The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC

Bringing the experience home.

Summer’s calling RPCVw...how far will you go?

President’s Corner: Issue 2, June 2007
On behalf of the Board, I thank you all for your continued
support of RPCVw. It really is you, our members, that drive
the vision and success of RPCVw...

More Details
Upcoming Events:

PCPP Reception at Embassy of Swaziland!

More details Area RPCVs celebrate 45 years of Peace
SERVE on the 2008 RPCVw BOARD!!!!!! Corps by carrying flags in a commemora-
tive ceremony, featuring Chris Matthews
Give back to the community that gave to you! (Swaziland 68-70).

More Details HATS!!!!!!!!!!!! Who

Wants em?
RPCVw Annual Picnic coming up in July~
RPCVw is the only Peace
More details Corps affiliate group to have
permission to sell you these
Annual wreath-laying ceremony and wine tasting! sweet sun-blockers! Choose
from a couple of different
More details colors to fit your mood…
In other news: Show your spirit in style!

Remembering Julia Campbell

The late PCV who lost her life while giving serving in the Phil-
ippines will be remembered for her spirit and dedication.

More details
First glimpse into West Africa
One RPCV’s memories (the rest starting on page 6)

More details
Hats are $10. And the
RPCVs from the same site at different times bond
money gets funneled back
at the RPCVw Holiday Party (by Eneida Alcalde) into active PCV activities.
A great personal account of how one RPCV met another PCV For more information,
who’d served at the same site years before her... contact Itzel Fairlie at:
More details development@rpcvw.org

West Africa Revisited...

West African RPCVs share what makes that region of the world unique...
All of us RPCVs now have extreme international expertise...in one country. So,
the newletters from here on out will pool our resources from different regions,
so you can educate yourself about the areas of the world you didn’t visit. In
honor of Peace Corps 45th Anniversary, the first region is West Africa, where
Ghana was the first-ever country to host PCVS...

More Details
Not-So-Urban Legends Revealed
Compare “urban” legends with other ones from around the world
Everything comes out when you write in the rumors that were passed to you about PCVs from
before your time….
More details
 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 2, June 2007, page 2

President’s Corner
Dear RPCVw members,
On behalf of the Board, I thank you all for your continued support of RPCVw. It really is you, our
members, that drive the vision and success of RPCVw. It is you who I encounter smiling at the Holiday
party, you who laugh and share stories at happy hours, and you who continue your commitment to service
here in our community of the greater Washington, DC, area.
As spring turns to summer, RPCVw is offering a full plate of events to its membership. I encourage you
all to dive into this Newsletter to learn more about each. Two areas I would like to highlight are the upcom-
ing RPCVw Board Elections and the RPCVw Membership Campaign:
2008 RPCV/W Board Elections
Elections for the RPCVw Board of Directors are almost here. This Newsletter contains Board Position
descriptions describing each position. All those interested should contact the current Directors with all in-
quiries. To contact a specific Director, go to the Board page on our website and link to their RPCVw email.
Personally, being a part of this year's Board has been a great experience. We are a fun, progressive
group of RPCV go-getters who are truly dedicated to the RPCVw mission. As with each year, there will be
those of us who will be staying on for another year, and others who will be moving on to new and interesting
endeavors. I personally invite all of you who are interested to contact us and come to the upcoming events.
Of special note is a Meet n’ Greet that we are planning for the evening of June 13th. This event will
allow all those interested to come, share a bite to eat, and have a good interchange with the current Board.
Additionally, as you might expect, we are continually organizing events and activities for you all on a
regular basis. As you look for things to do throughout the summer, keep an eye on www.rpcvw.org!
RPCV/W Membership Campaign
A membership-based organization, RPCVw is dedicated to pursuing the vision, interests, and needs of
its unique membership. This past year, the Board dedicated itself to a smooth and successful transferring of
our website and membership database to our new system. That transition now complete, RPCVw is embark-
ing on a campaign to increase and retain its membership. The mission for this campaign is not to request that
local RPCVs join the group; rather, we look to offer events, activities, and programs that will encourage your
participation and support. So, keep your eyes open, encourage your fellow RPCVs in the area to join the
group, and together let’s make RPCVw the best it can be.
I encourage you all to come out and enjoy the summer with your fellow RPCVs.

Best Regards,

Jim Gore
RPCV; Bolivia (Agribusiness) '03-'05
president@rpcvw.org

BIG EVENT COMING YOUR WAY!

RPCVw annual Partnership Project Reception at Embassy of Kingdom of Swaziland
Every year RPCVw demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting the international development
work of Peace Corps through the sponsorship of a Peace Corps Partnership Project. The project selected
for 2007 is a collaborative effort between a Megan Guetzko, a PCV from
Iowa, and the community of Ncabaneni, Swaziland. The Ncabaneni Com-
munity requested funds to support the reconstruction of a preschool that has
fallen into disrepair and is unsafe for its young students. The preschool has
become increasingly important for the health and survival of Ncabaneni’s
children, as many have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic.

RPCVw has been raising funds from our members and other RPCVs in the
DC area through our listserv-the response has been tremendous!
We are continuing our fundraising efforts by holding our annual
Partnership Project Reception at the embassy of Swaziland on the eve-
ning of Thursday, 31 May 2007 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Guests will enjoy a very special intimate reception as guests of the Embassy
of the Kingdom of Swaziland and its distinguished Ambassador. This will
be a wonderful opportunity to learn about a dynamic African nation and its
culture, history and development, as well as support the Partnership Project. PCV Megan Guetzko at site.
Space is limited so please get your tickets soon!

Date: 31 May 2007

Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Embassy of Swaziland, 1712 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Tickets: $50 for Members and $60 for Nonmembers (spend a little money and make a big impact!)

For more information and to purchase your tickets: Partnership Project Reception - 31 May 2007
 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 2, June 2007, page 3

Upcoming Events
SERVE on the 2008 RPCVw BOARD!!!!!!
RPCVw is currently accepting self-nominations for next year’s Board of Directors.

Being a member of the Board requires commitment and a passion for service. Each Board member is ex-
pected to participate in the annual planning retreat in August, attend monthly meetings, lead a committee or
task, conduct outreach to the membership pool, and be committed to RPCVw’s mission. Positions are elected
annually, and Board members are expected to serve for one year starting after the Annual Picnic in late July.

The positions are:

PRESIDENT - Direct strategic planning and ensure that the board is taking action to meet goals and that all
activities support RPCV/W’s mission and vision. Preside over meetings, plan board retreats, engage in fund-
raising, respond to general inquiries, and represent RPCV/W to media and other organizations.

VICE PRESIDENT - Lead board in the absence of the president. Develop and monitor compliance with
event protocol and surveys. Maintain and report on event tracker. Coordinate annual Peace Corps Partnership
donation as well as Reception.

SECRETARY - Record and distribute meeting minutes. Lead annual elections of new officers and coordi-
nate annual report. Maintain archives.

TREASURER - Make budget recommendations. Produce monthly financial reports on revenue, expenses,
and cash flow trends. Maintain financial records; prepare deposits of member dues; oversee financial matters
related to events and activities; and ensure financial compliance with any tax laws.

WEB DIRECTOR - Produce the bimonthly newsletter; maintain the RPCV/W web site; and work with
Communications Director to develop ways of conveying the overall image and mission of RPCV/W.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR – Keeps members informed of RPCV events. Serve as first point of
contact for people who have general comments or questions. Write and edit content for newsletter. Work
with other members in ways of conveying overall image and mission of RPCVw.

PROGRAMS DIRECTOR - Organize educational events, such as author readings, film events, and lectures
on a variety of topics including women in development, cross-cultural issues, and the environment. Gather
and share information on similar opportunities in the region.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR - Direct development efforts, including fundraising efforts such as raffles
and the Holiday Party Auction. Research potential partnerships with businesses, including advertising sales
and member benefits.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR– Organize social events such as potlucks and monthly happy hours.
Work with membership and new member chairs in recruiting new members.

SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR – Coordinate special events such as Annual Holiday Party, Cherry Blos-
som Picnic, and Annual Picnic.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR - Maintain the membership database; coordinate renewal notices; produce
monthly reports on membership levels, including new, lapsed, and renewed members. Produce membership
lists as needed for event organizers. Coordinate recruitment efforts with New Member Director.

NEW MEMBER DIRECTOR – Connect and develop relationships with new members and potential mem-
bers. Support new members with events (such as welcome brunches) and information for transitioning to
living and working in the D.C. area. Develop ways to and help ensure that all events attract new members.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR - Develop community service opportunities for members. Gather
and share information on volunteer and speaking opportunities in the area, including opportunities with part-
ner organizations and members needing volunteers. Coordinate annual wreath-laying event at JFK memorial.

Interested? Learn more—Attend our Meet N’ Greet on Wednesday, June 13th.

Email: specialevents@rpcvw.org for details and directions (or wait for a Listserv announcement).

NOMINATIONS DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20th.

To nominate yourself for a position, send a 200 word statement of interests and qualifications to:
communications@rpcvw.org
 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 1, June 2007, page 4

What else we’re getting into:

RPCVw Annual Picnic coming up in July~
The Capital Yacht Club will be the place to be on Sat-
urday, July 7 from 12:30-3pm. This annual event is
one of RPCVw’s beggest ones. Mark the date in your
calendar and stay tuned to the Listserve for more de-
tails and to purchase tickets!

Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony and wine tasting—tonight!~

Come join us in the yearly tradition of laying wreaths on JFK’s grave in honor of his birthday.
6pm, Arlington National Cemetery

Take the Blue Line on the Metro, go to the Visitors' Center and look for us or ask how to get to
JFK's site. If you choose to drive, plenty of parking is available (@ $1.25 an hour). For more
visitor info, look here: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/visitor_information/index.htm

Afterwards, come out for an evening toasting JFK and all things Peace Corps at SONOMA WINE
BAR on Capitol Hill (223 Pennsylvania Ave SE—Capitol Hill Metro station) — 7:30pm.

In Memoriam: Julia Campbell

The RPCVw community wishes to honor the memory of the
late PCV Julia Campbell, age 40, who died April 8 2007 in
the middle of her service as a university teacher in the city of
Legazpi, Albay Province, the Philippines. A Fairfax, Virginia
native, Campbell was a journalist based in NYC before going
to the Philippines. She disappeared after leaving for a hike of
the famed rice provinces in a aremote part of Ifugao province.
She was loved and respected in her adopted community, and
the memory of her ultimate sacrifice will live on.
Julia Campbell, 2006 , the Philippines.
http://juliainthephilippines.blogspot.com/ Photo courtesy of www.foxnews.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j9LLgAYx0A

A tasty sample of what’s embedded further on in these pages

Spilling water on sacred ground in Benin
Lessons learned in Peace Corps training come in many different forms. Some in the classroom, where
culturally insensitive behavior can be obviated through discussion, explanation, and warning, and oth-
ers, well, they are learned first hand…

One afternoon, as three months of training wound down in Lokossa, Benin, facilitators gave a crash
course in West African cooking. About to be removed from a cushy scenario in which three meals a
day were cooked and
served to me by my host family, I knew I had better learn quickly something I had neglected to learn
the last three months at home, namely, how one cooks in Benin. Peeling vegetables, slaughtering chick-
ens, and cooking with massive aluminum pots over charcoal, I was already taking in a number of dif-
ferent lessons in my head. Before slaughtering a chicken a drink of water must be given as a sign of
respect. Noted. A chicken must be dunked in boiling water to help facilitate the removal of the feathers.
Noted as well.

With the potatoes finished boiling, I grabbed a full pot of steaming water and proceeded to dump the
scalding water on the dirt ground. Bam. Before I knew what was happening, chaos erupted around me.
Two Beninese
women frantically spread cool water over the scalded earth while simultaneously lashing out at me for
what I had just done. Dumfounded, my rudimentary French finally began to decipher what had just
happened. Lesson in cultural sensitivity: In Benin, ancestors are ever present and tend to reside close to
the ground. Unless you want to scald your neighbor's ancestors and get a tongue lashing at the same
time, never dump boiling water on the ground in Benin. Noted.

--Matthew Peterson, Benin 02-04

 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 1, June 2007, page 5

What we’ve been up to (con’t):

RPCVs from the same site at different times bond at the RPCVw Holiday Party
By Eneida P. Alcalde
Bolivia 02-05

I had an amazing experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia living in Saavedra, Santa
Cruz. In the two years I lived in this semi-urban, tropical pueblo I formed many friendships, ran
away from too many dogs and tarantulas, attended over 100 women's group meetings, and danced
until dawn on several occasions to celebrate birthdays, weddings, saints, and life.

As the last Peace Corps volunteer of Saavedra, I had the privilege of learning of the many volun-
teers who had lived there before my stint as a basic sanitation "expert." There was Shawn who
married a beautiful cambita; Rosario and her massive dog; Thadeus who had to abruptly leave;
John who had beautiful eyes and worked his butt off. And, there was Alicia, the first volunteer in
Saavedra, who set a high standard for the rest of us to continue as volunteers.

I was always intrigued by Alicia since I mostly heard about her service. This might have been
because many of my friends were her friends—Alicia’s best friend, Eliana (nicknamed "Pinky"),
often spoke about her and their many adventures. Eliana had several pictures of Alicia in her
house. When I would visit, Eliana would often talk about Alicia and, as I listened and looked at
her prominently displayed pictures, I often thought about her experience and wondered if mine
was similar. I never imagined that I would meet this girl I merely knew from a few pictures and
many amusing stories.

This world is small in a number of ways; and life, I believe, follows circular paths that unexpect-
edly lead you back to memories, experiences, and images you thought you had left behind.
I came face to face with Alicia—the always seemingly larger-than-life girl in the pictures—this
past December when I attended my first Returned Peace Corps Volunteer gathering, the DC Holi-
day Party. She must have thought I was slightly crazed when she caught me staring at her, but
once I explained who I was and how I "knew" her, she quickly understood and we began swap-
ping stories of our very different yet similar experiences as female PCVs in Saavedra.

