Lynn Ralph Juhl (Malaysia 1966-69)
Lynn, we shot a lot of baskets together during training in Hawaii, but lost all contact after posting in Malaysia.…
Monday, November 21
9:24 pm
MALAYSIA, 1967
Evening. Might as well take a stroll. “Duduk demana?” Oh, Jeez, I know the words (Where do you sit?), but not the meaning! And that was the first day.
Total immersion in a new culture. Ever an outsider, but not quite alien. The only white man some had seen up close – are you healthy? Why is your skin so pale? Why do the little hairs grow on your skin, as little children sometimes tried to pluck at them. They said that was making peace. Maybe, but I had no comparison for that. They said the Peace Corps was idealistic service. I saw the Peace Corps as working with Ranjit, Choy, Hwa, Lian, Nasir, Cheah, Sharani, Noria, and Tan to teach our students.
The experience sticks with you. It doesn’t end on returning, perhaps it just begins. Hardly a day goes by that in some way I am reminded of those times and the lessons that another culture teaches.
I taught math to Junior High students. Helped run my school’s first Sports Day (ever hear of a 300 meter running track?). Built the school library (Dewey Decimals even!). Helped institute an overnight exchange visit with a nearby school in Thailand. Worked hard on cross-country. Got malaria (everybody had malaria in my town). Totally frustrated sometimes. Celebration at other times. I did things I didn’t know I could do, and haven’t done since. The privilege of service. One of life’s great adventures. And I would do it all again in a flash!
Lynn, we shot a lot of baskets together during training in Hawaii, but lost all contact after posting in Malaysia. Some 50 years later, soon after I moved back to the U.S. from Norway, one of my first acquaintances was another RPCV from Kenya who served 1 year ahead of us. He sent me the link to this site just yesterday, and today I find this short article by you (and another by your sister?). I am from Iowa too, as was another one of our Malaysia RPCVs and basketball playing buddies, Jack Rayman, with whom I’ve stayed in contact over recent years.
It is doubtful you’ll see this, or be able to reply, but wanted to let you know that I recognized your name right away, and have many good memories of our shared time in Hawaii and Malaysia.
Thinking good thoughts!
Kelt Kinnick