RPCVs share their most memorable Peace Corps moments.
Mission accomplished
Local residents share their most memorable Peace Corps moments.
Compiled by Darnell Morris-Compton
Jennifer Moncel
Jennifer Moncel, 28, who served from 2000 to 2002 in the Republic of Moldova, is an English teacher.
• Most memorable experience: Visiting a village orphanage to deliver Christmas presents to orphans. It was in the dead of winter, and there was absolutely no heat in the facility. All the children were bundled up with old coats, gloves and hats, just to stay remotely warm. This was honestly the only moment during my two years of service in which I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I had to step back and collect myself in order to continue.
Dan Haddock
Dan Haddock, 36, served in Honduras from 1991 to 1993 as a water and sanitation engineer. Currently, he is an operations engineer for American Water.
• Most memorable experience: When the end of my service came, my girlfriend and I took the leap and married each other in the little town hall in Morazan, Yoro, Honduras. We had a great time -- the music, the food and my new family. That day, my connection to Honduras went from fleeting to permanent, and my life changed in the most wonderful way imaginable. Ten years later, my wife Isabel, daughter Naomi and I have been back and forth living in Honduras and Indiana, speaking Spanglish at home and inventing our own mixed-up culture.
Natalie Farrior
Natalie Farrior, 26, served as a small business cooperative volunteer in Paraguay from 2000 to 2002. Currently, she is a bilingual tech suppport employee for Accu-Check Customer Care.
• Most memorable experience: I worked with an orphan girl everyday, trying to bring her out of her shell, caused by neglect already at the age of four. Everyday, we would sit down and spend time coloring and learning Spanish. Elisia only spoke her indigenous language of Guarani, which made teaching more of a challenge. After a year of working with her, she came into my shack and announced, "Che a pintata," which is, "I am going to color." She got the coloring book out and began coloring. I was outside washing dishes in a bucket, thinking about what I would teach her today. I walked in to look at her picture, and was wonderfully surprised to find her coloring a beautiful drum, with many different colors!
Jim Barth
Jim Barth, 28, currently a sales consultant with Dreyer & Reinbold MINI, served in Kenya from 1999 to 2001 as a health volunteer.
• Most memorable experience: When I first arrived at my new home, a small rural village in Kenya, I walked right past a primary school just as it was letting out. Before I knew it, all of the students ran out to see the strange-looking foreigner, and I had at least two dozen children gathered in a semi-circle staring at me. After waiting for a few seconds, not knowing what to do, I started a giant game of "Simon Says" and was introduced into my community by laughing children.
Colleen Turner
Colleen Turner, 29, A second-grade English as a second language teacher at IPS School 96, served in Kazakhstan from 1996 to 1998 as an English teacher.
• Most memorable experience: It was Christmas Eve 1996, and I was feeling sorry for myself. Christmas was not a holiday celebrated in Kazakhstan. This was going to be my first Christmas alone. The week before the 24th, I shared some Christmas music and traditions with my fourth-grade students. Just as I was about to eat dinner that night I heard a knock at the door. When I opened the door, one of my fourth-grade students was holding a present for me -- a traditional Russian drink called compote. Ten minutes later, there was another knock at the door; another fourth-grade student had brought a present -- hot dumplings called pelemeni. Throughout the course of the evening, the whole fourth-grade class arrived at the door bearing gifts. I have never felt so loved and appreciated.