We made plans for brunch the next day and during this meeting I gained an almost 10-year insight
into our town and the people who form it. We discussed Adriana, Pinky, las hermanas Zelaya,
and many, many more individuals who impacted our lives for the better. We even had the oppor-
tunity to email our dear friend Pinky together from Alicia’s laptop.

It was simply a beautiful way to further complete my life as a Saavedreña. The last volunteer met
the first volunteer and, briefly, our lives became interwoven: adding rich layers—at least to
mine—and a smile. Thanks, Alicia, for taking the time to share your experience and thanks to the
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer community in DC for facilitating this type of unbelievable en-
counter.

Calling all RPCVs who served in Southern Africa!

So, we know that every RPCV is full of stories from their site. But that makes each of us only an expert in
ONE area of the world. So, this and all upcoming issues will feature a different region of the world with
notes on its quirks--loveable and/or interesting--from the Americans who know it best.

In honor of RPCVw’s Peace Corps Partnership donation to Swaziland, the second region featured will
be the one that claims Swaziland as its own: Southern Africa.

So if you served in Southern Africa, send in a few lines that made the area unique. Gain immortality (ok, not
really…)

Send your anecdotes to Lesley Pories at: communications@rpcvw.org

Everyone's waiting!

Don’t wait for the Newsletter to stay updated on RPCVw! Be sure to check out our website:
www.rpcvw.org
 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 1, June 2007, page 6

West Africa Revisited...

West African RPCVs share what makes that region of the world unique...
All of us RPCVs now have extreme international expertise...in one country. So, the Newletters
from here on out will pool our resources from different regions, so you can educate yourself about
the areas of the world you didn’t visit. In honor of Peace Corps 45th Anniversary, the first region
is West Africa, where Ghana was the first-ever country to host PCVS...
Buy Me Bread Every RPCV
from West
Peace Corps Volunteers always have an interesting experience Africa has at
navigating the local customs of the country in which they serve. least several
two year stay is a time to identify those customs, come to under- harrowing
stand the nuances, and possibly even internalize some of them! tales of public
One of the customs in Ghana that PCVs encounter right away is transport
Ghanaian’s custom of commanding travelers to “Buy me bread!”
from wherever they’re going. In my first year
of service in Understanding
This phrase was shouted to me during training from numerous Mali, I took a
people I had never seen before as I would load onto a bus from my little break to travel out to Western Mali
homestay village to the city where we congregated on weekends. for a 4th of July party with some other
was baffling at first why anyone thought I should buy them bread volunteers. Our destination was Mana-
– and the request was always for bread. trainers assured me and talli, a small town in Western Mali with
my fellow trainees that this was just a custom and people don’t a large dam and a Peace Corps house.
really expect you to buy them bread. proper response is just to say Since there were no paved roads in Mali
that yes, you will buy them bread, and then ignore it. west of Bamako at the time, and since
the rainy season is was in full effect, the
During training, I accepted this answer at face value. But as I roads were exquisitely muddy and full
stayed in the country longer, I came to understand that this wasn’t of pot holes and washboards. Western
entirely correct. first piece of evidence that made me think there is Mali is quintessentially African- miles
something behind the “Buy me bread!” phenomenon is the town of of beautiful, lush, green landscape;
Nsawam, just outside of the capital, Accra, on the road to the city small villages with thatch-roof huts; and
of Kumasi. town is the bread-producing capital of Ghana, and all awful ground transport.
along this stretch of road, women with street side tables and head-
borne wooden trays stacked high with bread run alongside the The bus on the way to Kita—about half
buses, known as ‘tro-tros,’ selling their wares. whole bus mobi- way—broke down four times on the
lizes at this juncture to pass money and loaves of bread through awful road. After 8 hours on the
windows as the tro-tro continues to move through town. Kita bus, we spent an hour haggling for
the services of a vehicle to drive us on
Another convincing piece of evidence came to Manatalli-another 150 km. One guy
when people I was close to in my village wanted to rent us an open semi, but we
started bringing me bread when they trav- declined and found a pickup truck in-
eled. if I took children on an excursion with stead. After furious bargaining, we
me, they would insist they had to bring back shoved the nine of us volunteers, two
bread for their families. reason why bread Malians and the driver into a Toyota
Peace from simply elsewhere had a reputation for extended cab. I sat in the back on the
being desirable still eluded me. it had some- luggage with a few friends. It was a
thing to do with the idea that anything from a city was of better classic African moment as we watched
quality. was in fact a couple varieties of bread that were available the sun set across the bush and drove off
in larger towns and not in the villages. sometimes a friend would into the night. No one knew how far it
bring me bread from his mother’s hometown, a village more re- was or where we were. We just kept
mote than ours with the exact same varieties of bread. driving through the middle of nowhere.
bad road and a flat tire slowed us down
Bread’s elevated place in the food chain never quite made sense to further. Finally, around 11 pm, we saw
me. it’s valued because it’s something that not everyone can make the lights of the big dam. After 16 hours
at home. it has something to do with a campaign from when the on the road, we arrived in the Peace
U.S. was dumping wheat in Ghana that claimed bread would make Corps house after midnight, where the
your children strong. any rate, it was a prized food, where a week volunteers greeted us with cold beer.
of festivities at school could include a “bread eating day” the way
a U.S. school might have a pizza party. by the end of two years, --Andre Mershon; Mali, 01-03
although I still would say yes and ignore the request of someone I
didn’t know saying, ‘bring me bread!’ I learned to sometimes bring back bread to friends, to show I was
missing them and thinking of them while away. bread was just one of the warm, friendly, and generous cus-
toms that came to seem normal in Ghana.

