GPO

Prepared in honor of the 45th anniversary of the Peace Corps, this collection of autobiographical reminiscences by 28 former Peace Corps volunteers recount the unique experience of being a Peace Corps Volunteer from a first-person perspective.

Compelling, inspiring, sometimes funny, often poignant, these stories represent the breadth of Peace Corps work, the countries it serves, and its Volunteer diversity.  Together, the stories reflect the adventure, the cross-cultural exchange, the personal growth, and the deep friendships forged as part of the Peace Corps Volunteers journey.

The book begins with a Foreword by Peace Corps Director, Gaddi H. Vasquez, that conveys the work of Peace Corps Volunteers and how they exemplify living “a life inspired.” Stories are presented within three themes:

1. Making a difference
2. Life is calling
3. Window to the world

Table of Contents:

• Foreword: Living a Life Inspired By Gaddi Vasquez
• Making a Difference: Where Credit is Due By Karen Schaefer
• Finding Meaning in Hair By Andrei Cotton
• When the Student Is Ready, the Teacher Will Appear By Bernadette Zayas Lorenzo
• Talking of Trees By Aaron Welch
• The Faces of an Acacia Tree By Karin Vermilye
• Women Can Learn Things, Too By Amber B. Davis-Collins
• The Work ContinuesBy Kelly Daniel
• Not A Waste of Time At All By Ronald Venezia
• Life is Calling: Renewable Resources: Growing Up With “Sarge” Shriver’s Biggest Fans By Adrienne Benson Scherger
• Hope Dies Last By Patrick Burns
• Soybean Transformations By John Sheffy
• Saying Goodbye By Caroline Chambre
• Taking Time By Walter Hawkes
• The Importance of Drinking Tea By Jake Jones
• Been There, Done That By Stephanie Saltzman
• Itam By Jeff Fearnside
• America gave me to you By C.D. Glin
• Leave Taking By Beth Genovese
• Window to the World If There’s Enough for One By Kara Garbe
• There is Time By Casey Laycock
• ¡Que Milagro! By Kerrie A. Resendes
• Hummingbirds or Fairies? By Megan Mentrek
• Changing Perspectives By Christina Luongo
• Different Kinds of Lessons in Moldova By April Simun
• Food and Identity in an African Village By Allyson Gardner
• Halloween in Tashkent By Ruby Long
• The Train Ride Home By Robin Solomon
• Saying Goodbye to Patience By Ryan Wells
• Becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer