROARS by Gary R. Lindberg (Ivory Coast)

The Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service is a memoir about author Gary R. Lindberg’s experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Ivory Coast in the 1960s. This  book offers a fascinating glimpse into what it was like to be a PCV in the early days of the program. This one-of-a-kind memoir presents how he decided to apply for the opportunity, how he trained, his project, the daily life activities, and the friends he made while he was there. He also shares highlights from the travels he took when on vacation breaks, such as his experience on a safari and his visit to the legendary city of Timbuktu.

This memoir combines historical elements with personal vignettes as Lindberg elaborates on his many adventures – such as having a broken radiator in the middle of nowhere and how he and his companions got help. In addition, he offers an interesting view of village life and work during a special project he worked on in a village called Déahouépleu. Accompanying the text are photos that illustrate his work, life, and travels.

Gary R. Lindberg (Ivory Coast 1966-68)

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Gary Lindberg’s parents moved before his seventh birthday to Santa Maria, California. Gary is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in U. S. History. He join the Peace Corps and taught primary school students and teachers various techniques in a school gardens program in the Ivory Coast. After his Peace Corps service, Gary toured Europe, visiting Italy, Germany, France, England, and the Netherlands. When he was drafted, he volunteered for the Navy and served for four years. After the Navy, he went to San Francisco State University and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Management and Personnel. Following that, Gary began his 43-year career as a Human Resources professional for a number of major companies.  In November 2019 he retired to pursue personal interests.

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The Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service
by Gary R. Lindberg (Ivory Coast 1966-68)
BookBaby Publishers
March 2022
204 pages
$7.49 (Kindle); $15.63 (Paperback)