—Becky Schaaf; Ghana (Education), 02-04

West African Symbols courtesy of www.wisegorilla.com/images/african/african.html

 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 1, June 2007, page 7

West Africa Revisited (con’t)...

West African RPCVs keep sharing what makes that region of the world unique...
Imbibing palm wine in Cameroon Tribal diversity in Burkina Faso

Oil palms are plentiful in Cameroon, and in I was in the capital city, Ouagdougou, at
neighboring countries of West and Central a workshop preparing current PCVs and
Burkinabe language trainers for the in-
Africa. Although palm oil was grown for
coming group of PCTs. Sessions mainly
export in large plantations, in the heavily
helped the Burkinabe language instruc-
forested areas of southern Cameroon tors learn how to approach teaching
where I lived, villages typically had a few Friendship
Americans. Given Peace Corps' great
palm oil trees from which village residents harvested the fruit to get reputation in language and cultural train-
oil for cooking. It was also a common practice for people to climb ing, it was great to see how one country
the palm trees to tap a milky-colored liquid called “palm wine”, built its program from the inside.
bring it down, and serve it from gourds. I was frequently offered
palm wine when visiting people in various villages. It is sweet to One of the last sessions was on Diversity.
drink when recently tapped, but ferments rapidly, producing alco- To begin, a Burkinabe trainer was asked
hol. Both of these characteristics attracted insects, and it was com- to stand up in front of the room beside
mon to see various insects floating in a gourd of palm wine. another Burkinabe trainer. One was from
the Bobo ethnic group, the other was
The amount of time a Volunteer had been in the country could be from the Fulani group. Both rose from
measured by their palm wine drinking behavior, falling into three their seats and walked to the front of the
categories. The newly arrived Volunteer would see the floating room, all the while mocking each other
insects, be repulsed, and furtively look around for a place to incon- under their breaths and calling each other
"slaves", "unintelligent", "lazy", and
spicuously dump the palm wine or just set it down. The Volunteer
"inferior". The other Burkinabe trainers
with just a few months in the country was braver, and would care-
in the room laughed. The PCVs were
fully pick out the insects before drinking. The "veteran Volunteer" laughing, but uncomfortably. The Bobo
would down the palm wine without hesitation -- bugs and all! man was asked to talk about his ethnic
group, its history and values. He listed all
--Don Hinman; Cameroon (farmer cooperatives), 80-83 of the aspects of being Bobo that make
them superior. The Fulani man then be-
gins to speak about his tribe. All of the Burkinabe in the room were now roaring with laughter and shouting, "The
Fulani just care about their cows!" "They're all thin and their skin is so dark, and they live like nomads! Hahahaha!"
Even the Fulani man found this hilarious. The Americans in the room just sat there ...nervously smiling. What are
these two Burkinabe men doing? They are making fun of each others’ ethnicity. But they barely know each other!

Then the PCVs were asked to do a similar exercise and talk about the differences between
Americans. Two volunteers were singled out: one with Pakistani parents who lived in Saudi
Arabia for 10 years, and a Bronx native with Columbian parents. They admitted that, as
friends for more than a year, they felt comfortable teasing each other with comments like,
"Your parents are terrorists", and "Oh look, your family's in the news again for bringing drugs
into the country." But they would never crack jokes like that on a first encounter. Americans,
we pointed out, are very proud of our roots, and hold them close to our hearts.

The Burkinabe found this puzzling. Can we not laugh at each other? How do Americans know Hope
when the moment is right to begin poking fun? One asked, should he not make jokes about
Jackie Chan to new Asian-American volunteers? No, the PCVs replied, that would not be a good idea. The man's
smile faded to a serious nod. The PCVs in the room nodded, too. We all sat there quietly a moment, contemplating
this difference in cultures. And, as you can imagine with all of the news we’d been hearing on BBC radio about
conflicts of religion, ethnic wars, and Iraq, I'm sure that most of the PCVs in the room, like myself, considered how
incredible the Burkinabe were in this one fundamental aspect of their culture. Through mockery and jokes, they are
able to avoid conflicts that so many other, more developed nations cannot. There is actually a term for this social
phenomenon which Burkinabe and Malians use called "La parente a plaisanterie", which means “a kin-based joke.”

Burkina Faso is one of the three least developed countries in the world, and has held that title fairly steadily for the
past decade. The statistics always paint a bleak picture: There's a 40% chance when you are born in Burkina Faso
that you will not live to see your 40th birthday. About 90% of the population is comprised of subsistence farmers,
but only 12% of the country's land is even arable. Female adult literacy rate is 15%, etc. And yet, as underdevel-
oped as they are, as simple as their mud homes are and their way of living is, they build mosques next to cathedrals.
Muslims celebrate Christmas with their Christian neighbors. Grown men hold hands walking down the road. They
wave "hi" no matter where they are or what they may be doing. They allow themselves to poke fun at one another,
maybe because they believe that community is more important than the individual; that despite our differences,
"we're all heading to the same place" as one of my Burkinabe friends put it.

In this one aspect of their culture alone, I am humbled to have been a PCV in Burkina. West Africa is often painted
as being poor, disease-ridden, a "problem to be solved", etc. And I'm not about to deny the challenges that Burkina
Faso faces. But I'd love some day to pick up a newspaper, and read about this instead--on the front page--with a
headline, "Solution for Peace Found in Random African Nation".

--Elizabeth Olson, Burkina Faso 05-07

 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 1, June 2007, page 8

NOT-SO URBAN LEGENDS REVEALED...

Compare your country’s “urban” legends with the other ones around the world
We’ve all got ‘em: the stories that were passed down from PCV group to PCV group about horrible or em-
barrassing things that happened long before you arrived at site. (Often enough, they end with a PCV being
“wack-evak’d”) Are they true? Maybe... Compare the “urban” legends from your country with these...

The beignet lady. It goes like this:

A female volunteer, in Cameroon's East
Province (the most isolated) was sup-
posed to meet a friend for vacation
travel. When she did not show up in the
regional capitol, the friend became wor-
ried, and after whatever amount of time,
PC set out to check on her.
They found her in her home amongst
piles of beignets—deep-fried dough
balls, made from anything from cassava
to flour to corn—sold as 'street food' in
Cameroon, the cheapest source of calo-
ries aside from 'gari' (deep
fried remains of deep-fried [in palm oil]
cassava remains or something, I forget).
Reportedly, she was sitting there in the
main room of her hut making batch after
batch of beignets. This was a story that
accompanied explanation of what we
called the "Psycho-vac" (the mental
version of the "Med-evac.")
—Sasha Kishinchand
"Peace Corps volunteers in Jamaica are
placed there by the CIA to spy on Cuba"
—PCV; Jamaica 91-93
Pit latrines, or choos (pronounced CHO) in Kenya were
often an adventure but this was over the top.A newly
minted PCV in a rural area has to relieve herself and can
only find an old, decrepit choo with rotting wood planks
to stand on.With few options, she pops a squat, the planks
give way and she plummets to the bottom of the pit.
So the story goes, she is rescued but psycho vacced (for
good reason) from Kenya. That lasting image gave all of
us volunteers pause every time we stepped into a choo for
the next two years.
--Dave London; Kenya 98-00
At our l987 Belize staging we heard a rumor about two
guys who a few years earlier had been flown with their
group to Belize and disappeared after landing, apparently
taking off for an extended SCUBA vacation in the
Cayes. We heard it took months for PC to locate them and
give them the "PanAm Award," the old nickname for an
Administration Separation. Back in 2002, when I was
working as a program specialist at PC/HQ, I visited Belize
to conduct some HIV/AIDS training and to do a session at
a COS conference. At a reception, I heard this old tale one
more time. As they say in Belize, "If it's not true, it's
nearly true."
--Terri Elders; Belize, D.R., Seychelles; PC/HQ, USA/
Katrina

A story told far and wide is that of a Volunteer who, after a long day of walking from one place to an-
other to get an answer to the wrong question, stopped to relieve himself in a nearby pit latrine. The
floor of the latrine, made of dirt and sticks and maybe a few crumbling bricks, promptly caved under
the Volunteer's weight, sending him plummeting into an abyss of, well, human waste. Unable to crawl
his way up the slippery walls of the enclosed, putrid smelling space,
When I first came to Guyana, and too far from anyone to hear his faint cries of help, the Volunteer
during our in-country training was quickly overcome by the horror of his circumstances and died.
there was a rumor that a Vol-
unteer left his site in Europe There are many variations of this story in countries where la-
and traveled around Europe to trines remain the primary solution to human waste disposal. Varia-
other Volunteer sites for like 3 tions include the gender of the volunteer, whether it was a slow or
months and no one found out quick death, and how many days/nights the PCV's body was down in
until he was already back. the latrine before being discovered by an unsuspecting villager. In a
few, more hopeful stories, the latrine is filled so high with waste, that
--Jason Rosen; Guyana, 97-99 the Volunteer only One "urban" legend that I remember from my
falls a few inches and
service in Cameroon involved the Peace
promptly climbs out on his/her own accord. Corps Medical Staff annual site visits. The
story goes that some poor Peace Corps volun-
As with most lore of this nature (e.g. Hansel and Gretel), teer cracked at some point during their first
the story serves as a lesson. In this case, it is meant to year, and when PC Medical visited this per-
make Volunteers feel overly cautious, if not downright son's house, they found the volunteer inside,
paranoid, about where they do their business, as well as sitting on the floor beneath their kitchen table,
promote seeking the advice of an engineer, or at the very making hundreds and hundreds of beignets
least APCD, when designing and building latrines. (similar to donut holes)....

--Anita —Diana Herriman; TEFL, Cameroon 99-01

 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 1, June 2007, page 9

NOT-SO URBAN LEGENDS REVEALED, (cont’)...

The stories continue, and I find it amusing to see how many different “variations on a theme” exist across
the board. It’s also fun to see how many different terms there are for mental medical separation as well as
administrative separation. At the bottom you will even find a few stories that are actually real...so I’m told.

One story that was passed from earlier groups was about
One of those legends for me included the the one unfortunate volunteer who was in Mongolia several
stories of thieves robbing PCVs. The Peace Corps generations prior. It was said that, because of
word to the wise was...IF you realize the isolation (somewhere in the Gobi), missing home, and
someone has broken into your place you the yearning for something familiar, this volunteer started
just pretend to be asleep. IF you let them to make donuts for himself. Unfortunately, this enterprise
know that they have seen you, you are became an obsession, and after awhile (I'm not sure how
dead. Peace Corps Volunteers told us long), he was no longer able to complete his duties as a
the story of playing as if they were sleep- volunteer. Staff went to investigate, and found him in his
ing while their room was stripped to the ger (the local dwelling), making donut after donut, appar-
core. ently unable to
stop. Needless to In Burkina, there was a brown enve-
--Sue Anne Foster; Uganda 69-73 say, he was lope package of pornography that was
“All PCVs are CIA.” pysch-evac'd and passed -- nay, bequeathed -- from guy
—Philippines excused from to guy in each group. I don't think
service. the girls ever saw evidence of this
tradition, which is why it goes in the
This one is about a volunteer --Katie Church; Rural Legend category.
whom I actually met and who Mongolia 99-00
shall remain unnamed. This
PCV's site was in one of the east- —Anne Knight; Burkina Faso
ern provinces. Mongolia, having
a continental climate, is dry, dry, NOT an urban legend and can be verified by Dell Lewis who was
dry. In some respects, this is Director, Western Region for some, but not all of the time be-
good (ie., your laundry dries tween (1965-67). Another director was Brother Leo Ryan, who's
fast), but in others, it's annoying chieftaincy can be largely attributed to the efforts of Fred Eng-
(dry mucous membranes all the lander, Ado-Ekiti and me in the promotion of Yoruba language
time lead to chronic nosebleeds and culture, but THAT'S another story!
for some). Well, for this PCV,
the dry air became a fixation. In So, when PCVs were driving, hitchhiking or taking the train from
order to remedy the dryness of Lagos/Ibadan to Kaduna or other points north, Dell Lewis would
the air in his apartment, he began tell them to stop off in Ilorin (now the capital of Kwara State) and
to put out glass jars full of water,
ask for Mel Schnapper, Nigeria XV, known far and wide as a
the logic of which was that, as
fantastic host who provided great food (eba, egusi and anything
the water evaporated, the air
would become humidified.
else as long as it was Yoruba food), parties, a great accommoda-
tion right in the middle of town, near the Oba Oja (King's Market
The water jars started out moder- now largely replaced by a huge mosque) and provided other
ately: a few on this windowsill, a things that I can't share publicly (!), but those who were there,
few on that radiator. After know whereof I speak.
awhile, however (and after not a
few more kilos of fruit compote PCVs would then ask Dell, "How do we find this goodly (if not
and pickles had been consumed), Godly) Mel Schnapper?" And Dell would say, "When you get to
he began to put the jars anywhere the lorry park, just ask people for the Prison Yard and Mel's
there was space in his apartment: house is right across the street". Dell reports, and he says he has
lining the walls, behind the told this story hundreds of times, that the PCVs got back to him
couch, etc. Pretty soon, there about doing that and the first person they asked "Where is the
were so many jars full of water Prison Yard?", told them that the "Prison Yard is across the street
that the only way to walk through from Schnapper's house!" or "Sinappa'" as local people pro-
the place was to walk through a nounced it.
path formed by the jars.
So because of my Yoruba fluency (which even now is good and
The kicker is that this faithful I now use daily while working here in Abuja with a local Yoruba
PCV, fulfilling all of PC's goals, consulting firm),my Yoruba dress, eating only local food (and
taught this practice to his coun-
was the only male PCV to put on weight), and my other habits
terpart, who followed his exam-
(which I cannot discuss publicly), I had, at least, to a few people,
ple in her own home.
replaced the Prison as a major landmark within Ilorin.
—Katie Church; Mongolia 99-00
--Mel Schnapper, Ph.D.; Nigeria (65-67)
 The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Bringing the experience home.

Issue 1, June 2007, page 10

NOT-SO URBAN LEGENDS REVEALED, (cont’ again!)...

A couple of real stories out of the way, the stories continue, and others have somehow noticed some of the
trends—before this was even circulated! The final submissions are below, as well as a tally of the different
themes that emerged across continents...

I've heard this one from differ-

ent RPCVs who have served
Rumor has it The urban legend that haunted me the
most my first few months "au village" was the
in different countries includ- (completely one about the volunteer whose latrine col-
ing those in Mongolia. So
unsubstanti- lapsed under him/her. In fact, a couple of us
there's a volunteer who has a
breakdown and locks them-
passed more than a reasonable amount of
selves in their apart-
ated) that time mentally devising a safety harness of
ment. They stay up for days there was sorts "just in case."
making doughnuts (or some
local variation) and fill the --Anya J Freedman, MD
apartment from floor to ceiling with
Rumor was that there was had been a sleazy PCV (TEFL—
the deep fried bread. All the while
University) who slept with his female students. Some of the
they keep muttering to themselves,
local men in his community got angry and pushed him off a
"Time to make the dough-
balcony, and he died.
nuts..." Eventually a PCMO breaks
down the door and the story ends.
—Lesley Pories; Uzbekistan 03-05
--Shawn Kairis; Mongolia I heard on that this volunteer in Tanzania mistook her anti-
01-03 biotics for her methloquin (malaria prophylaxis) and was tak-
ing 3 methloquin tablets a day, when you are only supposed to
Funny— take it once a week. She only stopped taking the pills once she
Again this was a story about started have vivid hallucinations (things flying at her) and
a volunteer from many years called Peace Corps. I hear she is still a case study for National
ago in a central but very
remote area of the country Institute of Health in studying the effects of methloquin.
because of limited access
(very few roads and even —Laura Mack; Tanzania 99-01
less transport). In The Gam-
bia, local donuts were called Pankettos, and story goes There was a Volunteer—part Arabic—out
that this volunteer also went a little crazy and made Pan- in the middle of the desert who went crazy.
kettos till they filled up her hut... and she also was She learned how to make doughnuts be-
psych-evac'd. cause they reminded her of home and she
baked them nonstop—filled her home with
I found it extremely interesting and amusing that two them. But then she would scream that she
very different and far apart country's had almost an iden- hated Americans in Arabic. Eventually
tical urban (or shall we say rural) legend. Peace Corps came and got her and sent her
home.
--Elizabeth Kaiser; The Gambia 99-01
—Julia Strange, Uzbekistan 03-05
I heard once that there was a volunteer in Kenya
who went crazy. He was either in the bush for too Breakdown of PCV “Urban” Legends:
long or he had something similar to cabin fe-
ver. The story goes that the Peace Corps Kenya Crazy Doughnut maker: 6; Mongolia, Kenya,
staff hadn't heard from this particular volunteer for The Gambia, Uzbekistan & Cameroon (2)
a while. They sent a Peace Corps vehicle out to his Pit toilet trauma: 3; Kenya & unknown (2)
site to check and see if he was alright. When
Secretly traveling all over the world: 2;
the car arrived in his village the PC driver and the
APCD found him in his house. When they found Guyana & Belize
him he was cooking bagels, which apparently he PCVs are spies: 2; Jamaica & Philippines
had been cooking for quite a while as he had piles Meds overdose: 1; Tanzania
and piles of bagels all around his house, stacked Alcohol-related: 1; Haiti
against the walls, in bookshelves, every- Water: 1; Mongolia
where. Needless to say the Peace Corps PCV house better known than local prison:
staff determined his bagel cooking obsession was
1; Nigeria
not normal so they brought him back to Nairobi in
the car and Peace Corps Nairobi wacki vac-ed Porn: 1; Burkina Faso
him. Robbery: 1; Uganda
Death by locals: 1; Uzbekistan
--Laura Mack; Tanzania 99-01